Kelly hits a hat-trick as Rangers smash 7

Howth Celtic 0 - 7 Rivervalley Rangers

Owen Kelly scored a 2nd half hat-trick as Rivervalley Rangers continued their good form with a comfortable 7-0 win in this U8 Prem/A Cup match at Grace O’Malley Park on Saturday morning. Four wins out of four see them clear at the top of their group having scored 26 goals, conceding only 2.

Conditions weren’t ideal with a strong wind blowing and Howth Celtic won the toss and decided to play the first half with the wind at their back. However, Rangers kept the ball on the ground and played some neat passing football that got its reward after 8 minutes in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Jamie Britnell took a throw in deep inside the Howth half finding the ever reliable Matthew Kinahan on the left. He beat his marker and got to the touchline and whipped in a good cross behind the defenders. The keeper went down at his near post to make the save but the ball bounced off his shin and into the net.

There was nothing lucky about the 2nd goal however as Carl Rooney laid the ball off to Kinahan who turned and went past his marker and then played in Louise O’Shea, who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner.

Into the 2nd half and with the wind now with them, Rangers flew out of the traps. Killian Shortt found Robert Campbell through the middle and he quickly laid the ball off to O’Shea on the right wing. She fed Kelly who turned inside his marker and buried his shot into the net.

Campbell then had to leave the field after taking a bad knock on the leg. He was taken to hospital as a precaution but fortunately just has some swelling on his knee and should be fine.

Kelly’s 2nd goal followed quickly after as Justin Wan found Bradley Rogers out on the left. He cut inside two defenders and played a neat one-two with Kinahan, got to the goal-line and pulled the ball back to Kelly who tapped it home from 5 yards.

Howth then got into the game and only for some fine work from Rooney at the back and David Murray in the Rivervalley goal, could have pulled one back. After making a good save down to his left Murray kicked the ball halfway down the pitch to Kelly. He played a neat through ball to Britnell who found Rogers on the edge of the box and his well hit shot beat the keeper at his near post to make it 5.

Britnell himself grabbed the 6th after another superb flowing move. Kelly picked up the ball at halfway, turned and found Rogers on the edge of the box. He drove towards the touchline and whipped a cross over the defence to the far post that found Kinahan. He laid the ball back to Britnell on the corner of the box and he smashed his shot into the top corner.

Kelly then completed his hat-trick after more good work down the left. Kinahan and Rogers played a series of one-two’s down the wing before Rogers found Kelly in the middle of the area. He took one touch and tucked the ball away into the bottom corner.

Rivervalley Rangers: David Murray, Carl Rooney, Killian Shortt, Jamie Britnell, Matthew Kinahan, Louise O’Shea, Robert Campbell, Owen Kelly, Bradley Rogers, Justin Wan
Managers: Paul Kelly & Jason Rogers.