Second-half slump means Shield exit for Seasiders
THREE goals in the space of 10 second-half minutes earned visitors Carrick their ticket into the next round of the Kilmessan Shield at Blackrock on Wednesday night last.
After an even enough first half, Rovers struck with two goals in 60 seconds, carving open the middle of the Rock defence for the first, before a weak header by young full-back Conor Mc Donnell towards goalkeeper Damien Mccrink resulted in Carrick's second goal.
Clearly rattled, Rock handed Carrick an equally soft third goal before staging a late rally in which Conor Smyth struck the crossbar with a fierce shot.
A minute later he made no mistake as the ball broke to him in front of goal and he tucked it past the Carrick goalkeeper. However, it was merely a consolation, as time had virtually run out for Rock at that stage. ROCK CELTIC: Damien Mccrink, Conor Mcdonnell, David Mcgeough, Shane O'callaghan (Fergal Carroll), Gareth Papworth, John Sharkey, Mark Mcgeown, Paddy Reilly, Ed Maguire (Conor Smyth), David Ward, Brian Kilboye.
