North East Football League Division Two 

Oldcastle United 2 - 3 Kells Blackwater 

United started this game against the League league Kells and were unlucky to have a goal ruled out for offside as a corner kick was headed back towards goal and Garrett O Reilly got a touch to stab the ball home under pressure from two defenders but the match official adjudged O Reilly to be ahead of play. Despite dominating early possesion Kells struck first when Ryan Farnham ghosted in at the back post unmarked to head the ball towards goal and Fitzsimons failed to control the ball which found the back of the net. United pushed forward and O Reilly diposessed a Kells defender before firing a shot over the cross bar. Kells then grabbed their second of the game when Keith Scanlon's skill to get past Skelly before the striker blasted past Fitzsimons. Oldcastle pulled a goal back before half time when Alan McCann swung in a delightful free kick and Jason Scully outjumped the keeper to head high up in the air and in the confusion the ball spun into the net. Minutes later O Reilly turned inside a defender and his shot just went wide. Tactical changes saw Gary Griffin & Michael Flood introduced and this strenghtened the side allowing Oldcastle to push forward and O Reilly created a chance for Scully but he fired wide when just the keeper beckoned. United drew level when Lee Clarke was taking down after a run towards goal and Alan McCanns free kick was chased down by O Reilly and the ball fell to Alan McCann and a cheeky lob with the outside of his right foot into the far corner of the net brought the match to 2-2. Oldcastle piled the pressure on the league leaders but disaster struck when a long ball up to the Oldcastle box saw Fitzsimons come out to collect the ball and Boyle came to clear it and with four players trying to clear the danger a penalty was awarded for a tackle against Scanlon, and Mooney stepped up to fire home. Oldcastle created lots of chances late on with Cj Healy firing wide and also was adjudged offside when clean through on goal, and Alan McCann & Craig Mooney clashed heads in the last few minutes with both medical teams rushing onto the pitch, Mooney with a cut to his forehead and McCann with a nasty cut around his eye and had to head to hospital. Kells Blackwater held on for their victory and remain top and Oldcastle go in search of their first win of the league campaign. We hope that both injured players are ok and wish them a speedy recovery. 

Oldcastle United Team

Mark Fitzsimons, Cathal Maguire, Ross Cadden, Eamon Boyle, Stephen Skelly, Brian Caffrey, Brian Griffin, Lee Clarke, Alan McCann, Jason Scully, Garrett O Reilly... Subs Gary Griffin for Maguire, Michael Flood for Skelly, Cj Healy for Cadden, Jonathan Boylan for Caffrey, Conor Somers for McCann, Alan Moore, Darragh Moore, Aron Kiernan, Keith Fitzsimons

Kells Blackwater Team

Niall Yore, Paul Flood, Carl Jordan, Janis Zemilis, Craig Mooney, Stephen Corcoran, Tony Smith, Ryan Farnham, Brandon Browne, Eden McKay, Keith Scanlon... Subs Warren Feehan for Farnham, Cian McManus for Browne, Daryl Murphy for McKay.

Match Official - Peter Burns Senior