Cockhill Celtic hit five to advance in FAI Junior Cup

Cockhill Celtic have advanced into Round 6 of the FAI Junior Cup with a big home win over Glenmuir United, but the game was a lot tighter than the scoreline suggests.

Cockhill fashioned the first opening on three minutes when Jay Bradley advanced into the box, but his well-struck shot was parried away by visiting goalkeeper Daniel Adegboyega.

Glenmuir were next to threaten when James O'Connor was played in in the right channel, but his shot was narrowly wide of Harry Doherty's far post.

After this scare, the home side took the lead on 28 minutes.

Great work from Danny McDaid down the left saw him make ground, then set up Damian Duffy, and his cross was headed in at the back post by Garbhan Friel.

This goal settled Cockhill, and they added two quick goals just before half-time. Firstly, McDaid reacted well to nod home Jay Bradley's header back from a Damian Duffy corner.

Then, after McDaid was upended in the box, Lee McColgan fired in a penalty to leave it 3-0 at half-time.

The second half started in a similar vein with Friel going close and Tiernan Ruddy sidefooting wide when well placed.

But the home side were made to pay when a great team move from Glenmuir finished with a smart turn and finish from O'Connor to reduce the deficit.

It was almost 3-2 as a long-range strike was tipped onto the bar and away for a corner, but when the corner was cleared, the resulting clearance found McDaid, who advanced from his own half before stepping inside a retreating defender and slotting low past Adegboyega to make it 4-1 and crown an excellent debut.

Jay Bradley's close-range volley from a dangerous Damian Duffy free kick sealed the win, which sees Gavin Cullen's team face the unenviable task of a trip to Fairview Rangers in the next round.