Newmarket Celtic A 3-0 Grattan United
The last eight of the FAI Junior Cup beckons for Newmarket Celtic after they defeated Grattan United of Cork 3-0 over the weekend.
The reds were in full control for the 90 minutes as highlighted by the fact that they had their 3-0 advantage by the end of the first half.
Despite not having too much of the ball, it was the visitors who threatened first and were denied only by the foot of Shane Cusack.
From that moment on, Newmarket started to press more and cause problems in the final third.
Eoin O'Brien squeezed a shot underneath the body of Grattan's goalkeeper only to see it rebound off the post just outside of the reach of Colin Smyth.
When the goal eventually came in the 24th minute, it was a very fortunate one. A long curling free kick from Davy McCarthy landed under the crossbar but the keeper could only punch it into his own net under pressure from the towering presence of Stephen Kelly.
Now that it was advantage Newmarket, any fears the home side might have end looked to be lifted and the game opened up more.
McCarthy had a big say in the second goal also as it was the captain who was hacked down inside the Grattan penalty area.
Eoin Hayes took the resulting penalty and fired it into the bottom corner of the net to double Celtic's lead.
The third goal was all Hayes as he got the ball out on the left wing and took off like a rat up a drainpipe.
He was eventually taken down inside the penalty area and the referee could only point to the spot and once more Hayes found the net.
Three goals in it at the break and very little evidence of any Grattan threat to come.
The second half was not quite as action-packed as the first but there were three red cards shown.
Seamie Lawlor and an opponent both got marching orders following an off the ball incident before Grattan were reduced to nine just minutes later.
Newmarket were able to see out the game with any trouble and now join Pike Rovers, Mervue United, St. Michaels, Newfoundwell and Usher Celtic in the last round with two other ties yet to be played.