GIVEN KILREE'S recent spell of inconsistent form, New Oak would have been forgiven for expecting an easy passage in this game. However, it was a much improved Kilree who turned up for this encounter. Such was their determination the visitors enjoyed much the better of the early exchanges with Blaine Dwyer's long distance delivery releasing John Doyle who set up John Monahan for a shot straight at the New Oak keeper on five minutes.

This let off jolted New Oak into action with Ken Lacey's free being angled into space by Jimmy White for Eric McCormack to arrow a shot in off a post to give New Oak the lead on 13 minutes.

There wasn't the slightest sign of concern in the Kilree outfit as they set about restoring balance to the score line but they were reduced in numbers before another Blaine Dwyer delivery saw John Doyle being denied by the New Oak keeper. During the course of the following exchanges to half time, New Oak's David O'Shea and Brian Carbery traded missed scoring opportunities with Kilree's John and Josh Doyle.

New Oak quickly indicated that they had ironed out their misfiring midfield sector and when Eric McCormack was fouled Brian Carbery delivered a free into space for James White to arrive and smack a fine header to the Celtic net on 52 minutes.

John Doyle remained a thorn in the side of New Oak's defensive arrangements but New Oak introduced Tomás Coakley whose work rate tilted the exchanges very firmly in New Oak's favour with Kilree keeper a Cody making a fine save to deny the New Oak youngster on 76 minutes.

Kilree defended well and mustered a scoring response when Blaine Dwyer delivered a free to Martin Cody whose knock down was rifled to the net by Brian Darcy but it was too late for the Kilree lads to muster a point saving challenge at that stage.

Bagenalstown F.C. 4 Parkville United 1

HAVING relinquished a Shield quarter-final berth to Parkville last week the home team appeared determined to secure the invaluable points available from this encounter.

Town were fortunate to find a depleted Parkville with free scoring Ebby Quigley on duty in goal. If the chips were down it failed to hinder Bagenalstown's enterprising play and new boy from their Youth squad, Alan McDonald, splintered the Parkville defence before delivering a precision accurate cross for Trevor Nolan to thunder to the net on 15 minutes.

Within seconds of the restart, the visitors might have equalised when Jonathon Smithers sent a free kick whizzing across the six-yard box. However, the ball avoided everyone Bagenalstown were attacking at every opportunity but this left them short at the back with the visitors Colm Kenny playing a pass into space inviting Ciaran Smithers to apply the scoring touch but the United man just missed the ball in front of an open goal on 25 minutes.

From the clearance, Alan McDonald went within inches of putting Bagenalstown into a commanding position. Town did double their lead on 27 minutes when Danny Darcy knocked a Josh Doyle lob towards goal but the ball was deflected into the path of Trevor Nolan who made no mistake from close range. The Parkville defence was put under growing pressure and the visitors fell further behind when Brian Murphy's driving run down the middle drew the visitors defence out of shape allowing Alan McDonald to nip in and angle a fine ass to the Parkville net on 37 minutes.

The visitors were not short of attacking ideas and went close to scoring when Ronan Byrne had a firm header which rebounded to safety off the Bagenalstown bar just before half time.

Parkville enjoyed much the better of a scrappy third quarter during which Bagenalstown defended in numbers and depending on the quick break to threaten danger on the visitors defence.

The growing United pressure had to tell and the visitors deservedly scored when Colm Kenny provided the cross for Ronan Byrne to direct a volley to the net from outside the box on 65 minutes.

This score did wonders for Parkville spirits and another score appeared possible but the home team clinically polished off a great move started by Danny Darcy who combined with Trevor Nolan to release Alan Mc Donald to score again to wrap up the points.

Burrin Celtic 1 Ridge Rangers 1

A GREAT run by Robbie Nolan carved a huge opening in the Ridge defence but the Celtic lad was denied a certain goal at the expense of a penalty which was converted by Michael O'Leary on 15 minutes.

Playing some quality football the Ballon youngsters rattled an improving Ridge outfit whose defence was often stretched to the limit during the following exchanges.

Indeed the speedy Robbie Nolan intercepted a back pass as Ridge sought to play themselves back into the game and agonised as his goal bound effort was deflected a whisker on the wrong side of a post on 27 minutes.

Gradually Ridge found their attacking rhythm but Celtic's defence was bolstered by the formidable presence of Frank Fanning in goal, David Shanahan and Matthew Dowling who left nothing to chance until Ridge equalised against the run of play on 40 minutes.

The second half was dominated by two well-organised defences determined to minimise mistakes and Ridge just could not find a way beyond Frank Fanning who had an inspired game for Burrin whose best players were Frank Fanning, Mark Hutton, David Shanahan and Matty Dowling.