Holders Cockhill Celtic advanced to another League Cup final with a straightforward victory over a committed Fanad United.
Cockhill Celtic 5 Fanad United 0
Cockhill started on the front foot and could have been ahead inside three minutes. Marty Doherty cut inside from the right and when his shot hit the post, Gerard McLaughlin’s follow-up effort was cleared off the line.
The home side went ahead on 10 minutes when, after defending a Fanad free kick, pressure from Doherty forced the Fanad keeper McClafferty into a rushed clearance which fell to James Bradley who released Laurence Toland to finish left footed across McClafferty.
Fanad were well in the game and almost equalised when a glancing header from a corner was cleared off the line by Doherty.
They were made to pay on 16 minutes when Cockhill doubled their lead. Mark Moran found Doherty on the right. His deep cross was headed back by McLaughlin and volleyed home by Toland.
Fanad went close again when Sharkey’s shot from the edge of the box whistled narrowly wide and a cushioned layoff from McElwaine.
Toland almost completed his hat trick when he sprung the offside trap but was denied by a fine smothering save by McClafferty.
Fanad started the second half in determined fashion but their only chance of note was a lofted Seamy Friel effort which landed on top of Lee McCarron’s net.
Cockhill made it 3-0 on 71 when Doherty dug out a cross from the right hand side. It was kept alive by Bart Wesolowski whose header found Brendan McLaughlin.
His effort was parried by McClafferty but Toland was on hand to flick home and complete his hat trick.
Cockhill completed the scoring with two own goals, both from Lee McColgan set pieces.
Fanad lost a player in each half to nasty looking injuries and Cockhill wish them both speedy recoveries.
