Eight’s great for South as they cruise through to quarters

A side unknown to South, it was always going to be difficult to prepare for such a game.

However, any fears that this would be a difficult match-up for South were averted within the first 10 minutes as three quick fire goals all but finished the contest before it had even begun on route to an 8-0 win.

That teed up a quarter-final tie away to Raphoe on Saturday 24 January.

Matthew Getty got the opening goal for the visitors, neatly tucking the ball under the advancing keeper following a Nathan Gamble short corner. And it was role reversal minutes later as Gamble finished off a flowing move with Getty providing the final pass.

Chris Henry made it 3-0 to the visitors with a trademark penalty corner variation before bundling another home at the back post to put the Northerners 4-0 up before the half-time interval.

The second half continued where the first half had left off. Paul Maguire extended his good run of goal-scoring form this season as he bagged himself a brace.

A well worked switch from a short corner and a first time shot into the bottom left from Adam Glass led to the seventh goal for the visitors. Seconds after the restart, Adam Marshall combined well with Chris Henry to tee up Simon Watt who duly converted to complete the rout.

This was an encouraging attacking performance for South, albeit against poor opposition, with forward Neil Wilson and keeper Joaquim Noaves both impressing on their first outings for the first XI this season.

This Sunday sees the firsts face Raphoe in the semi-final of the Linden Cup with action getting underway at Stormont at 2pm.