Very comfortable win for the away side this afternoon in a pitch which was switched from North End's unplayable ground to Curracloe, which has fantastic drainage as it laid on a natural sand base. North End were fine going forward but were in disarray all afternoon at the back every time the ball awas delivered into the box. First chance fell to Pike after five when the impressive Moloney went round the NE keeper but he mi**** his effort and the retreating defender was able to clear it off the line. There was then a yellow card apiece and, after fifteen, Shane Dempsey had NE's first effort when he got a good shot away from 25 out which the Pike keeper found it difficult enough to parry away. Pike then had another good chance when a backheel deflected off a NE defender and nearly ended up in the top-left corner. First goal for Pike occuured after 25 minutes when a Pike free kick hit away beyond the far post was well-retrieved back to the near post by Pike leaving an easy nod home. NE then had a free header themselves from a corner but put it wide. With five to go in the half, Pike went two up when another cross into the box was bundled into his own net by a disoriented NE defender. 2-0 to Pike at half-time.
Pike had two fantastic chances early on in the second to kill the game off but missed them both. The first was a free header which was miscued when it looked easier to score and the second a fresh-air from five out by a Pike forward when all alone in the box. NE then made a game of it when they secured a penalty after a run into the Pike box. This was put away nicely by Paul Murphy for 2-1. However, NE never really threatened again and coughed up two more set-piece goals to Pike - both coming from corners. A late red card for NE had no influence on the result. NE were frankly awful at the back and this can only be very partly explained by the fact that their regular keeper was missing. Best for NE were Shane Dempsey and Paul Murphy who used the ball very well while Nobby Kearney worked hard at left-back. Best for Pike was the stand-out performance of Pa Moloney who caused huge problames to the NE defence all day. 4-1 to Pike at full-time.
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