Pike hit Milford for six in FAI Junior

FAI Junior Cup holders Pike Rovers turned in their best display of the season to easily beat Milford 6-0 on Sunday afternoon to reach the last eight of the competition.

The Donegal side had the misfortune to be the side to meet Pike when they were firing on all cylinders and they paid the price in a miserable afternoon for the homesters.

Three goals to the good by half time, the second half was a non contest with the Hoops adding three further goals to their tally.

The results rewards Pike with a home quarter final against Munster challengers Clonmel Celtic. The other ties in the last eight sees Sheriff at home to O’Devanneys, Kilbarrack at home to Sandyhill and Carndonagh at home to Ballymun.

By their own standards Pike have been performing below par for the past few months despite racking up the wins. However manager Declan Considine had his side well prepared for this one and it was evident within the opening five minutes that Pike meant business.

Alan Barry went within a whisker of opening the scoring before the deadlock was broken on 13 minutes.

Eoin Hanrahan delivered a corner kick and Colm Enright’s initial headed effort was blocked by the net minder but the Pike defender followed up to blast the rebound to the net.

The lead was doubled midway through the half when John Boyle’s ball across goal was cleverly knocked back by Dave Ryan for the inrunning Eoin Hanrahan to get the required touch to knock into the net.

The contest was over three minutes before the break with the goal of the game. Conor Kavanagh collected in midfield and spread the ball wide for Sean Kelly and Eoin Hanrahan and when the latter whipped a cross into the danger zone, Kavanagh arrived right on cue to head home.

Things did not improve for the home side after the break and within two minutes it was 4-0.

Hanrahan again was in the thick of it as his ball inside to Dave Ryan saw the striker weave and jink past two defenders before slipping the ball under the keeper.

On the hour mark, Kelly delivered and when the ball was only half cleared John Boyle let fly with an effort that took a deflection to the net.

The icing on the game wrapped it up when two of the replacements combined as Pat Moloney put Kieran O’Hanlon through to end a memorable day for the Champions.

Pike Rovers - Gary Neville; Stephen Kelly; Eddie O’Donovan; Pat Mullins; Colm Enright; John Boyle; Jeffery Judge; Conor Kavanagh; Eoin Hanrahan; Alan Barry; Dave Ryan. Subs not used: Mike Aherne; O’Hanlon; Pat Moloney