Quinlan's delight at Eagles' clean sheet

Whitehead Eagles 3

A FIRST shut-out of the season for Whitehead Eagles, who made a welcome return to winning ways with this three-goal success away at Finaghy Young Men.

Player coach Paddy Quinlan was content enough afterwards, agreeing “we defended a lot better, we were a lot better organised. We had chances, we could have had more goals – but the big bonus is finally getting that first clean sheet of the season!”

Indeed, Finaghy, playing the long ball game, never really threatened the Eagles rearguard, with Scott McWilliam forced into just the one notable save.

At the other end, Paul Tumilty fired one just wide, before being manhandled inside the box; Danny Hastings stroking home the resultant penalty.

After the changearound, Joe Kennedy ought to have doubled that lead, after manoeuvring the ball round the keeper. While Eagles were still looking comfortable enough, one goal leads are notoriously precarious, and it wasn’t until the final quarter that they made doubly sure; Kennedy’s replacement Dean McKenzie threading the ball through for Hastings to pump past the keeper.

Whitehead rounded it all off three minutes from time when substitute Michael Brock prised out an opening for Tony Moran to blast in number three.

Next Saturday, it’s back to Castleview Road for the visit of Kelvin Old Boys.

Whitehead Eagles; McWilliam – Glover, Quiery, K Brock, Ferguson – Hastings (McCune), Quinlan, Moran, McDonald (M Brock) – Kennedy (McKenzie), Tumilty.