Rampant Castlebar Celtic run eight past Kiltimagh/Knock United

ELVERYS SPORTS SUPER LEAGUE

Kiltimagh Knock United 0

Castlebar Celtic 8

J Loftus 24, 79, 82, L Kelly 38 66, B Walsh 61, D Edwards 65, M Cunningham 88

In CMS Park

Castlebar Celtic returned to the summit of Mayo soccer in rude fashion on Thursday evening, as they produced a clinical performance to dispose of a dogged Kiltimagh Knock United side.

The first half proved to be a difficult one for Stevie Gavin’s hoops, who had to contend with a ball zipping across the turf, a mammoth breeze, and a determined low block.

READ MORE: Fatal collision between lorry and woman in Mayo town

However, in the style we’ve become so accustomed to seeing in recent seasons, they found the net in clinical fashion.

Jordan Loftus’ penalty was the first shot on target those peering out from the sanctuary of their umbrellas were treated to since early on, when Enda Joyce reacted well in nets to get low and repel Luke Kelly’s daisy-cutter.

With chances at a premium due to a myriad of factors, the ever-silky Celtic number nine did the business from twelve yards.

When Luke Kelly was faced with the whites of Joyce’s eyes with half-time looming, he rolled into the onion bag to double his side's supremacy as they went to the dressing rooms for a reprieve from the conditions.

The home side were threadbare in truth, with only Simon Byrne on the bench, and once Brian Walsh got the ball out from under his feet to fire into the bottom corner, the floodgates were open.

First, Dylan Edwards rattled the net to make it four, before Kelly, Loftus, with two in five minutes, and Mark Cunningham piled on the misery.

Next up for the men from the county town is a return to Cup action. Meanwhile, it's a matter of dusting themselves off for the men in blue, who face a trip west on Sunday to take on a Westport United side aiming to make Castlebar Celtic’s time at the top short-lived.

A full report, plus reaction, will be carried in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News