Corey Jinks netted a hat trick as Abbeyleix Athletic were hit for six by St Peters at the Athlone Town Stadium last Sunday afternoon.
The Saints never looked back after taking an early lead and had the three points secured by the half time break, leading by four goals to nil, a late goal for Abbeyleix proving mere consolation for the visitors.
The home team raced into a three goal lead inside the first quarter of an hours play, the scoring was opened with just three minutes of this contest played. Good work down the left involving Adam O’Brien and then Nenad Lazic created the opening, the shot from Jinks on the turn finding the net. Luke Kelly then fired wide for the hosts with a first corner kick of the game soon following. Another corner was earned when Kelly’s long range attempt was pushed onto the post and behind by Athletic keeper Stephen Thompson. The delivery from the corner flag by Jordan Carr was accurate, picking out Jinks, who then headed home from inside the six yard box.
A third goal soon arrived after 14 minutes when a cross from the right fell nicely for Clive Harris who showed good finishing as he shot to the roof of the net. Abbeyleix were now looking at a big defeat but managed to recover their composure as the half progressed. Jinks was in pursuit of his hat trick and was only denied by the keeper’s legs after 20 minutes. Two more corners kept up the pressure on the Laois team but they survived and enjoyed their first good spell of the game up to the half hour mark.
Just when Abbeyleix appeared to be gaining a foothold in the game though, St Peters struck for goal number four after 34 minutes. It was a fine individual effort from Carr who finished off a mazy run when taking on the away defence by shooting low past the keeper’s right to the net. The Saints had now all but secured the three points with the second half still to come.
The second period was just five minutes old when St Peters made it five nil with the goal of the game, Kelly connecting brilliantly first time with the ball to fire to the roof of the net from just outside the penalty area. The remainder of the half then saw the Saints go through the motions as manager Mark McConnell unloaded his substitute’s bench. Abbeyleix kept going, but the next goal though fell the home team’s way as Jinks finally completed his hat trick with 73 minutes gone, substitute Adam Dowling sending in a cross from the left which was side footed home by the Saint’s number nine.
The visitors were rewarded with a consolation score with 10 minutes remaining when a Ger Killeen shot from close range was blocked in a crowded goalmouth but Darragh Carroll followed up to fire the rebound home. A second goal almost followed for Abbeyleix but Bill McGrath struck the post with a shot.
