The N.E.F.L got their Oscar Traynor campane off to a flying start to a great 4-1 win over the Defence Forces at the MDL Grounds.
Robbie Wogans men started brightly and and after soaking up some early pressure took the lead after a great through ball from Barry Kavanagh found the run of David Bowens to open the scoring, it would be the only goal of a competitive first half and the N.E.F.L would take a one goal lead going in to the second half.
The second half started with the home side piling on some early pressure and that pressure would be rewarded when Bownes scored his second of the game to double the scoreline, it was a rare headed goal from the OMP man who placed the header just in off the post, the 3rd goal was not long coming after Ross Gaynor pounced on a mistake in the Forces backline which left the keeper stranded in no man land and the Ardee man made no mistake to make it 3-0. The scoring was not finished there either as again Bownes grabbed his hat rick goal, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to make it 4-0.
The home side then made a few changes and were in control of the rest of the game with the Forces only creating a couple of half chances but they did get on the scoresheet when they were awarded a peno which was converted to leave some chance of a comeback but it was too little to late as the N.E.F.L saw out the rest of the game with no more dramas to secure the first round game.