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Thursday, March 04, 2010
Celtic take second chance
BY MURT MURPHY
Tralee Celtic 3 Connolly Park 1
TRALEE Celtic eventually saw off the challenge of a dogged Connolly Park side in this Greyhound Bar KO Cup replay played at Mounthawk Park, Tralee, on Sunday afternoon.
But the Premier A side were far from being anywhere near their best, and will want to show improved form when they return to league action.
In fact, Connolly Park should probably have won the first outing and actually led for over 60 minutes of this contest but ultimately their lack of firepower cost them up front, and in the second half, they hardly had a shot on target.
Tralee Celtic were strong at the back with David Moore and Derek O’Connor solid at the heart of their defence while their two full backs, Paul English and Dara Dunne, were always willing to run down the flanks and supply good ball to their attack.
Midfield was an area where Celtic seemed a tad short on ideas, despite the presence Irish junior international Stephen O’Mahony who had a fine game, while playing Fergal Moynihan anywhere other than an out-andout striker is not going to pay dividends.
The opening half was totally forgettable with very little in terms of clear-cut chances as Tralee Celtic huffed and puffed but could not blow the Connolly Park house down, while Connolly Park, despite the hard graft of Peter Williams and Leon McEvoy, could not get Graham O’Connell the ball up front. And when they did, O’Connor and Moore were in command.
Celtic had an early chance in the second minute, when Dare Dunne crossed from the left hand side and though Fergal Moynihan got his head to the ball, he was off balance and it flew well over the top.
Spa Road did have a half chance in the 11th minute when Gary Lynch crossed but David McCannon headed wide.
Tralee Celtic, with Paul English to the fore, had lots of possession but created precious little in front of goal but appeared to have taken the lead in the 30th minute.
Aidan O’Sullivan and Anthony Murphy combined to set-up Fergal Moynihan and he drilled a low shot towards the bottom left hand corner but Connolly Park goalkeeper Gary Sugrue dived full length to turn it around the post for a stunning save.
Maybe this gave Connolly Park hope because two minutes later, they were in front after a string of bizarre circumstances.
Firstly, Graham O’Connell was on the ball but was being forced wide of goal when Celtic goalkeeper Dermot Raggett seemed to get a rush of blood to the head and pull him down, conceding a needless penalty.
Up stepped Oliver Murphy to take the spot kick only for Raggett to make a blinding save but Tommy O’Connor forced the loose ball over the line and Connolly Park were 1-0 in front, completely against the run of play.
Anthony Murphy shot across goal three minutes before half time but Tralee Celtic retired a goal adrift. Whatever Dave Elton said at half time seemed to work as Tralee Celtic played far better in the second half and were dangerous in the air from free kicks and corner kicks.
In the 55th minute, Celtic almost levelled when Aidan O’Sullivan drilled in a low free kick that took a wicked deflection of David Moore but it just missed the target.
Five minutes later, Stephen O’Mahony’s corner to the back post just failed to find David Moore’s head as Celtic continued to seek the equaliser.
Then in the 62nd minute, Paul English won another corner which O’Mahony floated in to Fergal Moynihan but his header lacked power and Sugrue collected.
But three minutes later the pressure finally told as Connolly Park conceded a free kick just right of centre when Moynihan was taken down as he threatened to break free.
O’Mahony floated over the free kick to the back post where David Moore was able to slide the ball to the net.
It was all Tralee Celtic at this stage with Connolly Park not able to get out of their own half and inevitably the lead goal came in the 75th minute.
Paul English was the provider when he played a through to Kevin Maunsell, who had just come on and finished clinically past the advancing ‘keeper.
Then eight minutes from time, Fergal Moynihan made the cup tie safe when he drilled an unstoppable shot from 25 yards low to the bottom corner of the Connolly Park net.
However, there was late drama in the 89th minute when Christy McCannon was taken down inside the Celtic box and Connolly Park were awarded a second penalty that McCannon himself took.
But again Raggett made a superb save to ensure Tralee Celtic advanced to the next round of the Greyhound Bar KO Cup.
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