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Thursday, July 22, 2010
Park dash Celtic’s dreams
BY JORDAN MURPHY
St Brendan’s Park 2 Killarney Celtic 0
KILLARNEY Celtic were denied the domestic treble as they were defeated 2-0 by a battling St Brendan’s Park side at Mounthawk Park, Tralee, on Sunday in a dramatic Castle Bar League Cup final.
Celtic were going for the third leg of their desired treble having won the Premier A league and Greyhound Bar KO Cup finals over the previous two weeks, but the Park had other ideas as their fantastic defensive performance saw them edge Celtic out after a very tight contest.
Killarney Celtic’s chances were hampered by the loss of three key experienced players coming into the final with Brian Spillane, John Doyle and Pa McGrath all ruled out through injury.
This proved decisive as they found it very difficult to break down the Park defence.
Celtic will claim that the length of the season also didn’t help but they did have a strong squad this year and they just did not fire on the day.
But Park deserved their win as they gave a fantastic performance, especially at the back where man-of-the-match Con Barrett was imperious throughout, completely dominating aerially, while leaving no room for Celtic’s danger-man Geratus Paketarus.
Both sides were slow finding their feet as the opening play was sloppy with Gary Keane’s strike over from distance the only real goal-mouth action.
However, the game sparked into life in the eighth minute when Park’s Pa McCarthy’s excellent turn and strike flew inches over the top with the keeper tapping over to be safe.
The resulting corner dropped inside the six-yard box but David Doyle managed to miss the ball as it flew across him.
The Killarney side was looking comfortable on the ball but went behind as Park took a shock lead in the 20th minute.
Paudie Bailey played in behind the Celtic defence and with David Hayes hesitating, Pa McCarthy swooped in to capitalise, brilliantly dinking the ball superbly with his weaker left foot into the net with the keeper in no man’s land.
Celtic nearly hit back straight away when Derek Twomey burst through the middle but drove wide when he should have punished the sleeping Park defence.
The first half was a fiery affair with tackles flying in by both sides as the referee Brian Healy was finding it difficult to keep things under control, handing out numerous yellow cards.
Killarney Celtic went on to control the remainder of the half but they still weren’t able to break down the terrific Park defence.
David Clifford had the only other chance of note when he got free on the right but he fired wide from a tight angle.
Robert Watson, a member of Celtic’s youth league winning side, was introduced in the first half and he proved a constant threat up front. He had a good chance to get the equaliser in the 53rd minute when he got onto a Paketarus cross but he put his effort wide across goal.
Celtic began finding more space going forward as they pushed hard to find a way through. They were almost given a gift in the 65th minute when a corner was flapped at by Tommy Moriarty, with the ball falling to Stephen Hayes but Moriarty recovered well to make a fine save.
Paketarus then got in behind the Park defence in the 67th minute but his layoff across the six-yard box was too heavy for Anthony O’Leary, and Park scrambled clear as the pressure was building.
Celtic’s task was made harder in the 75th minute when Stephen Hayes was shown a second yellow card, leaving them with just ten men.
Park were content to sit back and deal with the pressure but they still possessed the attacking players to punish Celtic on the break. They almost did in the 77th minute when Clifford played in Alan Sankar but his first-time strike flew well over.
Anthony O’Leary soon saw red leaving Celtic with nine men, as it looked as if the treble dreams were all but gone.
But there was still time for major drama in injury time as Celtic won a 92nd minute corner, and with everybody in the box, included Celtic goalkeeper Michael Gust-afir, the ball was driven to the far post.
It fell to Chris Brady who neatly controlled before smashing two shots, forcing Moriarty to make fine reaction saves, before Alan Nagle had his shot blocked on the third rebound as Park somehow kept them out.
David Clifford was then released with his lightening pace and with Celtic’s keeper Gustafir up for the corner, he had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty Celtic net, allowing the Park celebrations to begin.
Killarney Celtic has enjoyed a fantastic season with the double, but credit must go to Park for an excellent performance.
Killarney Celtic: Michael Gustafir, Chris Brady, John McDonagh, David Hayes, Anthony O Leary, Alan Nagle, Derek Twomey, Gary Keane, Stephen Hayes, Geratus Paketarus, Mick O’Sullivan. Subs used: Robert Watson, David O’Sullivan.
St Brendan’s Park: Tommy Moriarty, Joey O’Conner, Paudie Bailey, Con Barrett, David Doyle, David Clifford, David McLoughlin, Greg Healy, Graham O’Leary, Pa McCarthy, Fergal Maunsell. Subs used: Alan Sankar, David Rodgers, Kieran Hurley.
Referee: Brian Healy.
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