Played in Listowel on Saturday 29th, it was a game Park will wonder for a long time how they lost. 2-0 up after 8 minutes and dominant throughout, wastefulness proved their downfall. Robin McCarthy put Park ahead after just three and a half minutes following a pass from James Rusk. When a beautiful passage of play from Park ended up with Rusk threading a superb pass through to Michael O’Gara for a sublime finish, it looked good for the Tralee lads. Unbelievably within 10 minutes Listowel were level. A penalty followed by an excellently finished goal by Celtic meant that after 18 minutes it was back to square one for the Park boys. While the remainder of the first half was level enough, Park dominated the second. Celtic had one great chance cleared off the line by Sean Carmody but Park missed eight or nine at the other end. Robin McCarthy, Josh Wadding and Michael Slattery all had chances to put Park ahead as Park were well on top in midfield but somehow the ball would not go in. With Shane Jordan doing well in goals, the returning Donagh McMahon showing off his skills at left back and Dylan Casey ruling the roost in midfield, it was hard to believe that Park weren’t also ahead on the scoreboard. Ruairi O’Kelly was now on the pitch and asking more questions of the Listowel defence.
But as everyone knows, if you don’t take your chances you will probably get punished. Fair play to Listowel. They hung in there when they could have folded and their resilience was rewarded with one of the best goals you could hope to see at this level. Young Kelly from Listowel hit an unstoppable volley from a tight angle 30 yards out and with only 3 minutes left on the clock it was game over. Desperately hard luck on the Park but a lesson that you must take your chances.
The focus now turns to the cup and a clash with our near neighbours from Kingdom Boys. Training at 7.30pm on Mondays and 6pm on Fridays.
Panel Vs Listowel Celtic : Shane Jordan, Kevin Browne, Matt Lukco, Sean Carmody, Donagh McMahon, Dylan Casey, Michael O’Gara, James Rusk, Robin McCarthy, Michael Slattery, Josh Wadding, Ruairi O’Kelly, Niall Sertuxta and Conor Higgins.
Many thanks to the parents who drove players to Listowel on Saturday. Your help is much appreciated . We have agreed to play our final league game against Kingdom Boys at home next Friday evening at 6.15pm . It will be our final Competitive game before our Kerry cup 1/4 Final against the same opposition .
Report by P.Carmody
