What a game! What excitement! What a way to finish! A night of high drama in Listowel that kept everyone’s nerves on end until the light had almost faded on a beautiful April day.
Never headed and having played some outstanding soccer, particularly in extra time, the Park boys thoroughly deserved their victory over a Listowel Celtic team who gave everything on the night.
The Park started nervously and it was obvious that they hadn’t been together in some time. Touches were heavy, passes misplaced and frustrations were evident with Listowel dominant for the first half an hour. But slowly Park started to get a grip on midfield and once Michael Slattery began to get his eye in after a 30th minute effort had been well saved, it did look like Park would be the first to score. The same player had another effort just wide two minutes later before a fine pass from Sean Carmody in the 33rd minute set him up to unleash an unstoppable drive from outside the box to open the scoring.
All teams are vulnerable after they score and so it proved here again. Park switched off and 3 minutes after they scored the man who always finds the net from long range did it again. Jake Kelly from 35 yards connected with a wonderful shot that gave Thomas Burke no chance. A really great strike that anyone would be proud of. Half time 1-1 and Park were happy enough, not having played to their potential.
The Park boys resumed a different team. Ruairi O’Kelly’s introduction had a bit impact and Dan Goggin started to really influence the game. The back four of James Rusk, Matt Lukco, Dylan Casey and Adam Ward we’re dealing with everything that was thrown their way while our other two in midfield, Sean Carmody and Kevin Browne were now beginning to get the upper hand in a great centre midfield battle. Eight minutes into the second half Carmody was just wide with a drive followed by an even closer miss from Michael Slattery two minutes later. It took 22 minutes of the second half before Park finally broke down the Listowel defence. Ruairi O’Kelly chased a hopeless cause to the end line and having just kept the ball in he fed Slattery who once again drove a superb shot into the top corner of the net from a very difficult angle on the side of the Celtic box. A number of other chance fell the Park’s way but the Listowel keeper was in fine form. Raul Vnzcel was now on up front and his enthusiastic running at the Celtic defence kept the Listowel boys on their toes. Cue the inevitable mad scramble to finish a cup game with one goal separating the sides. For once, with 90 seconds left on the clock, the Park defence didn’t deal with a ball into the box, for once they were at sixes and sevens and Michéal Kennedy took advantage to drive home the equaliser. This was Listowel’s chance to win the game and it looked like they would when in the dying seconds the had a free shot from 3 yards, straight in front of the goals. An incredible save from Thomas Burke was all that saved the Park.
Extra time was all one way. Park totally dominated but just could not find a finish to beat the Listowel custodian who had a fine game. He had two excellent saves, one in each half of extra time, from Dan Goggin and Michael Slattery.
Then came the dreaded penalty shoot out and 10 young, brave men stood up to be counted. Sean Carmody and Dylan Casey both scored before James Rusk, who had and outstanding game, was inches wide with his effort. Listowel then hit the post with one of theirs before Kevin Browne slotted his home. Enter Thomas Burke. Exacting some revenge for being caught out earlier by the same player, he magnificently dived to his left to save Jake Kelly’s well struck shot. Who would take the deciding penalty? Thomas Burke of course. A superbly taken penalty gave the Listowel keeper no chance and broke the brave Celtic boys’ hearts. Jubilant scenes followed with the excellent Park supporters joining in the celebrations.
A good clean game of soccer, well refereed by Seamie O’Mahony, gave all who attended plenty of value and excitement. Tough on Listowel to go out on penalties but a strong resilient performance from a great bunch of Park players. Well done to both sets of players for producing an outstanding evenings effort and entertainment.
Panel: Thomas Burke, Adam Ward, James Rusk, Matt Lukco, Dylan Casey, Dan Goggin, Sean Carmody, Kevin Browne, Jake Deering, Michael Slattery, Niall Sertutxa, Ruairi O’Kelly and Raul Vnczel. Gearoid Fitzgerald, Robin McCarthy, Jakub Zlotocki, Michael O’Gara and Alfie Christie were all badly missed for a variety of reasons.
Thank you to all the parents who drove and travelled to support us and to those who continuously offer support in the way of drives and help with the team.
One area of concern is that we travelled with a very small squad to the Celtic game and it almost cost us as we ended up picking up a few injuries. We need all players to put the shoulder to the wheel now for the last 4 or 5 games of the season.
We will have a very light ball work session in the Park at 5pm on Saturday before we play Killarney Celtic in the league on Tuesday next 14th April at 6.30pm in the Park. This team has put in a huge effort since last August with great focus and dedication so lets ensure we finish the season strong.
Report by P.Carmody
