We played Killarney Celtic away on Saturday, a hard place to get a result at the best of times & as the saying goes ” twas a game of two halves”. Despite an even enough opening fifteen minutes Celtic started to pile on the pressure & were rewarded after twenty six minutes when a break down our right hand side saw their striker dance through three challenges before a clinical finish past Pa Roche for the opening score. From the tip-off we attacked & the Celtic keeper made a double save to first deny David Oba & then from the rebound get a block on Conor O Briens goal ward shot. Within a minute Celtic had doubled their lead after a cross from deep was met on the volley brilliantly just inside our box for a top class finish in the roof of the net. More Celtic pressure & a through ball which our back four thought was off-side but the Killarney lad played on & finished to the net for their third. Celtic created two more chances before the break which we were lucky enough to get away with so the half-time whistle was much welcomed.
After some words of wisdom from George & the game turned on its head as we completely dominated the second period. Aaron Ward was skinning the Celtic full back & after a lovely passing move of quick one twos Conor O Brien played Aaron in & a cool finish into the bottom corner & you could feel the game changing. A few minutes later Mark McDonald grazed the post with a header from a corner but some days its just not going to be your day. Kiwi Killeen hit a rocket from outside the box which rattled the crossbar with the keeper beaten & Celtic on the ropes. Our two full backs Alex & Dylan pushed forward keeping the Celtic wingers on the backfoot. Dean O Connell was covering ever inch of the pitch getting involved in all our best attacks & a much improved second half from the dynamic Cian & Kiwi had us dominate possession. After a heavy tackle on Conor O Brien we were awarded a free just outside their box which Simon Kedzierski nearly burst the net with a ‘ Simon special’. Fifteen to go & still we pushed for the equaliser but to no avail despite a goal ward effort from Thomas Burke which just roze over the bar & Eoin Lynchs first touch taking the paint off the bottom of the post.
A much improved second half performance but had we played at all in the first half we wouldn’t have had so much to do.
Team: Pa Roche, Alex Rowan/Keane, Mark McDonald, Dylan Burns, Maciek Morawski, Cian Holden, Kiwi Killeen, Dean O Connell, Eoin Lynch, Nathan O Brien , Simon Kedzierski, Conor O Brien, David Oba, Aaron Ward, Kevin Browne, Thomas Burke.
MOTM , Simon Kedzierski.
Match report by Dave Scanlon .
