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STRAIDE & FOXFORD DROP TWO PLACES AFTER HOME DRAW . . .
Zealous Celtic retain leadership spot Straide & Foxford United ...... 1 Castlebar Celtic ...... 1 By Tom Kelly at Foxford Castlebar Celtic retained the leadership of the Connaught Senior League Premiership at Foxford on Sunday despite losing their one hundred per cent record at the hands of Straide & Foxford United. In a match rich in commitment and undying spirit, United were forced to come from behind before securing a deserved equaliser through substitute Michael Roach which extended their unbeaten run to five matches. But the outcome, United's third draw in five games, resulted in the home side dropping two place in the table to fourth spot behind N.U.I. Galway, Sligo Rovers and Celtic. Straide & Foxford made four changes from the side which lost to Wayside Celtic in the F.A.I. Intermediate Cup seven days earlier. Brendan Bourke and Martin Neary replaced the suspended Pat Reid and Johnny Jordan, while Pat Neary returned from injury in place of Declan Smyth. But the former Celtic defender's comeback was short-lived. He suffered a recurrence of his leg injury after less than ten minutes, and he was replaced by Michael Roach, who joined United from Conn Rangers. Castlebar had injury problems of their own during the opening period. Skilful attacker Martin McNicholas was carried off with a knee injury after just twelve minutes, while left-full Jimmy Kelly was forced to cry off with an ankle complaint on the half an hour mark Celtic, determined to show their lofty position in the table was not a false one, got off to the better start. They were passing the ball better and clearly had the edge at midfield where Stephen Murphy and the outstanding Kevin Ryan were making their mark. CHANCES LIMITED Although scoring chances were limited, Celtic were looking the more likely to break the deadlock because of their speed on the break and the threat of Brendan Horan on the left flank. As it transpired, the move which led to Celtic's goal in the 34th minute emerged from the other side of the pitch. Ollie Cunningham, with virtually his first touch after replacing Kelly, knocked the ball sweetly into the Straide & Foxford penalty area. The defence appeared to be in control of the situation, but persistent Celtic striker Russell Gibbons brilliantly stuck out his head and nodded the ball into the top corner past a bemused James Larkin between the posts. It was only the third goal United had conceded in the league, but it is one they will want to forget. Enormous credit was due to Gibbons for getting to a ball that should never have been his in the first place. Straide & Foxford established control of midfield in the second half, and it providing the foundation of their successful fightback. Martin Neary, who looked a forlorn figure in the first half in an unaccustomed attacking role alongside the subdued Clive Gilmartin, reverted to his favoured central midfield role and was instrumental in turning the game around for United. Alongside the purposeful Michael Costello, Straide & Foxford began to find gaps in the Celtic rearguard which had not been there in the first half. EQUALISING GOAL The equalising goal came thirteen minutes into the half and was supplied, in typical style, by a long throw in by the industrious John Kenny. His arm-propelled missile caught out the Celtic defenders, and Michael Roche, not unlike Celtic's Russell Gibbons earlier, rose quicker and higher that anybody else before directing in the ball past goalkeeper Declan Kilkelly. Now United were clearly on top, and Costello was pushed deeper and deeper in search of a winning goal. But Celtic did enough to hold out with the mud-splattered central defensive partnership of Kieran Murphy and Fintan McHale producing a number of crucial interceptions and tackles. To be fair, Alex Durkin and John Kenny were just as effective at the other end. Celtic almost snatched a dramatic winning goal in the closing stages after Durkin, enjoying one of his best ever games in a United jersey, was red-carded for retaliation on Steve Gavin. The ball ran sweetly to Stephen Murphy following a clearance from a corner-kick, and the former Castlebar United midfield powered just inches wide of a post. A draw was the right result. But it was a better result for Celtic than Straide & Foxford. It showed Celtic could live with the league's leading contenders away from home. Such knowledge can do wonder for the confidence of a young team. Straide & Foxford: J. Larkin, D. Flannery, B. Joyce, J. Kenny, A. Durkin, C. Gilmartin, M. Costello, P. Neary, M. Neary, B. Bourke, G. Ruane. Res: M. Roach (for P. Neary inj); D. Smyth (for M. Neary). Castlebar Celtic: D. Kilkelly, J. Kelly, S. Reilly, K. Murphy, F. McHale, M. McNicholas, S. Murphy, B. Horan, R. Gibbons, K. Ryan, S. Gavin. Res: L. Reilly (for McNicholas inj.); O. Cunningham (for Kelly inj.). Ref: K. Reilly (Ballyglass). * Star Rating: Kevin Ryan. . .gets on with the job, doesn't get frustrated or booked anymore and inspires those around him. Just what Celtic need at the moment. |
