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Defensive strategy backfires on Celtic CONNAUGHT SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP SETBACK TO TITLE WINNING PLANS ON CLUB'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY. . .Castlebar Celtic ............................ 0 Mervue United ............................. 3By Tom Kelly. . .At Celtic ParkCastlebar Celtic are getting used to high expectation at the end of one year turning into a bitter letdown at the beginning of another. After three wins on the spin in December which put them within a point of the top of the table, there was every reason to believe that the future was looking considerably bright for a club planning its 75th anniversary celebrations. But hopes of having the Connaught Senior League Premiership title gracing the trophy cabinet at the end of such an auspicious year received a crippling setback at Celtic Park on Sunday. They suffered their biggest home defeat of the season against defending champions, Mervue United, in a match which was never short of passion and commitment in exceedingly cold conditions The result ensured United of taking over the league leadership on goal difference from N.U.I., Galway, both sides having accumulated 22 points from 10 matches. Two points behind them, with a game more played, are Castlebar Celtic, who must now consider each of their ten remaining games as 'cup finals' in their own right. So how did things go dramatically wrong for Celtic at a time when it seemed they were beginning to do everything right? The records will show that three goals in the opening sixteen minutes of the second half by clinical Mervue striker Henry Loughnane killed off the Celtic challenge. But, from a Celtic point of view, the analysis needs to go much deeper than that. It is my view that the side's five-man defensive system, with two central defenders, a sweeper and two attacking wing backs, clearly did not work. The manner in which Mervue's first goal was conceded indicated there was uncertainty among the three out-and-out Celtic defenders, namely Damian Ansbro, Pat Neary and sweeper Kieran Murphy, in regard to who should be doing what. It was worrying to see them backing off and not making a tackle on Mervue substitute Mathias O'Malley as he barged through the defence before unleashing a 20 yards drive which Castlebar goalkeeper Colm Moylette, replacing Declan Kilkelly who was away in England, was unable to hold. Loughnane, the former Ballinasloe Town ace, reacted swiftly to knock the loose ball into the net. OFFSIDE TRAPThe talented striker created the second goal himself after unlocking the Celtic offside trap with a timely run. He cut sweetly inside from the right before driving the ball from an acute angle into the net, past a bewildered Moylette. The fact Loughnane had so much space on the right, even if there was a suspicion of him being in an offside position, added substance to the theory that incorporating a system of wing-backs into a defensive strategy has little potential for long term success if the players are too attack orientated. In this particular case, Ollie Cunningham, who is an outstanding full back in an orthodox formation, was caught out because he was pushing too far forward. Admittedly Celtic had to push more men into attack at that point, but perhaps they should have been more patient. On the other flank, Danny Lawless is a natural attacking player and, on this evidence, you have to question the wisdom of playing him in a double role. In Celtic's favour, however, it has to be said that they had the best defensive record in the league up to Sunday's match, so they obviously have been doing a lot of things right. Perhaps it is unwise to overreact after one display in which so many players failed to measure up to scratch. The third Mervue goal, which materialised in the 62nd minute, came following a high ball into the area which was brilliantly trapped by O'Malley. He evaded a tackle by Celtic's Damian Ansbro before knocking the ball across the face of the home goalmouth for Loughnane to tap home for his hat-rick. It was the ultimate insult to Celtic's defending and marked the climax of an agonising period for a side which never had a chance of recovering. Instead, they were forced to bemoan two missed opportunities in the first half by their top scorer, Fintan McHale. In fairness to McHale, he created both of them himself and was not far off the mark with both finishes. Martin McNicholas, Celtic's spirited midfielder, also displayed a lot of enterprise during the opening half, and presented the Mervue defence with problems. It was a surprise that Celtic lost their shape so badly in the second half, but a good team has the ability to pick up the pieces, as Celtic hope to do over the coming few months. Castlebar Celtic: C. Moylette, P. Neary, D. Lawless, D. Ansbro, L. Reilly, K. Murphy, K. Burke, M. McNicholas, F. McHale, K. Ryan, O. Cunningham. Sub used: K. Ruane. Mervue United: P. Lally, S. Lally, D. Brennan, D. Rodgers, M. O'Toole, G. McGrath, B. O'Sullivan, N. McDonnell, H. Loughnane, R. Browne, J. King. Subs used: M. O'Malley and F. Fallon. Ref: H. Loftus, Castlebar. * Star Rating: Henry Loughnane. . .clinical poacher.
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