Allied Irish Banks Connaught Senior Cup (First Round)
Soccer News 12 February 1997
TIMES HAVE CHANGED AS CELTIC SUFFER CUP DOWNFALL TO OLD RIVALS
Wheel has turned full circle for Manulla
Manulla ...... 3 Castlebar Celtic ....... 2
By Tom Kelly at Manulla
Times have certainly changed. Not too long ago, Manulla possessed neither the craft nor confidence to beat Castlebar Celtic even if their lives depended on it. Now they can do it for fun.
Manulla's Connaught Senior Cup first round triumph over the former giants of Mayo football was far more comprehensive than the score line indicated.
A remarkable transformation has taken place at both these clubs since the start of the decade. This match provided a graphic illustration of that change, with Manulla maintaining their ascendancy and Celtic, sadly, falling further into decline.
On the strength of Sunday's result, Manulla will be more than content with their decision to step up to senior ranks next season.
Castlebar Celtic, for their part, will have found further, damning evidence of the urgent need to revert to junior status and rebuilt the club from within. Whatever option they take, it is going to be a long way back to the top for the most successful club in the history of the Mayo game.
Their greatest salvation, however, is the fact they have a number of particularly talented young players beginning to establish themselves. One of them, Steve Gavin, could have made matters much more difficult for the Manulla defence if he was given more of the ball.
But such was the lack of vision and ingenuity in the Celtic performance, however, that it was exceedingly predictable for a defender of Tom Healy's quality to read.
Manulla, in contrast, were far more direct and purposeful in their attacking play. It remains a criticism of them, however, that they are consistently missing good scoring chances, a failing which has proved their Achilles heel this season in the really big matches.
Celtic, a side without a competitive match in a number of weeks, got off to a disastrous start. Manulla defender Damian Ansbro's deceptive pass caught the Castlebar rearguard flatfooted in the 12th minute, and the unmarked Michael Costello powered his drive past goalkeeper Declan Kilkelly. STROKE OF INSPIRATION Whatever about anything else, Celtic could never be accused of lacking pride, and they got themselves back into the match in some style. Keith Burke, a player with the unique ability to turn a match with one stroke of inspiration, skilfully curled a free-kick over Manulla's defensive ball and into a top corner of the net.
But Celtic committed the fatal error of losing concentration immediately after scoring a goal, and they were punished with a vengeance.
Manulla restored their lead by scoring directly from the touch-off at the other end. Alan Rumley, the side's top scorer, inflicted the damage following good work by Roger Clarke and some woeful defending by Celtic.
Throughout the opening half, Celtic found it difficult to cope with the strong running of Brian Cunnaune, supported by the flair and imagination of Gerry Jennings.
Manulla virtually sealed their victory in the early moments of the second half when midfield ace John Dempsey struck the side's third goal. But the Celtic defenders were furious with the referee's assistant, John O'Brien. They claimed Dempsey was off-side when he received Kieran McDonnell's pass.
Roger Clarke and substitute Johnny Hennelly had clear-cut opportunities of stretching Manulla's lead before Celtic reduced the margin with a quarter of an hour remaining. A free-kick on the right by Steve Gavin was poorly defended by Manulla, and Danny Lawless reaped advantage.
Now the scene was set for a grandstand finish. . .but Celtic were devoid of both the stamina and spirit to mount it, with Manulla galloping past the winning post with some easy.
In a game which always threatened to boil over but did not, two players were sent-off and seven others were booked. Celtic's Lynden Reilly and Kevin Ryan, both of whom had been cautioned earlier, were red-cared in injury time following the same incident. Reilly received his marching orders for a professional foul on Ansbro, and Ryan got his second booking for arguing with referee Michael Walsh over Reilly's dismissal. Also booked were Kieran Murphy and Steve Gavin (Celtic), and Manulla's Michael Costello, Damian Ansbro, Tom Healy, John Dempsey and Kieran McDonnell.
Manulla are away to Renmore in the second round next Sunday.
Manulla: R. O'Malley, S. Staunton, K. McDonnell, D. Ansbro, T. Healy, M. Costello, J. Dempsey, R. Clarke, B. Cunnaune, A. Rumley, G. Jennings. Res: J. Hennelly (for Rumley inj.)
Castlebar Celtic: D. Kilkelly, R. Berkeley, S. Reilly, K. Murphy, S. Moran, S. Gavin, D. Lawless, B. Horan, K. Ryan, K. Burke, M. McNicholas. Res: L. Reilly (for McNicholas inj.); S. Quinn (for Horan); K. Boyle (for S. Reilly).
Ref: M. Walsh (Castlebar).
* Star Rating: John Dempsey. . .close to recapturing his best form.
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - February 1997
