16 July 1997
Transformed Parkside have the last laugh!
Parkside Celtic ....................... 2 Newport Town .......................... 0
Milebush Report byTom Kelly
Parkside Celtic have obliterated their reputation as the whipping boys of Mayo football. Nine months ago, the Ballina club finished bottom of the league with only one point from eighteen games and had the worst defensive record by a long way after conceded 87 goals.
In what clearly represents one of the most amazing transformations to occur in the local game for some time, Celtic captured their first trophy at Milebush on Sunday by overcoming Newport Town in the Tonra Cup final.
So what has brought about such a remarkable metamorphosis to a side that simply could not win this time last year?
The signing of central half David Langdon was a masterstroke. But, more importantly, the players have discovered the type of self-esteem and assurance which were missing for so long.
They are playing for one another with a sense of spirit and aggression, and the brilliant scoring form of James Muldoon has spread confidence throughout the team. Muldoon came into the match as the most clinical striker in Mayo soccer this season with 28 goals to his credit.
Parkside are no longer the butt of every joke. It was so bad, they had even started laughing at themselves! When their name came out of a hat at a Mayo League meeting some time ago in a draw for a couple of hundred pounds, club official Paddy Maughan brought the house down when he claimed it was the first thing they ever won.
Nobody is laughing now, however. Celtic showed against Newport they are a force with which to be reckoned. Said Celtic manager John Langan: "We did not win a match in our first season. But I keep faith in the players because they were young. They are beginning to come up trumps now."
The decisive moment of the match occurred in the 79th minute when Newport fluffed the most clear-cut opportunity of the game up to that stage. Blonde-haired Charlie O'Donnell, playing only his second game after returning from a back injury, shot tamely from point_blank range at Celtic goalkeeper Tony Hopkins.
Parkside took the lead from the resultant clearance when substitute Bernard Lindsay finished off a lightening counter attack involving Martin Conroy and Phil Devers.
SHATTERING BLOW
Stand-in Newport goalkeeper Martin Dillane was caught out by the speed of Devers whose cross was hammered sweetly to the net by Lindsay.
It was a shattering blow for Newport at a time when they were beginning to get a firm grip on the issue with a stiff wind at their backs. But Newport paid a heavy price for their lack of adventure and drive. They were never prepared to commit enough of players to attack when the opportunity was there to do so in the second half.
It was utter folly to consistently leave three man at the back to mark Muldoon when there was clearly a need for a commanding figure like Brendan O'Hea around the opposing 18-yards box for corner-kick situations, in particular.
The decision to withdraw Stephen Barrett midway through the second half did not appear the wisest of decisions either in light of his ability to carry the ball forward and pose considerable problems for the Celtic defence.
Once they fell behind, Newport never really looked like hauling themselves back into the frame. Their hopes completely faded five minutes form the end wen Muldoon hit his 29th goal of the season following a corner-kick. He ended up being booked for his over-zealous celebration of the goal. The player they call Jimmy Hill would really have been in the bad books if the BBC analyist had seen that!
Parkside Celtic: T. Hopkins, J. Conway, J. Ginnelly, D. Langdon, P. Kelly, J. R. Langdon, J. Richardson, M. McGinty, J. Muldoon, M. Conroy, P. Devers. Res: B. Lindsay (for J.R. Langdon).
Newport Town: M. Dillane, C. McLoughlin, M. O'Donnell, A. Drumm, B. O'Hea, C. O'Donnell, P. McNally, Aiden O'Malley, J. O'Donnell, P. Sweeney, S. Barrett. Res: Alan O'Malley (for Barrett).
Ref: H. Loftus (Castlebar).
* Star Rating: James Muldoon. . .his pace and persistence have brought him 29 goals already this season.
