23 July 1997
First of the harvest for classy Celtic
Castlebar Celtic ......3 Ballyvary Bluebombers ...... 1
By Tom Kelly at Milebush
The harvest is only beginning for Castlebar Celtic, I suspect.
The team being acclaimed in some circles as the best footballing side in the Mayo League picked up their first trophy of the season at Milebush on Sunday. They scored a merited victory over Ballyvary Bluebombers in a relatively one-sided Gill Cup final.
Celtic are back at the venue next month for the Mayo F.A. Cup decider against Charelstown Athletic, and they will win the Division One league championshiop crown in September barring an upset.
Two remarkable statistics emerged from a match which failed to set the world aflame. The first was the fact that three players were sent off and five others were booked. The other concerned Celtic not winning by double the margin.
It was incredible that a match played in a good, sporting spirit should produce so many red and yellow cards. Okay, there were a few bad tackles. But nothing to warrant the type of discipline which was handed out on the field of play. Don't get me wrong. I am all for cracking down on bad behaviour.
In fact, referee Jimmy Blake was probably technically correct in every decision he made. What I am saying is that the rules are possibly too rigidly framed and referees are not giving the latitude to use their own discretion.
Celtic's Brian McNulty was the first player to receive his marching orders twelve minutes into second half. He reacted angrily following an over-zealous and mistimed tackle by Ballyvary's Mick Devaney on Kevin Ryan. He foolishly pushed Devaney in the chest and, having been booked earlier, the referee had every right to sent him off.
The annoying aspect from McNulty's point of view was that Devaney, who committed the tackle in question and had also been booked earlier, escaped without censure.
Ballyvary defender John Loftus was the second player red-carded in the 61st minute for a foul on Celtic's Fintan McHale. Loftus had not been booked early, but was sent off for dangerous foul play. I thought it was harsh.
The third sending off occurred in the dying moments and involved Ballyvary captain, Brendan McNicholas. He expressed his displeasure to assistant referee, Mick Walsh, when he claimed that Celtic substitute Steve Gavin had been standing in an offside position before setting up his side's third goal for Brian Duffy.
McNicholas was sent to the line using foul and abusive language towards the assistant referee. Having been booked earlier, he could not have expected to stay on the field, although I did not hear what he said to Mr. Walsh.
The five bookings were incurred by Colm Carney, Michael McGahon and Mick Devanney (Ballyvary) and Sean Reilly and Kevin Ruane (Castlebar Celtic).
Celtic dominated the game to such a degree and created so many good opportunities that they could have won by a much bigger margin. But credit was due to Ballyvary for sticking to their task even 'though they were short on ideas and imagination going forward.
A vintage strike gave Celtic the lead in the 30th minute. Fintan McHale volleyed the ball spectacularly to the net following Steve Quinn's cross from the right.
They increased the margin five minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Sean Reilly by Ballyvary defender, Terry Kenny. It appeared a cruel decision, but Kevin Ruane made no mistake from the spot.
Ballyvary were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty with sixteen minutes remaining for an infringement committed by Kevin Ruane. Colm Carney covered the spot -kick with aplomb, and they almost forced the game into extra-time when substitute Leo Joyce went close with a headed effort following a corner-kick.
Celtic substitute Brian Duffy sealed the issue for Castlebar before the end with the side's 66th goal of the a season in which they have yet to taste defeat.
Castlebar Celtic: N. Gallagher, O. Cunningham, B. McNulty, B. Redmond, A. O'Brien, D. Ainsworth, S. Quinn, S. Reilly, F. McHale, K. Ryan, K. Ruane. Res: B. Duffy (for Quinn); S. Gavin (for Ainsworth). Ballyvary
Bluebombers: D. Kilgallon, B. McNicholas, P.J. McHale, T. Kenny, J. Loftus, T. Joyce, M. McGahon, J. Murtagh, M. Devaney, G. Murtagh, C. Carney. Res: L. Joyce (for Carney).
Ref: J. Blake (Castlebar).
* Star Rating: Barry Redmond. . .an inspirational figure for Celtic.
