Tobin’s sweet strike helps Kiltealy to double success
KILTEALY CELTIC ENNISCORTHY UNITED 3 1
A STUNNING 72nd-minute strike from Jack Tobin helped Kiltealy Celtic to claim the league and cup double in a sun-drenched Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday.
Ger Molloy had edged Enniscorthy United’s second string in front shortly before the interval, but Kiltealy’s superior fitness told after the turnaround.
Defender John McCarthy headed the Division 5 champions level with 52 minutes on the clock and, after Tobin’s superb effort, Patrick Somers put the icing on the cake with a late penalty.
Celtic goalkeeper Ben Nugent also played his part, pulling off a couple of eye-catching saves when the contest was still in the melting pot.
Enniscorthy United were the better side in the early stages and they came within a whisker of taking the lead midway through the first-half.
A cross from the lively Ger Molloy was cleared into the path of the lurking Mick Rigley and his well-struck first-time effort came back off the post.
Rigley was involved again moments later, when he gathered a pass from Craig Foley 20 yards from goal and cut inside, but his shot lacked the power or direction to trouble netminder Nugent.
It was then Kiltealy’s turn to show that they were a threat going forward, when Colm Beasley’s cross was headed back across goal by Tobin and a deflected Mick Stephens strike hit the side-netting.
United made a deserved breakthrough in the 40th minute when Thomas Brady nodded Ryan Dwyer’s delivery into the path of Mick Rigley, and when the striker’s effort was saved by Nugent, Ger Molloy was on hand to nod the ball over the line.
The Enniscorthy outfit began the second-half brightly as they looked to firmly stamp their authority on the contest, and Nugent had to be alert to come off his line to deny Dylan Groarke after he had been played in by Tommy O’Brien.
However, they were rocked back on their heels in the 53rd minute when John McCarthy rose highest to head in Stephen Watchorn’s corner at the far post.
United were starting to wilt in the energy-sapping conditions, but they manfully tried to respond and Nugent got a strong hand to a Ger Molloy effort from a tight angle to turn it around the post in the 60th minute.
Seconds later Kiltealy’s Mick Stephens looped a header just off target and then Tobin produced a moment of magic with 18 minutes remaining to turn the tie firmly in their favour.
When the energetic midfielder gathered the ball on the edge of the area there looked to be little on, but he brilliantly made a yard of space for himself and curled a sweet strike into the corner of the net.
United continued to battle and almost grabbed an equaliser in the 80th minute when Dylan Groarke got his head to a teasing Darren Walsh delivery, but Nugent did brilliantly to tip his effort over the crossbar.
Kiltealy had a great opportunity to put the game to bed three minutes later, when Somers played the ball across the face of goal to Mick Stephens, but he got too much loft on his chipped effort and it cleared the crossbar.
However, they were handed another chance to put clear daylight between the sides when Somers ran on to a punt forward from the goalkeeper and played in substitute Alan Doyle, who was taken down for a penalty.
Somers took the responsibility and rifled an unstoppable shot to the right-hand corner of the net to kick-start the double celebrations.
The striker came close to adding another late on but Enniscorthy United goalkeeper Kevin Somers was equal to his well-struck effort.