McGrath sends Celtic through
IRISH DAILY MAIL SENIOR CUP QUALIFYING ROUND
KILLARNEY Celtic entered a zone no other Kerry side has experienced on Saturday night when they made their debut in the Irish Daily Mail Senior Cup Qualifying Round at Celtic Park and made it a memorable occasion with a great win over Roscommon side Boyle Celtic.
The game was the meeting of this season’s FAI Junior Cup Semi-Finalists and in a bruising encounter it was the home side that edged the game. Once again Celtic’s faithful supporters were out in force for the big game and they got plenty to enthuse about with a highly charged display from the hoops against a strong Boyle side.
It was edge of the seat stuff from start to finish with the game ebbing and flowing at a rapid pace with tackles coming in fast and furious with both sides totally committed to the cause.
It was the game of the two halves with Killarney Celtic totally on top in the first half with a strong breeze behind them. However, it was backs to the wall at times in the second half as Boyle tried to engineer an equaliser but a superb first half goal by Pa McGrath was good enough to win the game for the home side.
It was a tough hard physical game and both sides ended with 10 players with two second half dismissals. Celtic were on the front foot from the very start of the game and an early shot by Gary Keane was saved by the Boyle keeper.
They then forced a couple of corner kicks which put the visitors under a lot of pressure. They took the lead in the 21st minute with a superb goal. Slick approach play from Pa McGrath and Peter McCarthy produced a corner kick.
It was delightfully curled right into the danger zone by Matt Keane and Pa McGrath rose high to guide a superb header to the roof of the net. They almost doubled their lead eight minutes later when Peter McCarthy played in Wayne Sparling who rounded the Boyle keeper but just as he was
REACTION
Speaking after the game the manager of the Celtic side Brian Spillane said it was a fantastic win.
“We should have probably been 2-0 or 3-0 ahead at half-time and we were well on top and created a lot of chances. Boyle beat some good sides in the FAI Junior Cup and we knew they would come back at us in the second half but we dealt with their threat very effectively.
“Wayne Sparling and Peter McCarthy were excellent on the wings at midfield and the workrate of the team in general was tremendous. Now we have earned the right to possibly draw one of the top Premier sides in the League of Ireland and that is a great feeling.
“We played Cork City a few weeks back in a friendly game in preparation for the game with Sheriff and it was as a great experience. Hopefully now we can get a home draw in the next round and get an appealing tie against a Premier side.” about to pull the trigger he slipped and the ball was cleared to safety.
Celtic were only a lick of paint away from a second goal in the 31st minute when a John McDonagh free kick from 35 yards hit the underside of the crossbar after slight fingertip contact by the Boyle keeper.
After this Boyle began to get their passing game together and looked dangerous on the counter attack. They had a half chance just before the break, but Shane Battles effort was taken off the line by Matt Keane.
The visitors made a substitution at half time with Aaron Caplin replacing Luka Roddy and now they were getting a foothold in the game and a lot of questions were being asked of the Celtic defence.
Ger McDermott Roe had a chance close in but he shot wide while an effort from sub Niall Brennan was at the Celtic keeper. Celtic were caught off guard in the 61st minute when Boyle took a quick free kick and Shane Battles had a great chance to score but he could not make contact with the ball.
Boyle threw caution to the wind in the 70th minute changing their formation to just three at the back and with five midfielders they were coming on wave after wave of attacks but they were getting little joy from a rock solid Celtic defence where Jamie Spillane, John McDonagh, Chris O’Leary and Brendan Falvey were excellent.
They had a good chance to equalize in the 74th minute when a one two between Michael Corrigan and Shane Battles created an opening for Danny Brennan, but he was denied by a fantastic save by Celtic keeper Roy Kelliher.
Shortly afterwards the visitors were down to 10 men when Niall Brennan was sent off for a second yellow card offence. Celtic had a great chance to wrap up the game three minutes later when Gary Keane split open the Boyle defence with a great over the top ball for Wayne Sparling who was in one on one with the Boyle keeper, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Kyle Suffen in the Boyle goals.
Boyle went close to equalising in the 82nd minute when sub Aaron Caplin got in behind the Celtic defence but he was denied by a great save by Roy Kelliher. Celtic went down to 10 men in the 88th minute when John McDonagh was sent off for an over robust tackle.
Boyle kept pressing to get an equaliser right into the sixth minute of added time, but they could not break down a resolute Celtic defence and Celtic now progress to the first round proper of the FAI Cup.
They now eagerly await the draw for the next round and would be delighted to get a home draw against one of the big guns in the competition such as Cork City, Dundalk or Shamrock Rovers.