Park Youths put four past Killarney Celtic in Cup final
WHEN these two sides met a few weeks ago in a league game there was hardly a kick of a ball between the sides, but in this Kerry area final at Mounthawk Park on Saturday afternoon the sides were oceans apart with The Park winning the game with surprising ease against a Killarney Celtic side who never got to grips with the game.
Indeed had The Park being more clinical in front of goals the winning margin could have been considerably more. It was a rousing and energetic display by The Park who were on top in all departments of play and they never allowed their opponents get comfortable on the ball getting in the tackles quickly and distributing the ball with a degree of cohesiveness and fluency which their opponents struggled to cope with.
Twin brothers Aaron and Adam Ward and Conor O’Brien were in sparkling form for The Park raiding from midfield, while up front Jordan Barry bagged an impressive hat trick and he could have grabbed a few more for good measure but for a few close in misses.
The Park took the game by the scruff of the neck from the kick off and Celtic had no answer to their exuberant free flowing play, creativity and team spirit.
Early exchanges were timid but The Park went ahead in the 21st minute after Aaron Ward made a great run down the left wing from midfield and he floated a dangerous cross into the goalmouth and Jordan Barry creept in unnoticed behind Celtic defenders and his looping header gave the Celtic goalie no chance.
They doubled their lead eight minutes later when Celtic needlessly gave away the ball after a free kick and Conor O’Brien was through on goals and as the Celtic keeper came off his line he dinked the ball over him for a sublime goal.
Celtic had to wait until the 30th minute for their first decent scoring chance and it fell to Evan Jones from a Liam Curran cross, but his header was over the top.
Jordan Barry was then deprived by a good save by the Celtic goalie Cian O’Mahoney, while Aaron Ward saw his near post shot come off the butt of the post but could not get his close in free kick past the defensive wall while Pierce Lyne skyed a cross from a Gary Vaughan free kick.
Celtic knew at half-time they had to buck up their game quickly if they were to have any chance of making a comeback in this game.
They came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half and within two minutes had pulled one back.
Good work at midfield by Lee Downing created an opening for Pierce Lyne and his cross was headed home by Michael Devlin and now Celtic were right back in the game again. However it was flattery to deceive by the Celtic side and that was as good as it got for them as five minutes later The Park found the net again.
It came from a lightning attack from midfield and a penetrating one two between Conor O’Brien and Jordan Barry split open the Celtic defence and when Barry got the return ball he buried it in the back of the net from close range.
Barry added salt to Celtic’s festering wounds five minute later when he got on to the end of an Aaron Ward free kick from midfield and completed his hat trick. He had two more great scoring chances before the game was over, but was unable to finish them to the net.
It was a fantastic all round performance by the Park defending very well when they had to they were strong and industrious at midfield while up front Jordan Barry, Conor O’Brien and Aaron Ward were magnificent.
They now progress to the last 16 with an away tie against Limerick side Kilfrush Crusaders and the game will be played on the weekend of January 14. There was a great reception for the captain of The Park side Adam Ward as he was presented with the cup by the Secretary of the KDL John O’Regan.