Killarney Celtic good enough to retain ‘A’ title
DENNY PREMIER A FINAL
Killarney Celtic v Dingle Bay Rovers
Friday, June 8 Mounthawk Park at 7.45pm
THIS Premier A final has captured the imagination of soccer supporters around the county and it is sure to attract a big crowd to Mounthawk Park on Friday evening for the eagerly awaited showdown between the two big guns of Kerry soccer.
While it will not attract as much attention as last years all Killarney clash it is still a very appealing game the outcome of which is difficult to predict.
Celtic will go into the game as favouites as they are unbeaten all season in domestic fixtures and also had a great run in both the Munster Junior Cup reaching the semi final and they got to the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup.
The sides met in the Premier A Final in 2016 and in a thrilling game Dingle won 4-3 to claim their very first title in this division.
Both sides panel of players have changed quite a bit since the 2016 final and Dingle have acquired a few very good players in Paudie Quinn, Bryan Murphy, Con Barrett and Adam O’Rourke while Celtic have added Danny Roche and Cathal O’Shea, to their squad and a few of their younger players are also beginning to step up to the plate.
It will be a game where Celtic will be hoping to perfect their passing game while Dingle will probably be sitting deep and pounce on the counter attack with Sean Fitzgerald always a threat from over the top deliveries.
If Celtic are to win they will be looking towards Michael Gustifar, Brendan Falvey, John McDonagh Chris O’Leary and Chris Brady to keep a tight ship at the back, Wayne Sparling, Gary Keane, Matt Keane, Peter McCarthy to be creative at midfield and Danny Roche and Cathal O’Shea to snap up any chances they get.
Jamie Spillane who emigrated to Japan will be a huge loss they have to replace him at centre back and Chris Brady is filling the role very well in recent games.
Chris O’Leary who was out for a long time with an injury in back playing again and he will be a huge asset to their defence.
If Dingle are to take the spoils they will be hoping Jason Hickson, Donnacha Hiiggins Con Barrett, and Michael Flannery to defend astutely, Paudie Quinn, Joe Sheehy, Luke Burgess Adam O’Rourke and Brian Murphy to shine at midfield and Sean Fitzgerald to put away and chances they get up front.
It should be a closely fought game but given their form so far this season it would be hard to bet against Killarney Celtic regaining their Premier A title.
(Tralee Celtic won 5-4 on penalties)
TRALEE Celtic wrote themselves into the annuals of local sporting history at Mounthawk Park on Sunday when they were crowned Premier B champions and in the process captured their fifth consecutive league title which is an achievemnt of phenomenal proportions.
The club has come a long way since the days FAI CEO John Delaney lined out with them and they are now back playing the game at the very highest level and will be a match for any side in Premier A next season.
This remarkable record has not been achieved but for a colossal amount of work behind the scenes by management and players.
This was always going to be a tight game with Tralee Celtic using their trademark passing game while Mitchels Avenue were set up to defend deep and hit on the break at any given opportunity.
Tralee Celtic were well on top for most of the game and could have been out of sight well before the final whistle but for poor finishing and some fantastic goalkeeping
CG Killarney v QPR
Saturday June 9 Mounthawk Park at 7.30pm
THIS final is between two sides who have never won silverware so they wont need any motivation for this big game as they will be doing their utmost to try and capture a league title for the first time.
CG Killarney have enjoyed a great year losing just one game all season and that in controversial circumstances.
Manager Darragh O’Regan has moulded his side together from a few seasons back and they have been improving every year. Their ultimate goal has been to win a league title and now they are just one step away from that. They got to the Division 1B final a few years back but lost to Listowel Celtic B. They will be better prepared this time around as they have been training hard all season with all the players giving great commitment.
Meanwhile, QPR are also experiencing a silverware drought and they will be hoping to put that right in this decider.
Most of the team are based in the Rathmore/Gneeveguilla area but they have a few players from across the border in north Cork. Stephen Lehane is the man that has been keeping this club thriving over the years and he would dearly love to see them win a title.
It should be a close game and perhaps but given CG Killarney’s form this season they may shade this one. Followers of soccer in the county were saddened at the news of the death of Tommy Conroy, a very well known Tralee scribe and soccer supporter. Tommy played with Tralee Dynamos in the Desmond League and was a member of the Dynamos team that won the Murphy Cup in 1968.
His love of the game led him to write a book,
with his brother-in-law Frank Hennessy.
Deepest sympathy to his family.