The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
No KO in forgettable Greyhound Cup final
GREYHOUND BAR CUP FINAL Killarney Celtic 0 Castleisland B 0
ANOTHER game is necessary to decide this title but this encounter won’t stay in the memory very long as it was a very poor game that provided very little in the way of decent football.
Killarney Celtic had most of the possession while Castleisland defended deep with just Jonathan Downey up front as the lone striker.
Castleisland stuck to their game plan and they almost nicked the game five minutes from the end.
Killarney Celtic will be left wondering why they did not win this game as they squandered a litany of scoring chances.
But great credit is due to Castleisland for the manner in which they defended under pressure with their defence very well marshalled by Mike Cahill.
Celtic took the game to their opponents from the very start but they were getting little joy in the final third of the pitch where a lot of their attacks were breaking down.
Stephen McCarthy had a couple of early chances for Celtic but he headed over a Stephen Hayes corner kick while he skyed an effort after being set up by a Brian Spillane cross.
Castleisland’s first half chance came in the 19th minute when Ray Huggard ran on to a long throw in but he shot tamely at the Celtic goalie Roy Kelliher.
Shortly afterwards they got a free kick on the angle of the box but Steven McCarthy’s effort was easily saved by the Celtic keeper.
Celtic then hit on the break with Brian Spillane finding Stephen McCarthy and his curling low shot was just barely outside the post.
Castleisland put a good attack together but Danny Feehan was denied by a superb tackle by Gary Keane.
Just coming up to half time Wayne Sparling stretched the Castleisland defence with a great run and he fed Peter McCarthy on the verge of the box and his bending shot was just a fraction outside the post.
The same player had a great chance at the start of the second half after great build up play by Jamie Spillane and Wayne Sparling but his shot from close in ended up in the side netting.
Stephen McCarthy had two more good chances for Celtic the first after a great run he shot inches wide while the second came from a Wayne Sparling cross which he headed over the top.
Coming up to the hour mark Jamie Spillane found Peter McCarthy with a great cross but he could not keep his header down.
As the half moved on Castleisland began to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and they were making more excursions into the Celtic half of the field and won free kicks and corner kicks.
Their big chance came in the 85th minute when Mazza Moriarty latched on to the end of a Jonathan Downey free kick but he shot wide from less than 5 yards.
Celtic had a great chance at he very end of the game but Peter McCarthy could not find the target from a close in header.
Overall it was a very disappointing game that provided very little entertainment value and hopefully the replay will make up for it.
The replay takes place next Sunday at Mounthawk Park with a 3.30pm kick off. KILLARNEY CELTIC: Roy Kelliher, Brian Spillane, Gary Keane, John McDonagh, Jamie Spillane, Stephen Hayes (Brendan Falvey 73), Fergal O’Donoghue, Joe Hurley, Wayne Sparling, Stephen McCarthy, Peter McCarthy. CASTLEISLAND B: Kevin Moran, Evan O’Brien, Daniel Downey, Neil O’Sullivan, Mike Cahill, Mazza Moriarty, Steven McCarthy (Mikey Maunsell 84), Ray Huggard, Danny Feehan (Pa O’Rourke 75), Timmy Walsh, Jonathan Downey. REFEREE: Anthony Morrison