Celtic cruise past Dingle Bay to take title

MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP KERRY AREA FINAL

Killarney Celtic 2 Dingle Bay Rovers 0 KILLARNEY Celtic may have been out of the limelight from a silverware point of view for the past couple of seasons but they came back with a bang at Mounthawk Park on Sunday when they were crowned Kerry area Munster Junior Cup Champions after a well merited win over Dingle Bay Rovers who had to play the last 33 minutes with 10 men after having a player red carded.

This was an opportunity for the Killarney side to avenge their defeat in last season’s Premier A final and they took it with open arms turning in a riveting performance that Dingle were unable to cope with displaying a lot of pride, self belief and enormous appetite for the game.

They perfected their trademark passing game which made Dingle burn up a lot of energy trying to gain possession.

Of course Dingle’s chances took a big nosedive when they were reduced to 10 players in the 57th minute of the game and their superb midfielder Luke Burgess was playing with a bandaged knee which affected his overall performance as he seemed to be struggling at times during the game.

After a lack lustre first half in which scoring chances were few and far between the game sprung to life in the second half and it was Celtic that was calling the tune.

Gary Keane and his brother Matt were running the show at the heart of midfield with great support on the wings by Stephen Hayes and Wayne Sparling and Cathal O’Shea was a constant threat up front.

Meanwhile Dingle operated with a five-man midfield where Joe Sheehy was very prominent and Sean Fitzgerald was on his own up front and they were relying on the one dimensional ploy of supplying him with over the top balls.

However Celtic curbed this threat from early on with John McDonagh and Jamie Spillane bossing the centre of the Celtic defence while Brendan Falvey and Chris Leary were mastering the flanks.

Dingle created a half chance after three minutes but Sean O’Connor volleyed his effort wide.

Celtic first shot in anger came in the 15th minute with an effort from distance by Brendan Falvey did not bother the Dingle goalie and another effort by Gary Keane after good build up play went over the top.

Then the Keane brothers Gary and Matt linked up to create a chance for Cathal O’Shea but his effort was straight at the Dingle goalie.

Dingle then forced four successive corner kicks but could not unhinge the Celtic defence. Just before the break Celtic had a chance but Matt Keane missed the target.

Dingle started the second half strongly forcing three consecutive corners kicks but posed no threat the Celtic defence.

By now it looked as if the only way a goal would be scored was if a defender made an error or some player came up with an individual piece of magic.

This transpired for Celtic in the 57th minute when Cathal O’Shea jinxed past a defender and showed great vision to spot the run of Wayne Sparling who got in behind a defender on the verge of the box and he was pulled back by Michael Flannery and as he was the last man back he was given a straight red card by referee Adrian Quirke and Celtic got a free kick just outside the box.

John McDonagh produced a delightful bit of magic with the free kick hitting it with great precision with his left leg bending the ball around the defensive wall and it curled inside the far post for a goal of sheer brilliance.

Now Dingle had to get more adventurous and in doing this they were leaving themselves a bit exposed at the back.

They created a reasonable chance in the 63rd minute when Jason Hickson picked out Sean Fitzgerald with a great cross but his headed effort was straight at the Celtic keeper.

Then Brendan Falvey hacked down Sean O’Connor giving Dingle a free kick just outside the box but Joe Sheehy’s tame effort came to nothing.

Celtic put the game to bed 8 minutes from the end with an excellently crafted goal.

Sub Stephen McCarthy started it off with a one two with Cathal O’Shea and when McCarthy got past a defender he put O’Shea clear on goals and while the young striker still had a lot to do he was as cool as a cucumber drilling the ball well wide of the advancing keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.

Dingle kept battling away right up to the very end but they never looked like pulling back a goal as Celtic slowed down the game and wore down the clock.

Celtic were very deserving winners on the day and it looks as if they are the side to beat in Kerry this season as there is a wealth of talent in the side and they have a great bench also.

There was a great reception for the captain of the Celtic side John McDonagh as he was presented with the cup by the secretary of the KDL John O’Regan.

McDonagh paid tribute to his side for the great performance they turned in and was loud in his praise for the management team for all their hard work and endeavour since the start of the season. He also thanked Dingle who, he said, made them fight hard to win the game.

Celtic have a home draw to Ringmahon Rangers (Cork) of the Munster Senior League in the next round of the competition on the weekend of January 21/22. KILLARNEY CELTIC: Brian Kelly, Chris O’Leary, Brendan Falvey, John Mc Donagh, Jamie Spillane, Stephen Hayes (Conor Randall 73 mins), Gary Keane, Pa McGrath (Stephen McCarthy 78 mins), Matt Keane, Wayne Sparling (Presley Dube 88 mins), Cathal O’Shea (Joe Hurley 83 mins). DINGLE BAY ROVERS: Thomas Mac an tSaoir, Jason Hickson, Michael Flannery, Donnacha Higgins, Mark O’Sullivan, Colm Muircheartaigh, Brian Rayel (Mikey Geaney 86mins), Joe Sheehy, Luke Burgess, Sean O’Connor, Sean Fitzgerald. REFEREE: Adrian Quirke

Luke Burgess, Dingle Bay Rovers, comes in from the right to challenge for the ball against Killarney Celtic’s Brendan Falvey, with DIngle’s Sean O’Connor alongside, during the Munster Junior Cup Kerry Final in Mounthawk Park. Photo by Domnick Walsh