Killarney Celtic reach last 16 of Munster Junior Cup

MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP FOURTH ROUND LAST 32 Killarney Celtic 3 Ringmahon Rangers B (MSL) 0

KILLARNEY Celtic booked their place in the last 16 of the Munster Junior Cup at Celtic Park on Saturday night with a very impressive win over Ringmahon Rangers before a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters.

They had been leading 1-0 when the game was abandoned the previous Sunday but they made no mistake this time out, winning the game with comparative ease.

Celtic were the better team from the very outset displaying great fitness razor sharpness while they were first to every ball and full of creativity

They had the ball in the net after 4 minutes but Wayne Sparling had strayed offside.

They were only a whisker from scoring 4 minutes later after superb build up play Stephen Hayes let fly with a daisy-cutter from just outside the box which whistled just inches outside the post.

They deservedly went ahead in the 15th minute with an excellently manufactured goal.

Stephen Hayes left defenders in his wake with a mazy run and he took the ball down to the byle line and as he cut in he crossed the ball with great precision to Cathal O’Shea who, in a constricted space, applied a neat finish to send the sizeable contingent of home supporters into raptures at a buzzing Celtic Park.

Ringmahon’s first serious scoring chance came in the 24th minute when Simon Woods put Eddie Reynolds through on goals but his shot was blocked off the line by Conor Randll who showed great bravery putting his body on the line to make the goalsaving block.

Celtic unhinged the Ringmahon defence again in the 38th minute and Cathal O’Shea was in one on one with the goalie but he was sidetracked and the opportunity was gone.

O’Shea had another chance before the break when he latched on to a Stephen Hayes cross but he put his effort high and over the top.

While Celtic were comfortable at half time they needed a second goal to create a bit of a cushion of safety.

The visitors can thank their goalie Alan Long for keeping them in the game in the 50th minute when he made a fine save to deny Peter McCarthy.

The goal Celtic had been threatening came in the 54th minute and it would not win an Oscar for its quality. A Gary Keane free kick had the Ringmahon defence at sea and a real free for all scramble for the ball took place in the goalmouth with two efforts on goals blocked and at the end of it all Pa McGrath got the vital touch to find the net.

Now Celtic began to relax as frustration crept in for their opponents who were getting cynical with their tackles and consequently their yellow card count began to mount.

The visitors tried to step up their game but they were getting no leeway from a rock solid Celtic defence which was excellently marshalled by Jamie Spillane.

It was game set and match for Celtic in the 76th minute when sub Steven Mc Carthy got on to the end of a Stephen Hayes free kick and headed powerfully to the net.

McCarthy had the ball in the net again 3 minutes later but he was ruled offside.

Now it was just a matter of running down the clock with Celtic using their bench and they ran out very easy winners at the end.

Ringmahon Rangers were reduced to 10 players near the end of the game with Cian O’Connor sent off for a second yellow card offence.

Celtic will be away in Nenagh United in the last 16 game KILLARNEY Celtic: Roy Kelliher, Chris O’Leary, (Conal Murphy 82 mins), Jamie Spillane, John McDonagh, Conor Randall (Steven McCarthy, 69 mins), Stephen Hayes, Gary Keane, Pa McGrath (Lee Downing, 86 mins), Peter McCarthy, Wayne Sparling, Cathal O’Shea (Conor McCarthy, 86 mins),

RINGMAHON Rangers: Alan Long, Alex Ahern, Craig Collins, Sean Blake, Aidan Foley, Cian O’Connor, Roy Collins, David O’Leary, Eddie Reynolds, Willie Ahern, Simon Woods.

REFEREE: Kevin O’Regan