The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Park claim a famous Youth Cup title
JIMMY FALVEY MEMORIAL YOUTH CUP FINAL REPLAY The Park 2 Killarney Celtic 0
WHILE the drawn game was a real cliffhanger this replay was a tame affair with The Park winning the game with surprising ease against a Celtic side who rarely came out of first gear.
The Park were well on top at midfield from the very outset and they could have won the game much more comprehensively had they been more clinical up front. The game got off to a timid start, but The Park was carrying the biggest threat from the kick off and they went ahead after twelve minutes.
Good build up play from midfield created an opening for Colin Walsh who showed great vision to pick out Aaron Ward who got in behind a defender and from 12 yards he struck the ball beautifully low and into the bottom corner of the net.
The Park’s John Ward was forced to retire in the 25th minute when he was requested to remove an ear ring by the referee Denis O’Rourke and despite the best effort’s of the sideline crew they were unable to remove it and The Park were forced to make a substitution with Michael Slattery replacing Ward and he went on to have a huge influence on the game.
Celtic then got a free kick in a very good position just outside the box, but Lee Downing could not keep his shot down.
On the half hour mark Celtic had claims for a penalty when Lee Downing took a tumble in the box but the referee allowed play to continue, which was the correct decision. The Park took control of the game in the 37th minute with an excellently manufactured goal.
Again it all began at midfield with good link up play making an opening for the excellent Thomas Burke who turned a defender and played in sub Michael Slattery and he kept his nerves admirably sizing up his options and planted the ball well out of the reach of the Celtic goalkeeper.
The Park’s best player Thomas Burke created a chance for Slattery just before the break but he was denied by a good save by the Celtic keeper Robert Osborne.
Celtic rang out the changes in the second half using their bench, but still they were making very little impact against a rock solid Park defence where Shane Jordan was outstanding .
A foul on Lee Downing led to a free kick on the verge of the box in the 50th minute, but Downing’s effort did not get past the defensive wall. Celtic had a decent chance of scoring in the 67 minute when Michael Devlin set up Terry Sparling, but his shot was comfortably saved by The Park goalie Conor Hayes.
The Celtic keeper was called into action in the 73rd minute and he made a good save to deny Michael Slattery who was played through on goals by Colin Walsh.
Celtic were enjoying a lot of possession now but their attacks were breaking down in the final third of the pitch and while they forced a few free kicks and corner kicks they never looked like scoring a goal.
It was a great all round team performace by The Park who passed the ball around very cohesively at midfield and they were very deserving winners at the end The was a big reception for the captain of the team Shane Jordan as he was presented with the cup by Marie Falvey mother of the late Jimmy Falvey.
THE PARK: Conor Hayes, Ben Falvey, Cian Purcell, Shane Jordan, James Sheehan, John Ward, (Michael Slattery 25 min), Kevin Browne, (Nathan Holden 85 min), Aaron Ward, Thomas Burke, Colin Walsh, (Mervyn Shalemba 85 min), Conor O Brien
KILLARNEY CELTIC: Robert Osborne, Liam Curran, Jordan Leahy, Liam Spillane, Jack Enright, Gary Vaughan, Pierce Lyne, (Jarad Barton 67 min), Lee Downing, Terry Sparling, Michael Devlin, Ryan Kelliher (Gary Cronin 46 min)