The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Double is still on the cards for Celtic
GREYHOUND BAR CUP SEMI-FINAL
Mitchels Avenue 1 Killarney Celtic 3
THE league and cup double is still very much on the cards for Killarney Celtic after they booked their place in the Greyhound Bar Cup Final at Mounthawk Park on Sunday with an impressive win over Mitchels Avenue.
They came into this game as favourites and they certainly justified that tag and won this game in very impressive fashion against a spirited Mitchels Avenue side who made them fight all the way for their victory.
After a slow start this game improved as the first half progressed and Killarney Celtic were creating the better chances.
Mitchels Avenue were very much defence orientated in the first half with five at the back and David Courtney had a lonely furrow to plough up front as the sole striker.
Consequently they defended deeply and done their best to try and hit on the counter attack.
Gary Keane and Danny Roche had a couple of early shots on goals for Celtic which yielded nothing and Mitchels Avenues first decent chance came in the 20th minute when Sean O’Reilly latched on to a David Courtney corner kick ad his effort on goal was tipped over by Celtic keeper Michael Gustifar.
Peter McCarthy and Danny Roche had a couple of half chances for Celtic which they could not convert but they went ahead in the 37th minute.
A quickly taken corner kick caught Mitchels Avenue napping at the back with Danny Roche tapping the ball to Peter McCarthy who played in Wayne Sparling and he applied a sublime finish from close range.
Shortly afterwards Chris Hegarty came to Mitchels Avenue rescue doing exceptionally well to tip a Danny Roche header on to the crossbar. However, Celtic put themselves in a very strong position scoring again four minutes from the break.
The goal came from a wonderful cross from Chris O’Leary, which found Peter McCarthy at the back post and he steered his header to the roof of the net. Celtic made a change for the second half with Pa McGrath replacing Cathal O’Shea.
Mitchels Avenue were much more adventurous when play resumed and they pulled a goal back in the 50th minute.
It came from a superb cross from David Courtney which found the inrushing Danny O’Shea and he finished to the net in great style with a spectacular diving header.
Now Celtic were feeling the heat as Mitchels Avenue began to win much more possession.
Celtic were only a lick of paint away from extending their lead in the 60th minute when Peter McCarthy got on to the end of a Chris O’Leary cross and his header came back off the crossbar.
Then a foul on David Courtney gave Mitchels Avenue a free kick just outside the box. Sean O’Reilly hit the free kick sweetly, but he was denied by a great save by Celtic keeper Michael Gustifar.
Celtic enhanced their comfort zone in the 67th minute with their third goal. It came from an accurately measured cross from Danny Roche which found Gary Keane and he finished to the net from close range.
Celtic are now through to the final where they will meet the winners of Killorglin v Killarney Athletic so an all Killarney final is a possibility although Killorglin will be hoping they can prevent it from happening.
While Mitchels Avenue will be disappointed at losing they still have the Premier B League Final Replay to come with a chance of lifting the league title while they will also be very serious contenders in the Domino’s Pizza Reserve Cup.
MITCHELS AVENUE: Chris Hegarty, Scott Hennessy, James O’Sullivan, David Hennessy, Rory Keane, (Peter Murphy 73 min), Danny O’Shea, (Anthony O’Connor 70 min), Chris O’Sullivan, Robert Lynch, Sean O’Reilly, Brendan Coffey, David Courtney
KILLARNEY CELTIC: Michael Gustifar, Chris O’Leary, Brendan Falvey, Chris Brady, John Mc Donagh, Gary Keane, Matt Keane, Wayne Sparling, Peter McCarthy, (Michael Devlin 75 min), Cathal O’Shea, (Pa Mc Grath 46 min), Danny Roche, (Lee Downing 84 min)