The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)

Park end season on a high

DENNY YOUTH LEAGUE FINAL

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The Park 3 Killarney Celtic 0

THE Park ended the season on a high note at Mounthawk Park on Sunday when they completed the league and cup double after a hugely impressive win over Killarney Celtic in an excellent final that provided the very best of entertainm­ent.

The first half was a very delicately balanced affair, but a scintillat­ing second half performanc­e by The Park gave them a very comfortabl­e win at the end. Their win was all the more meritoriou­s as they had to play 50 minutes with just 10 players after losing a man to a red card in the 41st minute.

The first half of this game was played at an explosive pace with both sides passing the ball very efficientl­y and as play moved from end to end on a regular basis plenty of scoring chances were engineered by both sides.

Celtic dominated the early stages of the game and early efforts by Lee Downing and Liam Spillane were taken off the line. Terry Sparling stung the gloves of the Celtic keeper with a shot from distance and Jordan Leahy had a great chance to put his side ahead in the 19th minute but he headed wide from eight yards.

By now The Park had found their feet and they were putting some very constructi­ve passages of football together. They went ahead in the 25th minute when Aaron Ward was bundled over in the box and referee Adrian O’Shea had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

His cousin John was given the responsibi­lity of taking the spot kick and he drilled it low to the bottom corner giving the Celtic keeper no chance. Aaron Ward had a chance to double their lead minutes later but he put his shot wide.

As play moved down the other end a Gary Vaughan free kick from midfield was delightful­ly flicked on by Jordan Leahy and clipped the crossbar on its way over. Celtic tested the woodwork again in the 33rd minute after a corner kick but Mark Fennel’s header came off the wrong side of the upright.

The Park looked in trouble in the 41st minute when Adam Ward was sent off for a second yellow card offence. Celtic must have felt happy with themselves at half-time hoping that the numerical advantage in the second half would work in their favour.

While they created a few early half chances at the start of the second half they were rocked back on their heels in the 53rd minute when Conor O’Brien got in behind the Celtic defence and when he was taken down in side the box by goalkeeper Robert Osborne Adrian O’Shea was pointing to the spot again.

There was a lengthy hold up after this as the injured keeper was attended to and he had to be replaced by Cian O’Mahony. John Ward was under severe pressure taking his second penalty of the game but he was as cool as a cucumber tucking his low shot away in clinical fashion to put his side in the driving seat.

Celtic should have pulled a goal back in the 60th minute after a Gary Vaughan corner-kick Jordan Leahy headed wide from six yards with the goals at his mercy.

It was game set and match for the Park in the 66th minute when a delightful through ball from Padraig McCannon found Aaron Ward just inside the box and he finished to the net in great style. They could have added to their account with sub Mervyn Shalemba having a couple of great chances, but he just could not convert them.

At the end it was a fully deserved win for the Park who have some very talented players in their squad and if Tadhg Healy can keep these players together for the next couple of years the future of The Park will be very bright indeed.

THE PARK: Conor Hayes, Ben Falvey, Cian Purcell, Adam Ward, Padraig McCannon, John Ward, Thomas Burke, (Andrew Murphy 83 mins), Kevin Browne, (Dean Scanlon 80 min), Aaron Ward, Colin Walsh, (Mervyn Shalemba 70min), Conor O’Brien

KILLARNEY CELTIC: Robert Osborne, Jordan Leahy, Liam Curran, Liam Spillane, Conor Lucey, Gary Vaughan, Jack Enright, Pierce Lyne, Terry Sparling, Lee Downing, Mark Fennel

REFEREE: Adrian O’Shea

 ?? Photo by Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus ?? The victorious Park side
Photo by Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus The victorious Park side

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