The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Newmarket will be formidable Trophy test for Killarney Celtic
KEANE JEWELLERS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY SEMI-FINAL Newmarket Celtic v Killarney Celtic Sunday February 3 Newmarket-on-Fergus, kick off 2pm
KILLARNEY Celtic make the journey to Clare next Sunday where they play Newmarket Celtic in the semi-final of the Keane’s Jewellers Munster Champions Trophy.
This is going to be formidable challenge for Celtic against a very strong Clare side who have won their opening nine games in the Premier Division of the Clare District League.
They have won a six in a row in the Clare Cup crowned champions for the past six years and that shows the magnitude of the task facing Celtic on Sunday.
In their path to the semi-final Killarney Celtic beat Limerick side Janesboro 2-1 at Celtic Parkin the opening round.
In the quarter-final they defeated Waterford side Bridgeview United 2-1.
Meanwhile Newmarket Celtic beat Ringmahon Rangers 3-0 in the opening game and in the quarter final they defeated Grattan United 1-0.
Killarney Celtic will go into the game as outsiders but that won’t worry them but they have a very strong panel of players and will have no fear of their illustrious opponents.
They will have to try and lift themselves after the defeat to Ballynanty Rovers last Sunday in the Munster Junior Cup and they know nothing less that a 100% effort will suffice if they are to topple this formidable Clare side.
Killarney Celtic went through the entire domestic scene undefeated last season and with more strong players added to their panel this season they will go into the game full of confidence.
Home advantage will enhance Newmarket’s prospects in this game and the Kerry side will have to play out of their skins if they are to win this one.
Of course Killarney Celtic won this competition in its inaugural year back in 2011defeating Waterford side Carrick United at Turners Cross.
They were trailing 1-0 going into added time and Peter McCarthy scored a spectacular late goal to force the game to extra-time.
With stalemate prevailing after extra time it progressed to a penalty shoot out where Celtic goalkeeper Stephen Bartlett became the hero saving three spot kicks and Celtic were crowned champions.
The Killarney Celtic team that won the title in 2011 was Stephen Bartlett, Padraig O’Connor, Terence Moriarty, David Hayes, Brian Spillane, Gary Keane, Stephen Hayes Jamie Spillane, Robert Watson, Ginatus Paketaurus, Peter McCarthy.
Newmarket have never won the competition but they reached the final in 2016 but were defeated by Limerick side Janesboro.
Killarney Celtic are now just one game away from another final so the stakes could not be much higher for Sunday’s game.
Everyone will be keeping their fingers crossed that Killarney Celtic can squeeze out a win in the Banner county on Sunday.