Kiltealy clinch the Division 5 crown
KILTEALY CELTIC are the Wexford Football League Division 5 champions after coming away from Killenagh on Thursday with the win they needed to secure the silverware with a couple of games still remaining.
The club are only back in the league this season after several years away and are flying.
They had a Gwyn Jones Cup semi-final against Gorey Celtic ‘B’ to look forward to just three days after they wrapped up this title.
This game was all about getting the league sewn up with as little drama as possible. However, nobody likes a side celebrating on their home turf and Killenagh ‘B’ played like a team that had a point to prove themselves.
Indeed, the hosts probably had the better of the opening half. Without creating a clearcut opening, Killenagh probed in the first 20 minutes. Both Colm Cosgrave and Martin Flynn had sighters but couldn’t test Ben Nugent in the Kiltealy goal.
Then, out of the blue, the visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute. Stephen Watchorn played the ball over the hosts’ defence, Pat Somers ran onto it and poked over the advancing Simon Doran to the net.
Killenagh were roaring for a penalty in the 33rd minute when Dominic Maher’s shot was deflected up and struck a hand.
Referee Karol Farynik was correctly unmoved by the appeals and waved play-on.
After living a little dangerously in the opening half, Kiltealy played the second period like they didn’t want any nervy moments at the end. Shooting up the hill, they went after the second goal right from the kick-off.
It duly arrived in the 57th minute. Colm Beasley stepped up to a right-wing corner and directed a perfect ball to the front post.
Somers’ run was well timed and he met the ball with a powerful header that flew past Doran and his crowded goal-line.
The third goal is always huge in a 2-0 game. Killenagh needed it to make it a contest but Kiltealy found it when Jack Tobin squared the ball across the edge of the box, Mick Stephens met it on the run and sent a slicing left-footed effort into the top-left corner.
The third goal began joyous celebrations amongst the Celtic players and support, and it also ended the game as a contest. Kiltealy comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to move into an uncatchable position at the top of Division 5.
KILLENAGH WANDERERS: Simon Doran; Stephen Doran, James Kavanagh, David Doyle, Edward Doyle; Brian Cosgrave, Colm Cosgrave, Raymond Cahill, Dominic Maher; Martin Flynn, Cathal Kavanagh. Subs. - Josh Lynch for C. Kavanagh (69), Billy Dunne for C. Cosgrave (79), Tom Hobbs for Doyle (79), Brian Lee for Flynn (90), Joe Warren for J. Kavanagh (90), also Gary Kinsella.
KILTEALY CELTIC: Ben Nugent; John
Joe Jordan, John McCarthy, James Nolan, Colm Beasley; Stephen Watchorn, Aidan Byrne, Jack Tobin, Mick Stephens, Keith Cogley; Pat Somers. Subs. - Ted O’Brien for Jordan (46), Alan Doyle for Watchorn (83), Jamie Roban for Tobin (83), Richie Hendrick for Somers (86), James McGrath for Stephens (90), also Reece Martin, Aaron McCarthy.
REFEREE: Karol Farnyik.