CELTIC ROCK TOWN
Duffy nets the winner to complete a brilliant fightback
SHAMROCK CELTIC WICKLOW TOWN 3 2
SHAMROCK Celtic fought back superbly from 2-0 down to beat league rivals Wicklow Town B last Sunday morning.
The home side went into the game struggling for form as they found themselves at the foot of the table before kick-off but a dramatic victory against Division 3 favourites Wicklow Town B meant they climbed up the table.
The conditions of the pitch proved to be a massive factor in the game as the pitch at Dublin Road looked to be unplayable but referee David Jameson checked the surface before kick-off and believed the conditions were okay to proceed with the game.
Wicklow Town started the game attacking their opponents right from kick off and looked to get the ball over the Celtic defence to their lightening quick striker Paddy Murphy.
Murphy went close on a couple of occasions in the opening 15 minutes of the first half but the attacker couldn’t stay on his feet to get a shot off in-front of goal because of the wet and slippery pitch.
The away side managed to open the scoring after a dominant 30 minutes through a free-kick from midfielder David O’Connor.
O’Connor whipped in a free kick in-front of Celtic goalkeeper Stephen Doyle.
Doyle came to collect the ball in his hands but spilled the ball only for defender Sean O’Brien to tap it past Doyle into the net.
Great reactions from O’Brien in front of goal with a striker like finish.
Only two minutes later the away side had their second of the game with another free-kick this time from Will Murphy.
David O’Connor was again standing over the ball looking like he was going to whip in another free-kick into the area in a similar position to the last but defender Will Murphy took the free-kick at the last second and curled the ball into the top corner, an excellent strike from the defender to put his side 2-0 up a few minutes before half-time.
Shamrock Celtic got themselves back into the game just on the stroke of half-time with a great finish from midfielder Aidan O’ Neill who took a volley on first time from a throw in from Scott Meaney to give them a chance at a comeback in the second half with 45 minutes left to play.
The home side started the second half on fire after gaining more confidence from their goal before half-time and took the game to their opponents and playing the ball out to winger Scott Meaney on the right wing who was causing havoc on the right hand side of the pitch.
Meaney was making a dangerous run down the right wing and before he could whip the ball into the penalty area to Tom Duffy he was clipped, resulting in a free-kick.
The free-kick was floated in by Meaney and found the head of John Flood who made a run to the front post to glide the ball with his head past keeper Gavin Caffery on the 53rd minute.
The game was back on levels terms at 2-2.
Wicklow Town were struggling to keep up with the pace of the game as Shamrock Celtic started to dominate the game and looked like the team to take the full three points of the game.
The home side finally got their breakthrough on the 67th minute mark after knocking on the door for the majority of the second half after scoring their equaliser.
It started from a free-kick from Shamrock Celtic keeper Stephen Doyle who picked out Tom Duffy on the left wing, Duffy took on the Wicklow Town defence beating two defenders before going one on one with Gavin Caffery before sliding the ball under the keeper and into the corner of the net.
What a comeback from Shamrock Celtic, losing 2-0 late into the first half and to come back and score three goals and lead the game.
It was continuous pressure on the Shamrock Celtic defence for the remaining 20 minutes of the game as Wicklow Town piled on the pressure and it got even tough- er on the home side as winger Scott Meaney was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for kicking out at David O’Connor.
But the defence held firm for a well-deserved victory.
Wicklow Town may now have to win all their remaining games to win the title as Conary United and Arklow United are in a much more comfortable position sitting in first and second.
1. Stephen Doyle, 2. Noel Mc Veigh, 3. Phillip Gill, 4. Colin Cassin, 5. Gary Doyle, 6. Greg Doyle, 7. Michael Hodkinson, 8. Glen Mc Carthy, 9. Tom Duffy, 10. Aidan O’ Neill, 11. Scott Meaney. Subs: Kev Murray for Glen Mc Carthy (52min), Ingard Henseon for Aidan O’ Neill (69min)
1. Gavin Caffery,
2. Will Murphy, 3. Mick Connors, 4. Conor Dickenson, 5. Sean O’ Brien,
6. John Flood, 7. JJ Power, 8. Brien Byrne, 9. David O’ Connor, 10. Paddy Murphy, 11. Dean Corkish. Subs: Tommy Doyle for Brian Byrne (60min), Eddie Kelly for Dean Corkish (55min).
David Jameson.