Listowel Celtic move into Premier A contention

DENNY PREMIER A Killarney Celtic 0 Listowel Celtic 3

LISTOWEL Celtic must be considered real title contenders after a fantastic 3-0 win over the reigning champions Killarney Celtic at Celtic Park on Sunday.

The home side did not do themselves any favours having two players sent off in the sixth and 63rd minutes but that does not detract from a brilliant Listowel performance which puts them in with a great chance of making the league final.

The home side were coming into this game on a low after their defeat in the Munster Champions League semi final and they found it difficult to lift their game against a very industrious and spirited Listowel side who played an appealing brand of football keeping the ball on the deck as much as possible.

Listowel were the more composed side in the first half and they went ahead with a Jo Jo Grimes goal midway through the half and were 1-0 up at the break. They doubled their lead in the 70th minute after good build up play their razor sharp striker Ashley Kelliher found the net.

Listowel put the game to bed 10 minutes from the end with a Michael Kennedy goal.

This win moves Listowel up to within nine points of Killarney Celtic with three games in hand and they are two points clear of third placed Castleisland. They now have their destiny in their own hands in the concluding games.

Listowel have five games left to play away to Castleisland and home to Killarney Athletic, Dingle Bay Rovers, Fenit Samphires and Tralee Dynamos. They have a new lease of life this season under manager Paddy Lynch and their new trainer Jimmy Clancy is getting the best out of his squad on the training pitch.

They now know they are in with a big chance of making the final if they can keep this great sequence of wins going. This defeat wont matter that much to Killarney Celtic as they are only a couple of points away from making the decider.

We spoke with Paddy Lynch on Sunday evening and he was delighted with the result. He said it was great to travel to Killarney and come away with three points.

“We have nothing won yet but it is nice to be in the running in the title race,” he says.

“We have a very young squad who are performing beyond their expectations but we know we have a lot to do yet to secure a place in the final. We will just take each game as it comes and see where it will lead us.

“While most of the squad are lacking in experience they are giving great commitment and dedication and it is our job to keep the momentum going right up to the final game of the season.

“We have a big challenge ahead in the final five games and we will have to keep getting good results if we are to stay in the title hunt.”