Celtic out to bounce back

KEANE JEWELLERS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY FINAL Killarney Celtic v Rathkeale (Desmond League) Sunday, August 2 Mounthawk Park 2pm

KILLARNEY Celtic don’t have long to lick their wounds after going down to Fairview Rangers on Saturday evening as a provincial title is up for grabs at Mounthawk Park next Sunday when they play Desmond League side Rathkeale in the final of the Keane Jeweller’s Champions League Trophy.

The club’s name is already on this cup as they won this competition it its inaugural year back in 2011defeating Waterford side Carrick United in extra time. The present Celtic manager Brian Spillane captained the team on the day.

Only three players Pádraig O’Connor, Gary Keane and Stephen Hayes, are still playing from that victorious side. The 2011 Champions line out was Stephen Bartlett, Pádraig

O’Connor, Terence Moriarty David Hayes, Brian Spillane, Gary Keane, Stephen Hayes Jamie Spillane, Robert Watson, Ginatus Paketaurus, Peter McCarthy.

Celtic will go into the game with high expectations but they know they are facing a serious assignment against a formidable West Limerick side. In their path to the decider Celtic had to really dig in to win the opening round against Cork side Everton.

The sides ended up scoreless after 90 minutes but a goal blitz by Celtic in extra gave them a comfortable 4-0 win at the end. They entertained Waterford side Hibernians in the quarter-final and squeezed out a 3-2 victory.

They really faced the acid test in the semi-final travelling to play formidable Tipperary side St Michaels. However, in a tight game they came away with a fantastic 1-0 victory. Rathkeale got a bye in the opening round and recorded an easy 6-0 win over West Cork side Dunmannay Town in the quarter-final.

They played host to Cork side Doolans Cow in the semi final and in a close game they won 2-1. Celtic manager Brian Spillane says the club are gutted to lose to Fairview Rangers last

Saturday evening but they were delighted with the team performance but luck was just not on their side at the end he claimed.

“Of course, we are very disappointed to lose the game but the players put in a huge effort and should be proud of their performance,” he said. “We have a huge game next Sunday and it is an ideal opportunity to make amends for losing on Saturday evening. While the players felt badly losing the game their focus now is bouncing back and win a provincial title.

“We have a league game against Listowel Celtic this Wednesday evening and hopefully players won’t incur any injuries. Rathkeale are a good side so we know we face a tough task but we are well prepared and are confident that we can win the game.”

Alan Doyle is the manager of the Rathkeale team and he took over four years ago and has won silverware each season since. Their stand-out players are Gary Enright and Keith Hartnett and Sean O’Shea while they have a very good striker in Pa Ahern.

It should be a good competitive game and Celtic should be good enough to collect their second Munster Champions League Trophy.