Munster title for Killarney Celtic but Killorglin U-17s crash out

KEANE’S JEWELLERS MUNSTER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TROPHY FINAL Killarney Celtic 1 Rathkeale 0 (after extra-time)

THEY say a week is a long time in sport and it certainly is in the beautiful game as seven days prior to this game Killarney Celtic were dejected and deflated after losing a penalty shootout to Fairview Rangers in the FAI Junior Cup quarter-final. However, last Sunday evening they were celebrating in style after being crowned Keane’s Jewellers Munster Champions League winners after a terrific win over Desmond League side Rathkeale.

The top sides in any type of sport have the ability to bounce back after setbacks and Celtic done this in emphatic fashion at Mounthawk Park on Sunday collecting yet another piece of silverware to add to their already heavy laden mantlepiece of accolades.

This game hung on a thread from start to finish and it was no surprise that it went beyond the relegation 90 minutes as scoring chances were very few and far between.

It was a delicately balanced game for a long time with Celtic shading exchanges in the first half but as both sides dug into their benches Rathkeale enjoyed a term of dominance in the second half but could not translate it on to the scoreboard.

This was by no means a classic game but both sides showed plenty of initiative passion and grit and were very committed to the cause.

Celtic were quickest off the blocks and they had an early chance but Lee Downing’s shot was straight at the Rathkeale goalie.

Shortly afterwards a foul on Barry Coleman just 5 yards outside the box gave Rathkeale a good scoring opportunity.

Gary Enright’s shot was an easy save for Celtic goalie Roy Kelliher.

Then a shot from distance by Stephen Power went over the top while down the other end Celtic were appealing for a penalty when Wayne Sparling went down in the box but only a corner kick transpired which yielded nothing.

The first clear cut chance came for Celtic in the 21st minute when Cathal O’Shea played in Wayne Sparling but the Rathkeale goalkeeper Brendan Bambury came out and cut the angle and made a great block.

Rathkeale forced a couple of corner kicks after that and the Celtic defence made a bit of a meal of both of them and were lucky not to concede a goal.

Celtic went close from a corner kick but John McDonagh did not test the Rathkeale goalie with his header.

Rathkeale had a couple of half chances before the break with Gary Enright firing a free kick outside the left hand post and afterwards Patrick Ahern put an effort on goal wide.

Both sides made changes at half time with Celtic bringing on Jamie O’Sullivan for Cathal O’Shea and Steven McCarthy for Lee Downing.

Rathkeale substituted Danny Neville for Barry Coleman.

At the start of the second half Celtic had a couple of early half chances with Jamie O’Sullivan shooting wide when he should have hit the target while minutes later he was denied a great goalscoring chance by a superb tackle by Timmy Hogan.

Then the Celtic defence were caught at sea when Gary Enright used trickery to get past a couple of defenders and his slow shot was only inches wide.

A ball down the wing found Jack Hennessy in space and he centered the ball beautifully to Patrick Ahern but his header from 12 years was fractionally wide.

As the half moved on both sides were resigned to heading for extra time and that is what transpired.

Celtic got through for the match winning goal in the 7th minute of extra time.

Shane Lowth won the ball down the right wing and after gaining ground he delivered tan exquisite cross to the inrushing unmarked Matt Keane and he had plenty of time to put his header well wide of the Rathkeale goalie for a goal worthy of winning any game.

In the second period of extra time Celtic slowed down the game and ran out very deserving winners a the end.

There was a huge reception for the captain of the Celtic team, John McDonagh, as he was presented with the cup by the chairman of the Munster Football Association Thomas Leahy.

McDonagh thanked Rathkeale for a good sorting game and said they were very disappointed losing to Fairview Rangers the previous week but that everyone had shown great heart to come back and win this provincial title.

“I must thank all the players for the huge effort they put in and also all the management team. A lot of effort went in to winning this competition and it is great to win it for the second time,” the captain said.

KILLARNEY CELTIC: Roy Kelliher, Liam Spillane, Kevin O’Sullivan, John McDonagh (Brendan Falvey, 106), Stevie O’Mahony, Matt Keane, Wayne Sparling, (Shane Lowth, 97) Gary Keane, Cathal O’Shea (Jamie O’Sullivan, 46), Lee Downing, (Steven McCarthy, 46), Adam O’Rourke, (Darragh Lowth, 67).

RATHKEALE AFC: Brendan Carmody, Timmy Hogan (Patrick Wilmott, 62), Adam Shanagher, Cathal Cummane, Sean O’Shea, Barry Coleman (Barry Neville, 46), Keith Hartnett, Gary Enright, Patrick Ahern, Stephen Power (Shane Doherty, 60), Jack Hennessy.

REFEREE: Derek O’Shea