Celtic's FAI Cup journey ended by Dundalk
Castlebar Celtic applaud fans after the Club Orange FAI Cup third round tie in Oriel Park. Picture: INPHO/Dan Clohessy
Castlebar Celtic’s historic journey in the FAI Cup came to an end following a heavy defeat at the hands of Dundalk last Saturday evening.
No club from the Mayo Football League had ever reached the last 16 of the competition before and that alone made it a day to remember for all involved with the club. But the game itself was a one-sided affair from start to finish.
Dundalk, who sit fourth in the League of Ireland Premier Division, are levels above Celtic with their professional conditioning, movement and ability on the ball, and the final shot count of Dundalk’s 43 to Celtic’s zero tells its own story.
“I think we're not used to losing games. Eight-nil is a heavy defeat but listen, the context is that Dundalk are fourth in the Premier Division table and they've, you know, probably a budget of just under a million for players' wages every year, I would say. When it's in that context, I'm very proud of the lads,” Celtic manager Stevie Gavin told the Western People after the game.
“I thought we gave away three [goals] from corners. They were poor goals to give away. A couple of mistakes but listen, that's what happens when you're playing against teams at this level.
“Their body strength, their speed of play, their movement, in possession they were very impressive in terms of their movement, pulling our players out of position and other players filling in with passes, but you know I'm very proud and the main thing is that we learn from this and, you know, if we get back to the stage again next year can we improve.”
As expected, Dundalk dominated possession from kick-off and already had three shots on goal by the sixth minute, although none troubled Celtic goalkeeper Stefan Hester.
The manner that which Dundalk went ahead a minute will have irked Celtic however. The hosts were awarded a soft penalty after Harry Groome was clipped by Brian Walsh in the penalty area, although little contact appeared to be made and Cian Dillon blasted down the centre into the roof of the net.
Three minutes later and Dundalk added a second. Luke Mulligan’s ball in from the right was intercepted by Ioseph O’Reilly, but he could not clear it away and Robert Burns punished with a low strike into the bottom corner.
To Celtic’s credit, they kept Dundalk at bay for the next 20 minutes. Celtic goalkeeper Stefan Hester made saves from Declan McDaid, Egor Vassenin, Harry Groome and Luke Mulligan, while McDaid saw a goal ruled out on the half hour mark for a foul in the build-up.
A rare foray for Celtic into the Dundalk half saw Mark Cunningham and Johnny Cocozza break forward but the Dundalk backline easily dealt with any threat.
Three minutes before half-time, Celtic conceded a third. McDaid’s corner was whipped in to Leo Gaxha, who helped it on to Mulligan who tapped who from close range.
“When we conceded early, the penalty and then just before half time it was frustrating but listen that's sport and that's football and you have to kind of take it on the chin and just keep going,” added Gavin.
Kept going they did, but Celtic then conceded another two avoidable goals from corners on 58 and 61 minutes. Leo Gaxha headed home unmarked before Mulligan added his second when Hester’s punched clearance laded straight at the feet of the forward.
Hester made up for the error on 63 minutes with a brilliant double save to deny McDaid and Aaron Keogh on the rebound, but he could do nothing about Dundalk’s sixth on 67 minutes, as Dillon netted his second of the game with a fine turn and strike.
Dundalk added a seventh five minutes later through Keogh before Danny Mullen added an eighth after captialising on a loose pass by Cathal Coyne at the back.
Celtic now must prepare for a mouthwatering FAI Junior Cup quarter-final away in Wexford next Saturday afternoon against 2024 runners-up Gorey Rangers. A big travelling support mad ethe trip to Oriel park last Saturday and another is expected, and Gavin paid a glowing tribute to the Hoops fans who made the journey up to the north east.
“Yeah, it was fantastic. It was very emotional actually when the lads came out and we gave them a clap. There was a good connection there. We created history by getting this far. When you're in these competitions you get to the stage, and we certainly know what all about now.”
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie, Robert Burns, Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome, Cian Dillon, Leo Gaxha, Luke Mulligan, Egor Vassenin, Sean Spaight, Robert Cornwall, Declan McDaid. Subs: Aaron Keogh (for Dervin 59), Samuel Safaei, Danny Mullen and Shay Casey (for Dillon, Cherrie and Groome 68), Max Ferguson (for Cornwall 77).
Castlebar Celtic: Stefan Hester, Mark Cunningham, Paul McDermott, Ioseph O’Reilly, Cathal Coyne, Brian Walsh, Ben Murphy, Niall Brennan, Johnnie Cocozza, Oran Murphy, Aidan McHale. Subs: Luke Kelly, Jason Hunt and Fionn Mahon (for A McHale, O Murphy and B Murphy ht), Dylan Edwards (for Brennan 55), Oisin Tighe (for McDermott 72).
REF: Oliver Moran (Dublin)
