Celtic cruise into last eight of FAI Junior Cup
Castlebar Celtic's Aidan McHale faces Tulla United's Conor McFadden and Adam Kilker. Picture: John Corless
Castlebar Celtic are through to the quarter finals of the FAI Junior Cup for the second year in a row after a comfortable home victory over Clare side Tulla United on Sunday afternoon.
A screamer from Brian Walsh from outside the box after Tulla failed to clear a corner properly on 18 minutes was followed by tap-ins by Óisin Tighe and Luke Kelly – one in either half – to send Celtic into the hat, and Tulla on the road home.
Tulla looked a decent enough side but they simply weren’t let play by the hosts, and once Walsh’s shot hit the net, the outcome was never really in doubt. Tulla kept trying, however, and were rewarded near the end when the industrious Adam Kilker got one back. It changed the scoreboard but not the outcome and Celtic managed the remainder of the game to go through.
The opening exchanges were even enough with Diarmuid Molloy sending a free kick at the Celtic wall and out for a corner, and for Celtic, Aidan McHale followed up on a Johnny Cocozza shot, only to be denied by Simon Kilker, minding the Tulla goal.
Ayoub Aguerram had a shot blocked by Mark Cunningham, and Celtic goalkeeper Stefan Hester collected James Wallace’s cross. Oran Murphy was fouled by Molloy but Ben Murphy sent the free kick over the Tulla bar, and Tighe sent a shot wide for Celtic.
Tulla then created a glorious chance when Celtic looked wide open through the middle. Darragh Baker set up Eanna Culloo who should have scored on 15 minutes. Good goalkeeping by Hester saved Celtic’s blushes.
At the other end, Kelly couldn’t connect with Ben Murphy’s free kick, but a few minutes later Walsh struck to put the hosts in front. McHale had two attempts and Cunningham headed over as Celtic pressed to add to their advantage. Tighe and Fionn McHale came close for Celtic and Hester was called into action again, when he collected Baker’s free kick, and he denied Aiden McNamara when he shot after a good move involving Aguerram and Culloo.
Ben Murphy, Cocozza, Tighe and McHale all threatened before Tighe knocked in Cocozza’s inviting low cross to double the lead on 38 minutes.
Baker, Aguerram and Dara Ryan all probed for Tulla, and Tighe had a go for Celtic just before the break.
Ben Murphy, Oran Murphy and Tighe all came close for Celtic before Tighe did the heavy lifting for Kelly’s goal on 51 minutes. Culloo and substitute Daniel Whitycombe had shots but they produced nothing.
Aidan McHale almost made it four for Celtic when he broke from his own half. Tulla goalkeeper Simon Kilker raced off his line, but McHale beat him and shot from distance, only to be denied by the upright.
Oran Murphy was denied by Kilker and Cunningham came close from a Dylan Edwards cross and the hard-working Aidan McHale was denied twice by the goalkeeper.
After a spell of Tulla pressure, Adam Kilker took his goal well, and Glen McNamara, Conor McFadden and Baker all tried to add to Tulla’s score without success.
Celtic deserved their win and to go through, but credit is due to Tulla who kept at it, which was all the more remarkable since five of their players had played senior championship hurling in their native county the day before.
The Kilker brothers and Baker were best for the visitors and while Celtic had good performances all over the park, with winger Aidan McHale standing out.
“You’re never going to get a bad team left in the FAI Junior Cup at the last sixteen stage,” Celtic captain, Ioseph O’Reilly said after the final whistle. “Once we got the second goal, we were well on top, but it is disappointing to concede a sloppy goal there near the end. Bar that, I thought we could have won by a couple more. It’s massive to be in the last eight of the competition again this year.
“Next week we are away to Dundalk in the FAI Senior Cup which is a huge occasion for us. Hopefully, we will bring a decent crowd.”
Castlebar Celtic: Stefan Hester; Fionn McHale, Mark Cunningham, Ioseph O’Reilly, Brian Walsh; Ben Murphy, Johnny Cocozza, Oran Murphy; Óisin Tighe, Luke Kelly, Aidan McHale. Subs: Dylan Edwards, Daniel Ajenipa and Niall Brennan (for Cocozza, Tighe and Kelly 66), Fionn Mahon (for B Murphy 77).
Tulla United: Simon Kilker; Fiachra Hale, Diarmuid Mulloy, Dara Ryan, Aidan McNamara; Conor McFadden, Adam Kilker, Darragh Baker; James Wallace, Ayoub Aguerram, Eanna Culloo. Subs: Daniel Whitycombe (for F Hale 46), Rory Tynan (for Wallace 60), Glen McNamara and Cormac Hale (for Culloo and Ryan 72).
REF: Ray Conlon (Athlone).
