Celtic stay United in pursuit of more Connacht success
Castlebar Celtic's Jason Hunt beats Cartron United’s Enda McGowan with Celtic's Mark Cunningham, left, and Cartron ’keeper Ronan Callaghan lloking on. Picture: John Corless
New year, old story. Castlebar Celtic marched on in defence of their Connaught Cup with a 4-2 win over a competitive Cartron United side in the Sunday afternoon drizzle of Celtic Park. The home side deserved their win and the margin could have been greater, but their guests are a really good side and stayed in it to the death.
For much of this match, Cartron simply couldn’t get through the midfield and backline of the reigning champions. Oran Groarke, sitting in front of the back four, put in a man of the match performance, with Johnny Cocozza and Niall Brennan excellent too. Brian Walsh and Ioseph O’Reilly make it look so easy in the centre of the defence, and the full backs Mark Cunningham and Mark Howley, as well as being good in the tackle, are deadly on the counter.
Two years ago, this month, I saw Celtic thrashed 5-0 in Waterford by local side Hibernians in the FAI Junior Cup. Six of that team played on Sunday. What a turnaround Celtic have made in in these two years.
Celtic captain Ioseph O’Reilly said they knew they were going to have to work really hard against Cartron, after the Christmas break.
“They are a good side,” he told the . “They beat Salthill Devon in the last round and that was an impressive result. So we knew they were a good side, and they showed that in this match. It’s nice to get that game over with a positive result and we can look forward to the next round now, and the FAI Junior Cup next week.”
Despite early dominance, which saw Jason Hunt shoot over after good work by Eoghan Hughes and Mark Howley, and a Hughes header saved, it took Celtic twenty minutes to make the breakthrough. The goal was a trademark Celtic effort. Jason Hunt who was excellent throughout, beat two defenders before a close passing combination with Niall Brennan and Johnny Cocozza, who gave it back to Hunt. Cartron goalkeeper Ronan Callaghan could only look on in admiration as the ball flew past him into the net.
Cartron were struggling to break down Celtic’s defence and were limited to a couple of half-chances. Steven Patton sent his wide while Donal Gallagher’s long-range effort was easily saved by Stefan Hester.
Mark Cunningham caused the Sligo side problems with his overlapping runs on the wing and he got in behind the defence a few times. On one occasion he was fouled by Cartron defender Jamie Cawley and Hunt’s subsequent free kick skimmed over. Brian Walsh, up from the back for a corner, headed over too.
Hunt shot over again before Cocozza went to ground in the box, but referee Jimmy Cawley correctly waved play on, as the ’keeper had connected with the ball. Mark Howley’s cross was nearly turned in to his own net by Cartron defender Jamie Cawley and Cunningham’s shot went over after Hunt was clipped going through. The referee made another excellent call when Dylan Edwards was tackled in the box by Gavin Sweeney in the heart of the Cartron defence waving play on. It’s difficult for referees in the absence of official assistants, but it’s great to see a top referee in action, and the Ballina man was outstanding on Sunday.
Celtic really should have gone 2-0 up, but Dylan Edwards somehow missed at the back post from Mark Cunningham’s cross. To be fair to Edwards, he probably didn’t expect the chance to fall to him – Cunningham really should have fired at the target himself.
Despite being second best, the visitors were still in the game and Alan Kavanagh shot wide following a long throw by Ryan Lynch, to signal their intent immediately after the restart. At the other end Cunningham was close with a header from Edwards’s cross. Johnny Cocozza lit up the dreary day with a piece of brilliance, cutting through the Cartron defence to set up Hughes and the big striker, in for the injured Jordan Loftus, fired home.
When Cocozza got on the end of Cunningham’s pass to make it 3-0 near the hour mark, Cartron boss Des Kavanagh sent in Cian Brennan and Nathan Hargadon, and the switch completely changed the match. Brennan, who towered above the Celtic defence, got the first of his brace on 65 minutes to ignite a Cartron revival. He added a second on 78 minutes to reduce the margin to one when he met Gallagher’s cross.
Celtic substitute Paul Walsh extinguished any hope Cartron had, however, when he finished an excellent Celtic move, which saw Hunt do the heavy lifting with great control, a dazzling run and a burst of speed to set up the shot.
Celtic boss Stevie Gavin might be disappointed to concede two goals, but this was just the kind of physical contest on a heavy pitch that his side needed to kick-start another year.
Alongside Groarke, Brian Walsh, Mark Cunningham and Jason Hunt were outstanding for Celtic. Eoghan Hughes put in a great shift too, as a traditional centre-forward. Cian Brennan was the standout player for Cartron, despite watching the first hour from the dug-out. Gavin Sweeney was excellent, too.
“It was a tough game, but we expected that,” man of the match, Oran Groarke, told the . “We played them last year and they are the best in Sligo. We knew they were going to put it up to us, but we thought if we were patient on the ball, the way we can play, we’ll open up any team. They played a high line in the first half and we got in behind them a few times, but apart from Jason’s goal, we didn’t take our chances.
“I thought if we kept playing the way we were playing the chances would come and the goals would come too. They’re a physical team and they’re in the middle of their season, but we did a lot of work over Christmas and we matched them for fitness.”
Celtic go into the draw for the third round, and have an FAI Junior Cup derby on home soil on Sunday next when they face old rivals Westport United.
