Celtic's kids send the Villains packing
Pictured are the Castlebar Celtic U18 side ahead of their Connacht Cup semi-final with Moyne Villa. Picture: Castlebar Celtic FC
It was quite the week for Castlebar Celtic as both their men’s Junior A and B teams booked provincial final berths in both the Connacht Cup and Connacht Shield respectively. Whilst on Sunday last, the club’s U18 boys team also booked a Connacht Cup final spot after defeating Moyne Villa at Celtic Park.
This encounter was certainly a real test for Celtic and the momentum appeared to be with the guests before extra-time commenced, as Villa’s James Kisyov snatched a late equaliser to force the extended period, much to the dismay of the hosts who appeared to be on the verge of victory.
The opening quarter of normal time was cagey, as both sides tested the waters, with Villa eventually managing to conjure up an opportunity on 24 minutes, but Cillian Ryan’s ambitious drive was off target.
Tiernan Brady was a lively presence for Castlebar and the playmaker was on the verge of fashioning a spectacular opening goal on 31 minutes, however, his ambitious long-range chip never fully materialised, much to the relief of the away bench.
Villa grew in stature as the game progressed and the Headford outfit crafted a decent opportunity on 34 minutes, when Ryan set-up the lurking Daniel Lynch, but his effort fizzed inches wide.
Celtic’s Rhys Saville then went close to finding the back of the net, but his effort was expertly save by Fionn Barnes.
Castlebar tried their utmost to muster the lead and they peppered the visitor’s goal for the remainder of the half, with some laboured build-up play resulting in a scoring opportunity for Riley Cowan on 39 minutes, but faced with a wall of Villa defenders he dragged his effort narrowly wide.
The local’s began the second half in a positive fashion, but against the run of play the blue and white almost forged the lead on 55 minutes, with Eric Creaven latching onto a set-piece only to see his glancing header fly narrowly over the crossbar.
Villa defended resolutely, none more so than their excellent centre-back Cathal Gavin, who somehow managed to clear Eoin Enright’s goal-bound strike away to safety on 61 minutes.
Castlebar were beginning to up the tempo and further chances were created for Enright, Harry McHale, and the influential Joe Forry, but Barnes’ goal remained intact.
However, a plucky Celtic finally nudged in front on 82 minutes. Castlebar’s right-back Adam Burton and Rhys Saville’s build-up play caused problems for the visitors and one such attacking foray led to another Celtic corner-kick. Saville’s subsequent corner-kick delivery found Tiernan Brady and the latter’s close-range header found the back of the net.
Indeed, the energetic Brady could well have netted the insurance goal for Castlebar, but after skipping past the Villa defence, he was most unlucky to see his angled drive flash inches wide.
Castlebar were on the verge of booking their Connacht Final ticket, however, two minutes into injury-time a doughty Villa plundered the equaliser. An in-swinging corner-kick was not adequately dealt with by the home defence and in the ensuing frantic goalmouth scramble the poaching James Kisyov was on hand to net the equaliser, much to the delight of the away supporters, and extra-time beckoned.
There was very little goalmouth action during the first period of extra-time; with Celtic’s Burton seeing a snapshot hit the side-netting.
However, five minutes into the second period of extra-time, Castlebar netted what proved to be the winning goal. A counter-attacking move saw Saville collect possession and he raced towards goal before guiding a tidy finish beyond the reach of the advancing Barnes.
Four minutes later, Castlebar had to rejig their defensive unit after Rhys Saville picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed by the referee.
Villa’s goal-scorer Kisyov almost proved to be the hero once again for his team-mates, but this time his late close-range effort flew narrowly over the crossbar, much to the relief of the home faithful. Castlebar Celtic can now look forward to an U18 Connacht Cup Final against Mervue United.
