Champions Celtic shine under the lights
Castlebar Celtic's Luke Kelly (right) scores against Manulla. Picture: Mike Staunton
Castlebar Celtic ran out comfortable winners when they welcomed Manulla under lights at Celtic Park on Saturday night last.
It was a perfect night for football with the rain holding off and the air crisp as Celtic turned on the floodlights for the first time in years and the occasion welcomed a big crowd to Celtic Park with the home side duly providing an entertaining win for their supporters.
Patience was the virtue of the day for the home side as they proved and prodded throughout before picking up the three points. A brilliant display by Jack Livingstone in the Manulla goal keeping the hosts at bay for much of the contest.
Celtic had numerous chances in the opening quarter of the game to take the lead with Jason Hunt, Mark Howley and Luke Kelly all seeing chances going begging in the opening 25 minutes.
Very much against the run of play the visitors capitalised on Castlebar’s wastefulness in the 28th minute when a long ball out of defence was headed into the penalty area by Aidan Dunleavy and collected by the unmarked Brian Ralph.
The opportunity looked to be gone when, instead of shooting, Ralph turned to the right and passed for Padraig Beirne on the right side of the box. Despite being under pressure the midfielder fired across Stefan Hester’s goal and in off the post to give Manulla the lead.
Manulla almost doubled their lead six minutes later when a free from Ralph was floated into the box and headed goalwards by Colm Murphy. Hester had to be quick off his line to get down low and punch the ball away from Gary Brampton who almost toe poked to the net.
Manulla held their lead to the half-time break thanks to another brilliant save from Livingstone after Dylan Edwards got in on goal but couldn’t get the ball past the big keeper.
It took the home side just seven minutes of the second period to get back on level terms when Colm Nevin’s rasper of a free kick was spilled by Livingstone and Celtic captain Mark Cunningham reacted quickest to poke the ball home from close range.
Celtic continued to dominate the game following the goal and could have been ahead two minutes later when Jason Hunt saw his shot saved after cutting in from the right wing.
The lead goal did come in the 61st minute, much to the delight of the large home crowd. A low cross from Hunt found Luke Kelly unmarked at the back post and he gave Livingstone no chance from close range.
Manulla never looked like getting themselves back in the game after falling behind with numerous long balls over the top being easily cleared by the impressive Coyne and Brian Walsh at the heart of the Celtic defence.
Nevin and substitute Liam Flatley came close to extending Celtic’s lead before Flatley put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute finishing off a low cross from Fionn Mahon saw the striker score from the penalty spot.
