Champions come through tough battle in Beltra
Luke Kelly opened the scoring for Castlebar Celtic against Glenhest Rovers last Sunday. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Castlebar Celtic’s quest for a fourth Mayo Super League title in a row got off to a winning start in Beltra with a hardfought win over Glenhest Rovers.
The visitors were without Oran Groarke and long-term absentee Niall Brennan, but the Hoops have developed a knack for winning games while not at their best, as well as down key men, over the past three years and that habit came to the fore again.
Glenhest, who won their opening league game a fortnight ago away to Ballinrobe, were unfortunate not to nick a point at the end and will prove again to be a difficult nut to crack for any side who comes against them. But in a game of few clear-cut chances, Celtic took theirs, although a little luck fell their way at crucial moments.
The inclement weather conditions last Sunday made life difficult for both early doors. Celtic had more of the possession but did not trouble the Glenhest rearguard.
While their have been key departures in Dylan Edwards and Jordan Loftus in the Celtic attack, they still possess the wonderfully talented Johnny Cocozza and on 18 minutes, his delightful through ball went through the heart of the Glenhest defence and Luke Kelly, last season’s Super League top scorer, poked it past Eoghan McManamon to put the Hoops in front.
A first opportunity for Glenhest came on 28 minutes when Shane Finnerty’s free kick found Connor McCarthy, but he could not direct his header towards goal. Finnerty was fortunate not put through his own net a minute later when his sliced clearance from Ben’s Murphy’s free kick went inches wide of the post.
Before half-time, McManamon had to be alert to get a hand to Ben McHale’s cross that was going towards goal as well as getting a fingertip to palm away Ben Murphy’s low drive from distance. In additional time, Glenhest’s best chance of the half arrived when Finnerty’s corner to the back post found Levi Barrett bus his header went wide.
Kelly almost doubled Celtic’s lead five minutes into the second half with an acrobatic overhead kick, but not enough power was on the strike. As Celtic’s influence grew, so did Glenhest’s frustration, with Pat Mulchrone and head coach Stephen McLoughlin picking up yellow cards for dissent Celtic’s goalscorer then had another audacious attempt to grab a second, flicking Ben McHale’s cross at goal, and McManamon had to be alert to save it on 66 minutes. Two minutes later, Celtic doubled their lead albeit with a slice of luck as Dylan Felle’s strike that was going wide of the goal took a heavy deflection off Eoin McNulty and nestled into the net.
That might have been curtains for the hosts, but Glenhest pulled one back on 72 minutes. Substitute Paul McLoughlin picked out Eoin Wright, who turned Mark Cunningham before guiding his strike past Basquille into the bottom corner.
The game became frantic from here, with Glenhest pouring bodies forward in search of an equaliser. Celtic’s defence stood firm but one big chance fell the way of Paddy Mulchrone a minute into injury-time, but Ben McHale got a crucial block to it to secure the three points for Celtic. But only just.
Glenhest Rovers: Eoghan McManamon, Levi Barrett, Ciaran McCormack, Eoin McNulty, Adrian Rowland, Chris Rowland, Shane Finnerty, Cathal Chambers, Connor McCarthy, Paddy Mulchrone, Eoin Wright. Subs: Paul McLoughlin (for C Rowland 72), Cillian Murphy (for Wright 88).
Castlebar Celtic: Peter Basquille, Mark Cunningham, Ben McHale, Ioseph O'Reilly, Brian Walsh, Ben Murphy, Fionn Mahon, Johnny Cocozza, Dylan Felle, Daniel Ajenipa, Luke Kelly. Subs: Jason Hunt (for Ajenipa 57), Lerlah Hay (for Felle 77).
REF: Eric Eaton.
