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After their battle in the Porterstown gales against Clontarf FC in the SFAI Cup, it was off to Lansdowne Road for Celtic U-12 Premier league leaders, where they performed the duties of ball-kids for the big game in the League of Ireland calendar, the FAI Cup Final.

The high-flyers of recent years, Derry City, were pitted against the Inchicore stalwarts, St Patrick's Athletic, who were hoping to gain their first cup final success since 1961.  Alas, the Saints were denied once again, after the Candy Stripes fought back from being in arrears 3 times during the game.  It was indeed a real Christmas cracker.

The Celtic players arrived at Lansdowne for this historic event, the last soccer game to be played at the old ground, before it gets its restructuring in the next couple of years.

The FAI supervisor greeted the lads, and gave them a full briefing before being sent out to the park to fulfil their duties.  One would have to say that they did a marvellous job. Not once in the whole game was there a delay after the ball left the field of play - no sooner was it out, but the player was immediately given a replacement ball.  This was despite very inclement conditions from time to time. 

The FAI had devoted a full page to the team in their match programme, with a pen picture of the club as well.  We will upload the match programme extract later. 

The FAI supervisor was delighted with the lads and he congratulated them on a job well done.  They were all given an FAI gift bag with goodies as a reward, which he said was fully deserved.