Celtic hearts were broken in the gales and squally rain of this wintry Sunday morning in Porterstown against old rivals, Clontarf, in the 3rd round of the SFAI Cup.  They had prepared with a friendly against St Josephs, Sallynoggin. click

After extra-time, there was absolutely nothing to separate the two teams, with Celtic probably edging the game in regulation time on points. It was a game of great intensity, with a commitment that is surprising at this age level. Clontarf progress, but they will be very much aware that they had been in a battle royale. It was, as they say, not a place for the faint-hearted.

Clontarf went ahead in the early stages.  But they were pulled back level when Brian Slevin chipped the keeper, after breaking the Clontarf offside trap.  1-1 at the break.

Celtic fell behind again to a hugely wind assisted free kick from 25 yards, which keeper Kevin Murphy had no chance. The irritating aspect to the goal was that the free kick should not have been awarded in the first place, as it followed a perfectly legal challenge for the ball.  Celtic were nevertheless 2-1 down amazingly as they had all the play.

Celtic were now missing the stealth of young Slevin up front, after he had been cynically sythed down and had to be replaced with a injured knee.

Cian O'Hara stepped into the breach and hit the bar directly from a corner and again looked to have scored direct from a corner until the Clontarf centre-half caught the ball on the line for the ref to send him off and see Conor Byrne slot home the penalty with aplomb, to level the scores again.

The game was now late in extra time with both teams having chances, when Eoin O'Brein proceeded to beat six of the Clontarf players, round the keeper, but was just foiled on the line.  The ref blew for penalties to decide the game. 

Celtic manager, Paul Slevin, was delighted with the performance in the conditions.  "When a team gives 120%, they deserve our full applause, and our lads today gave at least that!! We look forward to playing Clontarf twice again in league.

The team headed off to Lansdowne after the game to perform their ballboy duties.