Castleknock Celtic 7 Northway Rangers 2

24 Sept 06

NDSL 13Premier

The home team entered this match smarting from a defeat against St Kevins last week, where, after a very strong first half performance, they were deserving of at least a point. This match started in the same vein, with lively football from the hoops producing many clear-cut chances early on that were only prevented by a strong Northway keeper and some close shaves.

The breakthrough eventually came after 20 minutes with a superb through ball by Jason Morgan from his own half, setting Conor Fitzpatrick through to break the deadlock with a neat finish. Celtic pressed hard with good work all around the pitch and were rewarded with a second from a blistering volley by John Richard O’Donovan on the edge of the box, leaving the keeper no chance.

As half-time approached, Celtic dropped their concentration momentarily, not closing down the Northway wide men at a throw-in which resulted in a quick ball into the near post converted by the alert Rangers forward.

Buoyed by their good finish to the first half, Northway started well and latched on to an early defensive clearance by Celtic, to rifle in a strong shot. Keeper Niall Brown made a great effort to prevent the goal, at full stretch to his left and getting a hand to it, however it just crept inside the post levelling the match at 2-2.

Stung by this setback, Celtic pushed on and after good forward work, got their reward from a corner, which was converted when Eoin Hanlon rose to head home. Celtic continued to find their passes, with many cutting through the Northway defence and soon Artur Stark latched on to a through ball, after strong work by Dan Mangan, to convert at 4-2.

As Celtic maintained the tempo, hard work by Conor Fitzpatrick closed down the Northway defence, won the ball on the end line and pulled back to Eoghan Haughton in an inside left position in the box. With the defence rolling in on him, he calmly side-stepped the challenge, took a step and picked his spot in the back of the net to score his third goal in two games. Shortly after, further pressure from Eoghan caused the Northway defence to put through their own net from a corner.

Celtic finished the scoring as they started, with another excellent through ball from Jason Morgan, this time from left midfield, swung in behind the defence, for Artur Stark to pick up and convert his second and Celtic’s seventh for a well deserved victory.

This was a good result for an improving Celtic team with hard workers in every part of the pitch. As the players continue to mould having had a number of close season arrivals, there is competition for places, prompting good performances throughout the squad.