Clonaslee Utd  3Castleknock Celtic 1

AUL Div3 Sun

Leinster Junior Shield

23 Nov. 08

Celtics AUL3 side saw their 100% record sink in a sea of Co Laois mud in this Leinster Junior Shield clash with Clonaslee. Celtic started on the back foot before even leaving Dublin when the keeper "remembered" he had to work on Sunday afternoon and informed the manager at 10:30 on Saturday night, far too late to arrange a replacement. With no recognised keeper the position was filled by defender Ian Wall, for which the team was indebted. 

Celtic started brightly on a pitch that can only be described as a quagmire where playing football was almost impossible. They dominated and deservedly went ahead when Aaron McAdam went down the left to push a lovely shot past the Clonaslee keeper from a very difficult angle. Ian Wall was competent in between the sticks until he tweaked a hamstring and began to struggle. With only 1 sub available and no other player with any keeping experience Ian struggled on. Celtic continued to dominate but the back 4 were forced to defend deeper and deeper to provide cover for the injured substitute keeper. Celtic came very close to making it 2-nil when a strong shot from Vinnie Corry thundered off the Clonaslee post with the keeper well beaten. However, the ball was cleared in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Celtic held the lead until half time. 

The second half started much as the first on a pitch that was becoming even more muddy. Ian's injury prevented him from kicking the ball and this eventually allowed Clonaslee to latch onto a throw out and beat the immobile keeper to level the scores. The change was then made when Celtic's only sub, Robbie Semple, went into goal. The absence of a keeper further unbalanced the Celtic side while Clonaslee took to shooting from every position. Eventually Robbie was beaten to give Clonaslee the lead. Celtic continued to push although they were not playing anywhere near their usual standard and were rewarded with a penalty late in the half. Chris Hoey stepped up and put the ball down the hole that passed for the penalty spot but his shot went straight at the Clonaslee keeper. 

With time running out Celtic threw caution to the wind but could not get the equaliser. Things got worse when a clearance by Clonaslee fell to one of their forwards who beat Robbie. Aaron McAdam was harshly red carded for a tackle that owed more to the state of the pitch than any intent.  The game finished 3-1 to Clonaslee, a score that more than flattered them, and was down more to the failure of the regular Celtic keeper to show than to any skill from the home side.