Castleknock Celtic  4   Valley Park Utd  2

"Celtic's superior fitness, and their seasoned Fox, sees them through to 5th Round of Leinster Junior Cup"

Leinster Junior Cup

6th Dec. 08

Celtic's Leinster Senior League team had to dig deep to grind out this important result as they keep their challenge intact in all competitions. Having disposed of Whitestown in the 3rd round with a convincing performance last week, they looked a bit lack-lustre in this game, lacking their usual flowing play.  Nevertheless, they remained focused to ensure another excellent result.

Despite being below their best, Celtic went 2-0 up in the first half hour with goals from Gary Devenney and Deco Cunningham, the second with the help of a deflection.  But Valley fought back to score before half time when Mick Flood could not get a sufficiently strong hand on the striker's effort.  1-2 h/time.

The indifferent performance by Celtic was punished midway through the second half when suddenly they found themselves pegged back to parity.  2-2

The final quarter had all the hallmarks that the fixture would go to extra time, and maybe even the dreaded penalties.  But Karl Fox wasn't reading that script.  He broke free on the left hand side and skinned the full back.  He jinked inside a Valley defender, only to be upended on the edge of the box, as the cries of "penalty ref" rung around the ground.  Though Karl ended near the penalty spot from the tackle, the ref was having none of it.  A free was all he got for his efforts, which was probably a fair decision in the circumstances.

The resultant free kick was within inches of being poked home, but following a bit of pin-ball, the chance fell to Brendan Lee, who had been immense throughout, coolly sent his shot beyond the despairing dive of the Valley keeper.  3-2.

Valley were themselves going close, and it took a diving save from Mick Flood to deny them a third goal.

Right at the death, it was that man again, Karl Fox, who popped up in the box to rifle home from close range, with his right foot, and we all thought he just used it for standing on.

Indeed, an important result that puts Celtic's 2 top senior sides into the next round of the Leinster Junior Cup.  4-2