Castleknock Celtic 1    Skerries Town  1

(Skerries won 4-3 on penalties)

LSL Premier Sat

Lummy O'Reilly Cup Final

2nd June 2007

For gallery  click

This was a game that Celtic hardly deserved to lose.  They in truth hardly looked seriously threatened for long periods of the game, and only a goalmouth mix-up let Skerries in for their goal. You must give Celtic's team full credit for their fine effort on the day to take this Cup for the first time, but alas, they did not get the rub of the green on this occasion, which is always crucial.

Celtic had numerous chances to put this game beyond doubt long before the final whistle, but they failed to convert all but one of them.  John Byrne went close after 20 mins, but his header was just wide from a corner.  Against the run of play, Skerries went ahead with a soft goal after 23 mins. A couple of mins later, it was Gary Deveney who saw his header from Ciaran Carr's cross bring out the best in the Skerries keeper, Peter 'Blackie' O'Brien.  Blackie was to prove a real thorn in Celtic's side all afternoon with many fine saves, and he was in this reporter's estimation the man of the match.

Deveney was again close on 30 mins.  Five mins later, it was Tommy Donnelly who failed to convert his chance after he had weaved his magic to take him into the Skerries box.  0-1 half-time.

On 57 mins, it was Skerries who went close with a testing shot for Anto Hutton.  Five mins later, it was Celtic's turn to have their effort saved by O'Brien.  On 26 mins, the Skerries keeper was again in action, but for once he spilled the ball, only to see no Celtic striker on hand to hit home. O'Brien was adjudged to have pushed a Celtic player in the back on 27 mins, but Celtic again failed to punish the North County Dublin team.

In the 87th min, Des Kennearney raced to the end-line and superbly crossed onto the penalty spot, where Ronan McGivern looked certain to make it 1-1 when he outjumped the Skerries defender only to see the superb O'Brien perform a Gordon Banks save pushing the header out of danger. It was one of the highlights of a very sporting game. There was a schmozzle  in the Skerries box and we are still wondering how the ball was not planted in the Skerries net.

The Celtic followers were looking toward the exits as the final moments passed.  Then Owen 'Snowey' Battigan climbed high at the far post to head into the opposite corner of the goal, from a superb ball from Des Kennearney.  The equaliser was no more than Celtic deserved, as they had outplayed their opposition for long spells.

Extra time failed to bring the break-through, and the inevitable showdown came.  It was Skerries Town who held their nerve, despite a brilliant save from Anto Hutton from the first Skerries penalty (see gallery).  Again let us pay tribute to Celtic for giving us an exciting season, and just failing to bring home the silverware, but they will be hoping for promotion in their first year in Leinster Senior League football.