::: Gorey Celtic FC

Saturday 3rd December 2011
Gorey Celtic 2 - 3 Forth Celtic

A fresh December morning and boys lining up against the harlem globe-trotters, a huge team from Murrintown with only 1 lad under 6ft, had seen them on my travels last year and were division 2 champions at under 16 and felt there league position was false. Shane Troope suspended and Luca Consentino away so Jordan Davies in at centre midfield and Adam Connor returning after injury. Thinkered a bit with the line up and started with Ross Reardon left wing back and Adam Roche playing behind the front two.

We looked the better side early on with Thomas "Mossy" Morris spraying balls around and getting Sami Keogh and Ross away down the flanks, back 3 looking solid and happy enough with the shape.
Mossy lost the ball in midfield, tracked back and put it out for a throw and again which we've done this season and last, switch off from the throw in and James Flood in the Celtic goal gets beaten on his near post and Forth 1 up inside 25 minutes with their first chance. We lost Sami to injury and Jamie Finn enters at right wing back and created a couple of half chances from Adam Connor and a great chance from Darren Brennan who probably should have scored after beaten the keeper to a scramble, just couldn't find the net on his weaker left side and also under pressure from 2 or 3 defenders.

H.T. 0-1.

We tried to keep the boys going at half time because we where trying to play in the strong wind but Forth never let us play or settle, switched Ross and Jamie and Ross started to get more space and open them up more coming inside off the right and got a couple of shots away and again we looked OK, but Forth good on the break and hit us again with a sucker punch 2 down and our 100% league record in real trouble, got Gavin Walker on in a unfamiliar centre foward role for Adam Connor just hoping his power and pace could unsettled them, then switched Ross and Adam Roche hoping Ross could probe an opening in the attacking role behind the front two, also got Peter Byrne on for his pace and hoping he could get in behind the full back.
15 mins to go and Ross gets Darren away and our number 9 is very good 1 on 1 and smacks home, 1-2 and game on, boys flying now and could see them raise theie game, and gets better after a great through ball from Jordan, Darren's pace and movement gets him away another 1 on 1 and slots home 2-2 and his 9th goal of the season in only 8 games, would have settled for that but the boys smelted blood and went looking for the winner but after the huge effort 2nd half to get back in it just probably got caught up in the excitment and got caught in the last minute when the ref missed a foul on Mark Doran and Forth break to retake the lead, still time with a couple of injuries and time for a blatant hand ball when the full back dived on it and the ref waves play on.
We forced a couple of late corners and James goes up in a desperate attempt to save a point, but just wasn't to be.

We have to remember where this side was two years ago, and where they are now and the strides the boys have made playing in the 2nd best division in Wexford. After going up 2 divisions in the summer by finishing 4th the previous season?? Thats also our 1st home league defeat since we came together at under 16, and am still very happy with what I witnessed and are still going in the right direction.
We also had lads born in 94, 95 and 96 on view, where the Forth boys where all born 94, and where giving alot of our lads 18 months or more, and is no panic just yet.
Great 2nd half from Darren Brennan and Darragh Curran,a class act at the back but our under 16 skipper Ross Reardon outstanding and justified our decision to play him with a man of the match display.

Team: James Flood, Mark Doran, Darragh Curran, Ciaran Gartland, Ross Reardon, Jordan Davies, Tomas Morris, Adam Roche, Sami Keogh, Adam Connor, Darren Brennan

Subs: Jamie Finn, Gavin Walker, Peter Byrne, Adam Thompson, Adam Ellard, Joe McNulty.