::: Gorey Celtic FC

Saturday 12th November 2011
Shamrock Rovers 2 - 4 Gorey Celtic

A nice fresh afternoon in Enniscorthy for our lunchtime kick off v Shamrock Rovers, and the boys got back on the winning trail again after back to back defeats.

1 positional change with Ciaran Finn and Eoghan Murphy swapping places, Ciaran going wide left and Eoghan left back, just a bit worried about their pacey wide man.

We've been a bit hot and cold this season and had a good chat with the boys about trying to win ugly and we done just that....wasn't vintage stuff or too pleasing on the eye, but we got the job done.

I had a chat with Mikey about his lack of goals and got the responce, a strong run and great finish after 3 minutes to put us 1-0 up. Told the lads to focus, and for the 2nd or 3 time now right after we've scored this season we've conceded and the pacey winger got away and finished well. 1-1 and pulling my hair out.

We started to get on top, Ross Reardon and Jared McGirr controlling the middle and Ciaran Finn and Lee carabini seeing alot of ball in wide areas. A decent move up the right and with Ross, Jared, Lee and the lively John Dunbar all involved and John showing great strength and awareness sets up Mikey who has loads to do and on his weaker left side finds the bottom corner from the edge of the area,super finish 2-1 up.

Switched Lee and Ciaran and Lee whos another who should be getting more goals, cuts inside and lets fly from 25 yards, the keeper seemed to have it covered but the centre half had other ideas and tried to head it clear and it skimmed of his head and over the keeper for a 3-1 lead (but am sure Lee will be claiming it). Towards the end of the half Jakub had to be alert on a couple of occasions to keep us 2 goals ahead.

H.T. 1-3.

Told the lads the be professional and see out the game and 3 points the only thing we're interested in and after a great through ball from Rossi found Mikey and our number nine finished with another great strike right footed and 4-1 up and a great hatrick and answered my call for more goals. We looked very comfortable now and got Michael Browne on for a tiring Eoghan, then we switch off for the usual set piece when we allow the centre half to head home unmarked and concede a very soft 2nd, by just not showing the disire to head clear or at least make an effort to head clear.

Then we lost Ross O'Connor to an injury and Lee Cullen goes wide left and Ciaran back to left back with Michael partnering the very impressive Sean Kelly at centre half, lost John to injury and his brother Robbie goes centre foward, then missed a sitter after a great ball from Lee picked him out to put the game to bed, but we see out the remaining 15 minutes fairly comfortable.

Great hat trick from Mikey Burke but Sean Kelly was outstanding at centre half and the best player on the park by a mile and gets my vote for man of the match, (sorry Mikey). We asked the boys to win ugly and thats what we done, won't go down in the memory as a classic, but gets us motoring again and back into the chasing pack

Well done lads

Team: Jakub, Jamie Cullen, Sean kelly, Ross O'Connor, Eoghan Murphy, Lee Carabini, Jared McGirr, Ross Reardon, Ciaran Finn, John Dunbar, Mikey Burke.

Subs: Michael Browne, Robert Dunbar, Lee Cullen