::: Gorey Celtic FC

Friday 7th October 2011
Gorey Celtic 2 - 1 Kilmore

Friday night at home under the lights, some mickey mouse game in Andorra(where?) A better pitch and two fine sides, the youths in action doesn't get much better.
This side was first back for pre-season in the club and are now reaping the rewards for two tough months in July and August, I was hearing all round the county that Bridge Rovers and Kilmore were the two teams to beat and the two favourite to win the league, well can now put the name of Gorey Celtic in that bracket.

The back three outstanding, our skipper Ciaran Gartland having his best game of the season (now that he went to spec-savers) Darragh Curran and Mark Doran, thou shall not pass. Our 2 central players, Shane Troope and Mossy working their socks off. Luca Comsentino supporting the front two and our two wing backs covered every blade of grass in Mullaunfin.

After getting a walk over in the cup was a bit concerned about the lack of game time in the last 3 weeks, but the lads all started bright, Troope hit the post with a cracking left foot drive, Adam Connor unlucky with an angled shot, Darren Brennan twice going close and happy with the football on show. This team are a fine passing side and at times would have liked to see more shooting instead of trying to walk the ball into the net, thats not a criticism but alot of these lads are still only young and with experience that will come.
The other thing we have got to guard against is our discipline, picked up two yellows cards and got to learn to keep our traps shut. Very pleasing first half with Celtic well on top.

H.T. 0-0.

No changes at break, the message being more of the same and the goals will come, again half chances can and went, but Kilmore also starting to get chances and was good end to end stuff, got Adam Ellard on for his box of tricks hoping he could open them up, and after good work down the right by Sammy Keogh and Ellard, Consentino won us a corner on the left. Troope swung it over and there was Darren brennan unmarked at the back post for his 5th goal in three games and already having a fine debut season.
The goal woke Kilmore up, this was 1st v 2nd in league standings and came at us making 2 or 3 changes. We also got big Jordan Davies on in the holding role for a tiring Mossy, and after a long free kick which we should have met dropped on the penalty spot, the Kilmore striker finished really well after we paused looking for an offside that never came. In fairness gave James Flood in the Celtic goal he stood no chance of saving.

Game on again, but the boys heads never dropped and went on the attack again our left wing back Adam Roche who has being outstanding in our four games and is still only 15 ran at them again and the full back couldn't get near him and committed the crime of bringing him down in the box for a Celtic penalty, the big man from the back Darragh Curran, who fancies pens and in fairness is top man at them, slots in the corner to open his account with Celtic to put us 2-1 up.
Now hard work was going to get us home and the lads have that in spades and in fairness where fairly comfortable in the last 20 minutes and another sub Ross Reardon could have made it easier only for a arm to deflect a goal bound shot away for a corner after good work from our other 2 subs Joe McNulty and Peter Byrne combined down the left.

A great night and a great result to keep our 100% record in tact, but as I said to the boys its going to be what we do on the road in terms of what sort of season the youths are going to have. Could have being the back 3 or Shane Troope, but our two wing backs for me where outstanding and covered miles and miles and just giving young Adam Roche the nod over Sammy Keogh, for man of the match but was really close between the 6.
Keep up the good work boys.

Team: James Flood, Mark Doran, Darragh Curran, Ciaran Gsrtland, Adam Roche, Sammy Keogh, Shane Troope, Mossy Morris, Luca Consentino, Adam Connor, Darren Brennan.

Subs: Jordan Davies, Adam Ellard, Joe McNulty, Peter Byrne Jamie Finn, Adam Thompson, Ross Reardon.