::: Gorey Celtic FC

Saturday 7th January 2012
Gorey Celtic 1 - 1 (3-5 pens) Campile

A cold and grey afternoon in Gorey for our 2:00 kick off and playing my bogey side, who I can't seem to beat. A few changes again and when you've got a squad of 20 its always a tough task, Sam Keogh back from injury, Gavin Walker, Luca Consentino and Adam Thompson getting the nod, with Darren Brennan, Mark Doran, Shane Troope and Peter Byrne dropping out, Darragh Curran moving into midfield to partner Tomas Morris and Jordan Davies switching to the back 3 with Gavin and Ciaran Gartland.
I didn't under estimate Campile because although 3 divisions below us, finished runners up in our league last year when we where 4th, they went down a division and we went up 2 (go figure that??).

Started on the front foot and playing some neat and tidy stuff, looked in good shape with Mossy pulling the strings again and Sami and Adam Roche getting wide and suppling good crosses although the two Adams (Thompson and Ellard) up front not getting a whole lot of change out of the well drilled Campile defenders.
About 20 mins in and after passing up a couple of good chances, Darragh feeds Luca who left his man for dead and slipped in Sami, he controlled a bouncing ball and hammered home from a tight angle 14/15 yards out, a great strike and amazed only his 1st of the season after being top scorer in pre-season.

Sami and Adam switching flanks and after a great ball from Ciaran got Rochey away he produced a great cross and Sami just couldn't connect to give us a 2nd. Campile decent enough on the break although we helped them 3 or 4 times, Darragh getting caught in possesion once or twice which led to the equaliser and to be fair their two under 16 lads, who done us last year at under 14 worked 3 or 4 one/twos and finished well to make 1-1.
A huge blow because Campile now very happy to sit and defend in huge numbers and going to be a long 2nd half.

H.T. 1-1

Freshened it up at halftime, Adam Ellard picking up a knock, Adam Thompson and Darragh Curran a tad of the pace after the 3 week break with Mark Doran, Adam Connor and Darren Brenna coming in and like the first half we were camped in the Campile half, but just couldn't find an opening, moved Jordan in to midfield with Mark dropping back and himself and Mossy both trying from distance but just couldn't get passed the wall of 9 defenders and Campile frustrating the life out of me for the 3rd year in a row.

15 mins to go and sprung our under 16 skipper on hoping he could get wide and provide for Darren or Adam, and he instantly linked with Jordan and put in a great cross but as with Sami and adam roche, keeper or centre half got there first.
Got to credit Campile on the defending, but was only 1 side playing football and only 1 side trying to win a cup tie and at times was a pleasure to watch the boys playing some controled football all comfortable on the ball and as good as you'll see anywhere at any level.

90 mins up and another 20 minutes of a pounding from the lads in extra time when once or twice the final ball just too strong or abit short and the dreaded shootout going to seal our faith and like last year at under 16, the penalties not going our way in the lottery of the dead ball.
Fair play to the 5 lads who stepped up and a great effort for nearly 2 hours on a heavier than normal pitch from the lads where their football and their honesty deserved to be in round 2, but like our other 2 cup competitons lady luck not with us.
Focus on our league campain now and give that our full concentration. Great shifts from Mossy, Gavin, Jordan, Sami and Ciaran, but young Adam Roche just doesn't do bad games and my man of the match, the best of luck to Campile in round 2.

Team: James Flood, Gavin Walker, Ciaran Gartland, Jordan Davies, Adam Roche, Sami Keogh, Darragh Curran, Tomas Morris, Luca Consentino, Adam Ellard, Adam Thompson.

Subs: Adam Connor, Mark Doran, Darren Brennan, Ross Reardon, Peter Byrne, Jay Finn, Joe McNulty, Shane Troope.