Saturday 21st August - Div 1A Sat
Elm Mount 1 - 2 Clifden Celtic First game of the season and it was a test of fitness. Elm Mount took the lead on the half-hour with a goal that rebounded off the crossbar back to centre forward who bundled it into the back of the net. Clifden battled hard but never had any clearcut chances until Paul Hennessy was fouled by the Elm Mount Keeper outside the edge of the box. Sean O'Reilly equalised for Clifden with a low drive into the bottom corner. There wasn't much between the two sides in the second half, and it wasn't until the hour mark when Clifden scored a second. Sean O'Reilly scored again finishing from close range after a flick-on from a Stephen McCabe throw. Elm Mount pushed on looking for the equaliser but Clifden held out.
Line-up:- D McElligott, P Bradley, B Kennedy, E Kennedy, P Cunningham, A Shields, S McCabe, M Pakenham, S O'Reilly (C), P Hennessy, P Maher Subs:- N/A Booked:- B Kennedy, S McCabe Referee:- Frank Bartley
Saturday 28th August - Div 1A Sat
Clifden Celtic 1 - 1 Hamilton Utd It was definitely a game of two halves, as Clifdens' passing in the first half was much improved by the inclusion of Mark Bayly who orchestrated the midfield on his return to the club. Sean O'Reilly once again finished superbly with pinpoint lob over Hamiltons' goalkeeper who unsuccessfully came out to meet a through ball. Chances came and went in the half with Clifden unable to extend their lead. A much improved Hamilton side came out in the second half and at times Clifden players were left chasing shadows. After 50 mins Hamilton equalised with a well hit volley into the top corner. Hamilton worked very hard pushing on but chances were few and far between for both sides. The game was also marred by an unfortunate clash of heads which left Paddy Maher and the Hamilton right-full in agony, with the Hamilton player having to leave the field of play for stitches.
Line-up:- D McElligott, P Bradley, B Kennedy, E Kennedy, P Cunningham, M Flanagan, A Shields, M Bayly (C), S O'Reilly, P Hennessy, S McCabe Subs:- P Maher (McCabe 45mins), P Rogers (B Kennedy 83 mins) Booked:- M Flanagan Referee:- John Smith
Saturday 25th September - Leinster Junior Cup 1st Round
Clifden Celtic 1 - 4 Cherry Orchard FC First cup game of the season and we knew it would be tough from the start. With a severely weakened side we battled hard but the Orchard took the game to us from the start. It was a sluggish start by Clifden and we were punished on every mistake. a 3-0 deficit at half-time was very hard to come back from. In the second half Clifdens performance improved dramatically but still not many clearcut chances with the battle in midfield getting more intense. Peter Cunningham scored our first penalty of the season with ease after a hand-ball by the Cherry Orchard defence.
Line-up:- D McElligott, P Bradley, B Kennedy, E Kennedy, P Cunningham, M Flanagan, P Rogers, M Bayly, S O'Reilly, P Hennessy, D Murphy (C) Subs:- G Daly (Rogers 25mins), M Grogan (Murphy 45 mins) Booked:- B Kennedy Referee:- Tony Clarke (LSL)
Saturday 2nd October - Nivea Cup 2nd Round
Walkinstown Utd 0 - 2 Clifden Celtic Confidence was high even after the last defeat as we have played well but conceded too many goals. Our main aim was to keep a clean sheet and we defended deep from the start. With players still out missing we arrived at Walkinstown Ave with only 11 fit players, 3 injured and 1 on route. It was a miserable day with very heavy spells of rain that washed the markings away during the game. Walkinstown started stronger but were frustrated by deep tight defending by the Clifden defence. Chances were rare for both teams and with the weather worsening the game got scrappy in places. It wasn't until 35 mins that the deadlock was broken by a magnificent Martin Pakenham solo run. Martin picked the ball up in he Walkinstown half and took a chance beating two players which eventually paid off with a sidefoot into the bottom corner. Walkinstown lifted their game from the tip-off and pushed forward for the equaliser but they could not get a clear shot on goal. After another unsuccessful push forward by Walkinstown the ball broke on the left hand side and fullback Ben Kennedy pushed down the channel and got a lucky deflection on a cross which Martin Pakenham side volleyed home just before the break. The second half must have been sore on the spectators eyes as Clifden closed up shop and defended deeper. Walkinstown changed shape and pushed forward more with Clifden trying to catch them on the break. Mark Grogan had a hat-trick of chances to finish the game off but was unable to finish after some good work.
Line-up:- D McElligott, P Bradley, B Kennedy, E Kennedy, P Cunningham, M Flanagan, M Pakenham, M Bayly (C), S O'Reilly, P Hennessy, P Maher Subs:- A McMahon, D Murphy (Bradley 20mins), P Hennessy (Murphy 65 mins) Referee:- Andrew Wardwick
Saturday 9th October - Div 1A Sat
Blackditch 6 - 0 Clifden Celtic It was a major disappointment after looking forward to the first local derby of the season. It was a game which Blackditch overran the Clifden team, worked hard and wanted the result more than us. Not an enjoyable moment to comment about.
Line-up:- D McElligott, P Bradley, B Kennedy, E Kennedy, P Cunningham, M Pakenham, S McCabe, M Bayly (C), S O'Reilly, P Hennessy, P Maher Subs:- D Murphy (Bradley 35mins), A McMahon (McCabe 50 mins), S Flanagan (B Kennedy 75 mins) Booked:- P Hennessy Referee:- Gregory Ivory
Saturday 16th October - FAI Junior Cup 2nd Round
Courtlands Celtic 3 - 1 Clifden Celtic After last weeks disastrous defeat, it was a game where we battled for the ball and matched the UCL Premer side in every area except in front of goal. It was a cold and damp afternoon with spells of torrential rain which made the surface extremely slippy and a game where tackles where hard and fast. The game was fast and it was a good test of strength. Clifden started strong but with Sean O'Reilly playing as a lone striker it was hard to penetrate the defence. Courtlands worked the ball well but were caught too many times by the Clifden midfield. Courtlands first goal came as the centre-forward headed above his marker and the keeper into the roof of the net. Clifden battled well but had few chances in the first half. In the second half, Clifden battled stronger and Paddy Maher had a glorious chance to level the game but shot wide from distance. Mark Bayly then had the ball in the goal with an audacious lob from distance that the keeper misjudged, it seemed to cross the line but the referee disagreed. Clifden pushed forward more with chances from Paddy Maher, Sean O'Reilly and even Peter Cunninghams over-head, but could not get the ball past the Courtlands keeper. Courtlands then caught Clifden on the break after a mix-up and finished well into the bottom corner. Clifden changed formation and went forward more and were awarded a penalty which was saved as Peter Cunningham tried to put it into the bottom corner. It was a frustrating afternoon which clearly affected the Clifden support, who could not believe the chances missed. Martin Pakenham finished off a good move firing into the top left corner from outside the area. Soon after the goal celebrations, Courtlands added a third finishing well from a cross from the right. Clifden went Gung-ho to get back into the game which opened up our defence but Dave McElligott pulled off some important saves, with Clifden struggling to score at the other end. It was a game which we spurned too many good chances and once again paid the price.
Line-up:- D McElligott, A McMahon, B Kennedy, E Kennedy, P Cunningham, S McCabe, P Bradley, M Bayly (C), S O'Reilly, M Pakenham, P Maher Subs:- S Flanagan Booked:- S McCabe, P Cunningham, M Pakenham Referee:- UCL Referee (unknown)
Saturday 6th November - Nivea Cup 3rd Round
Clifden Celtic 3 - 3 Corduff FC (Clifden won 6 - 5 on pens) Massive suprise on a strange Saturday afternoon. Corduff have been very strong since they won the division last season and are holding there own with 5 wins out of 5 in Senior Saturday. Clifden changed formation to try out-number the Corduff midfield but were punished from the start as the defence didn't adapt to Corduffs quick wingers. Corduff had the ball in the net after 5 mins after a close finish from a cross on the left. Clifden still battled hard but found it tough with Corduff picking out their passes easily which finally paid off again after 15 mins and it looked like game over for the Clifden players who were frustrated but battled hard. Sean O' Reilly got one back before halftime finishing into the bottom corner from distance. It was only minutes into the second half when Corduff got their third of the game and it looked like game over for Clifden. An injury to Peter Cunningham forced a change back to 4-4-2 and it was a major turning point in the match as Clifden got their shape back and started to play some good football through Mark Bayly and Stephen McCabe. And it was the two centre midfielders that changed the score-line also with two cracking free-kicks that left Corduff players speechless. The Clifden sideline erupted with joy while the Corduff line were left wondering how they threw away a 2 goal lead. Only some quick reactions from David McElligott in the dying minutes of normal time kept Clifden in the game as Corduff pushed on for a winner. Extra time followed and the light was fading, Clifden defended deep and held out for the dreaded penalties. Mark Bayly, Stephen McCabe, Derek Murphy, Paul Hennessy, Sean O'Reilly and Martin Pakenham were all successful from the spot and David McElligott got his hands to two of Corduffs penaltys but was unable to stop them going in. Scenes of joy from the Clifden players followed as Corduff put their 6th penalty wide on a fantastic day.
Line-up:- D McElligott, B Kennedy, E Kennedy, P Cunningham, S McCabe, D Murphy (C), M Bayly, M Pakenham, S O'Reilly, P Hennessy, P Maher Subs:- P Bradley (Cunningham 55 mins), E Quinlan (P Maher 60 mins) Booked:- P Cunningham, B Kennedy Referee:- George Victory
Saturday 13th November - Div 1A Sat
Green Park 2 - 1 Clifden Celtic Match Report to follow
Line-up:- P Cunningham, P Bradley, A McMahon, E Kennedy, M Flanagan, S McCabe, D Murphy (C), M Bayly, S O'Reilly, P Maher, M Pakenham Subs:- P Hennessy (P Maher 45 mins) Booked:- TBA Referee:- Andrew Wardwick
Saturday 20th November - Elastoplast Cup 1st Round
Clifden Celtic 5 - 4 Beech Park It was a cold damp afternoon which wasn't helped by the delay in getting the dressing room opened. It was a close call on whether the game could go ahead due to light. Luckily enough for Clifden it did and it was a game we needed to get out of the way as with all of the cup games we've only played 4 League games out of the last 8. It was a bright start from Clifden and some very good football was played in bad conditions. Green Park played deep and used their pace for quick counter-attacks which the Clifden back four struggled to deal with throughout the day. Clifden fell behind after 13mins when the Clifden back four were caught for pace leaving David McElligott with too much to do. Derek Murphy equalised 3 minutes later after Shane Carlisle set him up with a fabulous through ball from the left and Derek finished well into the top corner. Clifden worked very hard to keep possession and played some nice balls forward with Mark Bayly, playing his first game up front, running into channels. The way the defence was playing every attack from Beech Park was threatening and it was on 27 mins when they got their second goal after the defence mistimed the offside trap. Clifden players would not lie down, they worked harder to get into the game and there was some rough tackles from both sets of players but the game was well controlled by Paul Williams who played a blinder. Another Clifden attack followed and after the Beech Park defence headed a clearance Shane Carlisle smashed a half volley from 25 yards which hit the inside of the left upright and somehow rolled back across the goal and was put out for a corner. The corner was passed to Elton Kennedy who passed out to Shane Carlisle who put in a great cross for Mark Bayly who scored an amazing diving header to level the game. In the second half Beech Park pushed on and scored again after a good move down the left flank. Defence was napping again after 55 mins and a mistimed header let the Beech Park through to score their fourth of the game. Chances came and went for Clifden with the best being a great recovery by the Beech Park keeper after being rounded by on form Mark Bayly. It was Mark who scored the third after a good move down the left involving substiutute Paddy Maher. But it was substitute Mark Mahoney who stole the show, coming on as a third striker in place of the solid full-back Anto McMahon. It was "Spoons" who worked well down the left hand channel when put through by another great cross-field pass by Shane Carlisle and he hit an unstoppable shot into the bottom right corner. The game was nearing it's end and penalties were looming, Beech Park pushed on further and put a lot of pressure onto the now stretched Clifden back line. It was a quick counter attack that set Spoons off on an identical run to his last goal and it was a well hit identical finish that left the Beech Park keeper stranded and won the game for Clifden Celtic.
Line-up:- D McElligott, P Bradley, A McMahon, E Kennedy, M Flanagan, S McCabe, D Murphy (C), S Carlisle, M Bayly, S O'Reilly, M Pakenham Subs:- P Hennessy (S O'Reilly 60 mins), P Maher (P Bradley 60 mins), M Mahoney (A McMahon 70 mins), B Kennedy, S Flanagan Booked:- S McCabe, S Carlisle Referee:- Paul Williams