8/12/02                                                                                            Brenfer Nth Dublin League U-14D

Castleknock Celtic  3    Swords Manor  3

Fine Game on  Dull Winter Morning

Cracking good game on a cold Sunday morning in December.  Celtic had been badly hit by sickness and injury which left them reduced to 10 players at kick-off time.  But despite the handicap, manager Jimmy Kelly did not hesitate to get his team back in action after a long break due to the rotten weather of the past two months.  The fixture was due to be held in Swords, but their pitch was unplayable and they sensibly reversed the venue to Porterstown at less than 24 hours notice.

Celtic started off like a train, and though down to 10, they looked the more likely side.  They got the breakthrough after 20 mins of the first half, when Sam Brennan seized on the opportunity to rifle home.  After 32 mins, Peter Elliott was on hand to put the home side 2-0 up and good value for their lead.  At half time, you wouldn't have fancied Manor to get anything from the game, although they had tested keeper Paul Delaney, who saved well on both occasions.

But the second half saw a huge transformation.  While the one man deficit must have played a role, it was more Manor's determination that got them back into the game.  The half time pep talk had done the job.  They stormed back into the game, and Manor were soon rewarded when they were awarded a penalty for a mistimed tackle by stalwart Chris Tuite.  Robbie Gorman dispatched it with aplomb giving keeper Paul Delaney no chance.  

They didn't have to wait long for their equaliser, as they continued to press forward, Adam Ryan struck home from the right of the penalty box.  Halfway into the second half, they looked like they had sealed the points, when Anto Daly fired in from the edge of the box over the keeper.  Celtic's chances were few, and they indeed looked dead and buried, until in the last minute, a through ball found Peter Elliott, who struck a fine goal which gave Alan Kelly no chance.

Well done to both sets of players for a job well done, and a fair enough result, although Manor were a bit unlucky not to come away with all three points.