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Celtic were dealt a killer blow in the final minute of added time to deny them a place in the next round of the SFAI Cup. It was a miserable wet morning at the IT Blanchardstown excellent all-weather pitch where the match was played after Porterstown Park had been declared unplayable.
Home Farm had the better of the exchanges early on, but it was Celtic who took the lead as half time approached. It was Brian Dalton who again was on the mark for Celtic when he chipped the keeper, which followed his lob over the keeper the previous week which won his team the Friendship Cup.
The second half wasn't long underway when it was the turn of Home Farm's centre forward, Rasaq Alamu, to strike when his header hit the net with the help of a deflection. The game was evenly-contested, but it was Celtic who looked like they had got the clincher when their captain, Vilius Labutus, delivered an incisive pass to Alan Elliott who raced in between the left full and centre half before exquisitely chipping the ball over the excellent Jack Wilde in the Home Farm goal. Celtic however were then subjected to a succession of Home Farm attacks and in the final 10 minutes they went within a whisker of equalising with four efforts on goal. The inevitable came in the final minute when Home Farm's, Jake Kenna, rifled home from close range, giving Andy Cunningham no chance, after the Celtic keeper had taken off a succession of fine saves. In fairness Home Farm deserved their equaliser, though on another day Celtic would have come away the victors, except for the Home Farm keeper and an excellent defensive tackle from left full back, Matthew Kinahan.
The game was decided in the first period of extra time when a soft free was given to Home Farm. Jake Kenna was again on the mark when his high-flighted free kick hit the roof of the net. Celtic had gone close when a corner from the right caused mayhem on the Home Farm line, but the ball was adjudged to not have crossed the line by the referee, despite protests from the excited Celtic players and supporters. Home Farm progress to the next round, and they will reflect on a fine competitive game played in the proper sporting spirit. match action
