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Castleknock enjoyed some good results recently, and were going into this week's fixture sitting on top of the table. But this time they welcomed a good Shankill team who were second with a game in hand and hoping to win.
The home team were missing Luca Ursache and Liam Hosford both right full backs but with Alex McCormick being fit, sharp and the most versatile player in the squad, the manager's decision was easy to make. With James Caffrey being unavailable from the start, Sean Odusole started as a lone striker in usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Roles had been reversed for James and Sean the previous week.
Celtic started aggressively and had already taken the lead after two minutes. Shankill had a throw-in in their own half, which was cleverly intercepted by Sean Odusole who went on a solo run and scored for 1-0. The visitors were shocked going behind so early on and they conceded a couple of more chances which their brilliant goalkeeper saved. Both Sean Odusole and Ciaran Murray went close but there was no change on the scoreboard.
Ten minutes into the game Shankill started to show why they are second in the table and started to play to their full potential. Some quick passing football in the middle of the pitch resulted in a couple of chances for the visitors. Firstly, it was a great shot at the far post which was brilliantly saved by Sabin Ghet and this was followed by brave defending from captain Sam Doherty that kept Celtic ahead. Shankill were putting the home side under a lot of pressure but they were ineffective due to heroic defending by Proinsias de Bhatuin and Kacem Touihri. After 15 minutes of Shankill pressure, Celtic started taking control of the game. The excellent midfield trio of Dino Dervisic, Robert Best and Olti Berisha enjoyed a lot of the possession and continued to cause problems to the visitors. It was Olti Berisha man of the match performance that proved crucial in those moments for the home side. Alongside Robert Best in their defensive midfield role, they kept the visitors away from the goal with great determination and first class tackling. That gave more freedom to Dino Dervisic, Klevis Malaj and Ciaran Murray to push forward and support Sean up front.
Only a few minutes later, Celtic won a corner on the right side which Dino put right on Ciaran Murray's head and that was 2-0, a great centre forward goal by Ciaran Murray who is known as one of the best headers in the club.
Right on the stroke of the half time the visitors pulled a goal back 2-1.
Second half saw the introduction of James Caffrey, Craig Hughes and Hammad Siddiqui for the home side. With the fresh legs in the team Celtic started the second half as they had the first. Inside two minutes Celtic extended their lead further. Proinsias intercepted the ball in his own half and with a precise lofted pass found Sean Odusole who had his shot parried by the Shankill keeper but only to Ciaran Murray who tapped in for his second of the day. 3-1.
Celtic were getting stronger and stronger as the game advanced. Both Sean and James came close a number of times but only to be denied by the Shankill keeper. Attacking football became the norm for this Celtic team and both full backs Alex McCormick and Kacem Touihri were pushing forward and converting into wing backs. Obviously that was allowed by Sam Doherty sitting in between Proinsias and Hammad creating three at the back.
The home side were supported again as usual by a big home crowd who came to watch good attacking football and again were not disappointed. Final score Celtic - Shankill 3-1.
The Celts are marching on!
