- OUR PARTNERS
Celtic have been playing well of late but the literal stuffing was knocked out of them last week when a strong Meath Ath outfit scored a last minute winner to break their hearts and their unbeaten run. Still the best way to recover is to get back out on that pitch and show what you can do. The visitors were Dalkey Utd who while having had a tough time of it earlier in the season arrived with confidence on the back of a good win over Greystones last time out. On a bright but breezy morning the stage was set and
Celtic started the stronger. Leading by example Capt James Browne set the tone with some penetrating passes. Jonah Courtney and Conor Simmonds were seeing plenty of the ball out wide and with Abdullah and Esse looking sharp a goal would surely come. With 8 minutes on the clock it arrived. Following good work by James,Jonah and Abdullah Esse saw his shot saved by the Dalkey keeper but the ever alert Abdullah was on hand to touch home from yards out. 1-0. There was no stopping Celtic – Esse came close twice before Abdullah brought a save from the Dalkey No 1. Then a shot from James blazed over before Catalin burnt the fingers of the keeper with a rasper of a shot. Dalkey were defending deep but when the opportunity arose they broke swiftly and Celtic were thankful to the ever alert Denys Yaskersky on more than one occasion. Despite Celtics dominance it remained 1-0 with the visitors happy to reach half time only one in arrears.
As they had done in the first half Celtic started well but needed to take their chances but despite good efforts from Esse, Catalin and Conor were all denied before Abdullah rattled the cross bar. Dalkey slowly but surely came more and more into the game and started to ask questions of the Castleknock defence where Denys and Ryan Sherlock were defiant. The game had changed, it was Dalkey probing with Celtic defending deep looking for the quick breaks. With legs tiring Ben Forde and Luke Hughes were re-introduced as the formation became 2-5-1. The changes worked Ben’s hard work and busy display allowed Luke the freedom to some penetrating passes that resulted in good efforts from Conor, Esse and Abdullah. As the clock ran down Dalkey went for it but thanks to heroic defensive work from Denys, Ryan, James and Ben the Celtic goalkeeper, Max Ostapchuk, remained largely untroubled as time ran out for this brave Dalkey team. FT: 1-0
First of all well done to Dalkey who are a much improved team from earlier in the year and their performance which pushed Celtic to their limit will give them great confidence for the rest of the season. Celtic margins of victory was small but again credit to Dalkey for this as the Celtic lads put in a strong performance. There was some lovely passing football and the Celts work rate throughout was unquestionable. Three points but more importantly another good performance. Well done all.
