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On a cold wet morning those who braved the elements were treated to a goal fest in this gripping Ita Farrell Cup tie. Tolka started the stronger and looked the more focused as their strong physical team were first to nearly every ball. Celtic’s midfield were clearly still not awake as they were second to nearly every ball. Tolka scored early on when a speculative shot flew over the Celtic keeper, Alex Regan, into the roof of the net. Matters got worse when Tolka went two up from a corner that sailed right into the net at the far post. 2-0.
Celtic needed to shore things up and credit to Adam Radaman, Omar Emara and Daniel Hughes who upped their game although Celtic were still thankful to keeper Regan who made two fine saves the latter minutes before half time to keep Celtic in the game. 2-0.
It had been a dogged first half with Tolkas physicality winning out against Castleknocks touch play. Changes were made with Regan coming out of goal and defensive colossus Emara taking over between the sticks. The Coaches reminded the Boys that it was a Cup game and at 2-0 the game was still very much theirs if they wanted it.
With conditions deteriorating no one could have predicted the second half thriller where the quality play was only matched by the quality of the goals. The breakthrough came with a fine goal by Alex Regan who scored a fine individual goal. Celtic had lifted the pace of the game where Sean Costello in particular was bossing the midfield. Ita Farrell herself would have been proud of her nephew Costello who played as if he was intent on keeping the Cup in the family.
Unfortunately for Celtic concentration slipped and they conceded a soft goal to go 3-1 down. Undaunted Celtic kept passing the ball but it took a great piece of individual skill for Celtic to get back in the game. Liam O’ Neill chased a ball into the corner and pressurised the Tolka defender into a mistake. Out at the game line O’Neill dribbled past two defenders before serving the ball on a plate to goal machine Regan who made no mistake. 3-2.
Celtic should have levelled matters but a last ditch block by the Tolka defender denied Narcis Catre. Minutes later disaster struck when Tolka went 4-2 up as their left winger hit a first time left foot shot from 20 yards that gave Emara no chance.
With less than 20 minutes left it looked like game over but the Celtic players were having none of it. The inform Peter Germaine played a lovely crossfield ball to Catre who although still 25 yards always looked assured as he cooly placed a low left foot shot from 18 yards out across the advancing Tolka keeper. 4-3 and still 12 minutes left. But Celtic were reminded that Tolka were still a threat as moments later Emara was forced into a fine save.
It would take a piece of magic to draw level and thankfully Celtic had two magicians on the pitch in the form of Regan and Costello. Germaine released Regan 30 yards out on the left. Regan went on a run across the pitch as he beat 3 defenders with pace and close control before entering the box. As he was challenged by a fourth defender Regan looked up and played a lovely cross to the smallest player on the pitch – Costello – who did his best Superman impression as he hit a bullet like diving header into the roof of the net. Was it a good goal? Put it like this if there was a better goal scored by Castleknock Celtic this season we’d like to see it.
4-4 and still 5 minutes left. Castleknock sensed a winner with Costello, Germaine and Cian Galvin always probing. With a minute of normal time left O’ Neill was taken down about 25 yards out right from the goal. With the tension building Germaine played an inch perfect cross where Daniel Hughes rose highest to power home the ball from three yards out. Cue wild celebrations and that was just from the sideline. Captain Hughes was in a state of shock having scored his first ever goal for the Club and what an important one it was for the team.
And so a great win for the Celts who broke the hearts of a hard working Tolka outfit who perhaps deserved extra time following a fine performance particularly in the first half. As for Castleknock it was a wonderfully courageous performance where Celtic had heroes all over the pitch none more than Regan whose hunger and energy levels never dropped. A special mention for a couple of our players - Omar Emara who emphasised what a team is all about as he selflessly volunteered to go in goals at half time and proceeded to look assured with a couple of fine saves and Jaime Farrell who suffered a bad injury to his hand while bravely defending a Tolka attack.
So Celtic progress to the quarter finals. Lessons will need to be learned none more than the importance of pressurising the opposition and challenging the ball. On the positive side they will go forward in the knowledge that they have the ability and firepower to trouble any quality of opposition. Add to that an inner strength to never give up. Well done Boys – great performance.
