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15A Cox Cup: Celtic victory with Weston & John Kane goals
Brilliant Semi-final victory for Celtic over their southside rivals, Knocklyon Utd, in Cox Cup at home in Porterstown Park. Fabulous performance all-round, but special mention should be made of striker, Weston Wandanda, and left back, Beni Lankumu, who were both excellent.
Castleknock Celtic welcomed Knocklyon United to Porterstown Park on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Freshly cut grass and immaculate pitch proved to contribute to this cracking game of football.
This was first meeting of two sides this season and what an occasion it was, semi-final of the U15 Cox Cup. Celtic were in the semi-final last season as well, but unfortunately they could not get over that last hurdle to get into the final. Sure, it could not happen again and this time it was going to be a different story.
The home side started game with a changed back four with Kacem Touihri out injured, Proinsias de Bhatuin was shifted to right back with Hammad Siddiqui keeping his position in the centre of the defence. His performances this season were so good that he definitely deserves his regular starts.
Celtic played some great football going forward, ball was moved quickly from one side to the other by excellent midfield trio of Olti Berisha, Dino Dervisic and Robert Best. The game itself was a replica of training sessions, getting ball wide and forward to lively front three of Shaun Odusole, Klevis Malaj and Ciaran Murray. It was Malaj who had first chance for home side after great work by Murray on the right wing. The ball was crossed into the box, Malaj lost his marker but could not fully connect with the ball, and he put it wide.
Odusole was getting on the end of almost every ball played up to front by Best and Dervisic. His work rate was magnificent and he kept visitor's back four very busy all afternoon. Odusole himself had two very good chances, both missing target narrowly. But visitors proved their worth too by playing some quick balls forward and putting Celtic's back four under pressure.
Castleknock captain Sam Doherty, together with his defensive partners Siddiqui and Beni Lankumu worked so hard to keep all of those attacks under control. Even, when the ball got away from them, the ever reliable goalkeeper Eoin O'Connell was there to get it before the opposition. What a signing O'Connell has proved to be this season, with his background in GAA, high crosses were easily claimed by him.
The visitor's goalkeeper made some great saves too, especially when he saved a curling volley from Dervisic's left foot from the edge of the box that was going in the top corner. Even with Celtic dominating the game, the nets were untouched in that first half.
Second half started with visiting side playing some good passing football and putting extra players in the middle of the park trying to neutralise strong Celtic midfield. On a few occasions it worked but again the excellent back four this time with Alex McCormick at right back, dealt with it well. McCormick playing out of position played brilliantly. He kept making runs on the right side, pushing Knocklyon's winger deeper back into his own half. Weston Wandanda came on for Murray on that right side and he continued where Murray stopped.
Finally, the deadlock was broken and it came from that right wing. McCormick made great run down the right, his cross was deflected and the ball hit the crossbar. Dervisic followed up in the box and reacted to it quickly by passing the ball back to Wandanda who smashed it into the top corner for 1-0.
Knocklyon were pushing more players forward and nearly had an equaliser but brilliant O'Connell pulled off the save of the day and with his fingertips turned the ball around the post. At the other end, Odusole, Wandanda and Genesis Gago had few chances themselves but that crucial second goal for the home side wasn't coming. Visitors saw that their chance could come from a set piece and so it finally came. The ball was played from the free kick on the left side, and landed right in front of the striker who smartly back-heeled it into the net for 1-1.
With eight minutes left on the clock, it looked like the game was heading into the extra time, but Celtic kept looking for the winner. In one of his characteristic runs, Wandanda was fouled on the edge of the box and the home side got a free kick in a promising position. With John Kane in the side, it was indeed a promising position for the home team. He stepped up and Beckhamesque he beautifully placed his shot past the wall into the bottom right corner for 2-1.
Kacper Przepiorkiewicz and Traian Rebegea brought freshness into Celtic's midfield and made sure that home team does not concede any more chances. They got on the ball and together with Gago, controlled the midfield by playing some lovely passing football.
With the visitors pushing forward in a search for another equaliser, they left some space at the back which was again exploited by Wandanda. He got on the end of one of Doherty's clearances and rounded the keeper for 3-1. That third goal caused the eruption at the home side line with very loud fans running onto the pitch to celebrate surely a winner of this cracking cup tie!
All credit to Knocklyon United for their contribution in this epic cup match, and also to the parents and loyal fans for their enormous support throughout the afternoon.
Celtic are playing Phoenix FC in the final in two weeks time, which surely will be another game which will raise the pulse of everyone involved.
Well done to Damir and his troops for their hard work that has given us another great day to look forward to.
The Celts are marching on!
