If today and the last two weeks have been anything to go by, then the NDSL U17 B is going to be one of the

most competitive and combative divisions ever. This game had it all – hard tackles, passes, saves, two great

goals and some feistiness as the temperature reached fever pitch in what was a keenly contested match.

Last weeks heroics had denied Celtic of two players including keeper Eoin Farnham and before the start the

dynamic James Davy was ruled out with a hamstring pull. It was therefore no surprise when Swords started

the better as they brought the game to Castleknock. Swords looked the stronger and faster as the makeshift

Castleknock team struggled to string their passes together. Captain, Alex Regan, who had put on the keepers

jersey, pulled off three early saves that not only lifted the team but also had supporters marvelling at Regans

prowess between the sticks – a talent that is only matched by his goalscoring exploits up front. Inspired

by their Captain the defence of Omar Emara, Adam Rahaman, Daniel Hughes and the assured Narcis Catre

started to win their individuals duos.

As the half reached the mid way point Celtic had gained the initiative thanks in no small measure to the

efforts of Sean Costello and Gavin Keane in midfield. Chances started to come with Liam O’ Neill and Luke

Mulcahy coming closest but in truth it was a lack of composure up front for Castleknock that kept the game

scoreless at half time. HT: 0-0.

Celtic made two key changes with Catre replacing Regan who went up front while Cian Galvin entered the

fray, keen to prove that he should be a starter. The half started similar to the first and it was the Celtic

defence that was under pressure. Clearly the instruction from the Swords line had been to test the novice

keeper. However Catre had different ideas as first he made a fine save and moments later punched the ball

clear when under heavy pressure at a Swords corner. As with the first half it was the keeper who lifted his

team and from that moment on, as Coach O’ Neill commented, Narcis was one Cool Cat.

Lifted by Catres efforts Celtic, once again, regained the initiative with Galvin providing the composure

missing in the first half. Regan was enjoying his role up front and his pace always had the Swords defence

under pressure. A goal finally came 20 minutes into the half. O’ Neill won a corner and Galvin struck an

inch perfect cross where Regan planted the ball into the net 1-0. Minutes later it was the two and again it

was a corner set piece. Again Galvin hit a magnificent corner only this time it was a Costelloe bullet header.

Costelloe is one of the smaller players in height but if there is a better header of the ball – both offensively

and defensively – in the league then I’d like to meet him. 2-0.

Credit to Swords who continued to battle as they kept the Celtic defence busy in a frantic last 20 minutes but

it was Castleknock who always looked the more likely with Regan and the hard working Eoin Devlin (with a

fantastic solo run) unlucky not to add a third. FT:2-0.

Make no mistake this was a tough and hard fought victory against a strong Swords Celtic. Two well worked

set piece goals settled the game but in reality it was the commitment of the Castleknock players that won

the day particularly those players who played out of position to help their team – take a bow Narcis, Alex

and of course Eoin Devlin who played in three different positions as injuries took their toll elsewhere.