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SFAI Cup w/e and with it comes the excitement that only Cup football brings. The U13’s were one of three remaining Castleknock Celtic representatives in this years SFAI cup and travelled on a blustery morning with a full squad for the first time in over a month. The return to full fitness of all the players would be needed as they set about the challenge brought about by playing one of the Dublin powerhouses – Crumlin United.
Whether it was nervousness, fear, or the howling wind Celtic looked under the weather from the start. Bereft of ideas Celtic’s passing was well below par. In turn Crumlin were fighting for every ball and their efforts paid off when they took the lead although this was a goal Celtic will want to forget. The Crumlin No 6 went down the right wing but hit a tame cross. However, the Castleknock defence completely switched off believing the ball would run out of play thereby allowing the Crumlin striker to tap in unchallenged from 5 yards out. The Crumlin lads could not believe their luck and sought to capitalise on their lead with their midfield No 8 picking out passes with ease.
It was well into the second quarter before Celtic started to create chances and although Kiano Ryan, Leigh Reilly and Antonio Neto all had good chances the truth was that Celtic never looked likely or deserved to score. Castleknock were controlling the ball but their lack of guile meant they could not break down the well organised Crumlin defence. HT: 1-0
The half time talk was swift and sharp. “You Boys are better than this but you have got to show it out on the pitch”. With a strong wind at their backs Castleknock started with more urgency but it still took a goal to really get the Celts going. Mark Hughes won the ball in midfield and having held off an oncoming tackle slid the ball to Reilly who still had plenty to do. Reilly went one way then the other beating two defenders in the process before side footing the ball past the on rushing keeper into the bottom right corner. 1-1. A goal that was greeted more by relief than anything else. Minutes later it was 1-2. A good ball from Matthew Elliott was taken on by Kiano who rifled a shot from the right past the keeper that was touched in, just before it crossed the line, by Reilly. With the lead, Castleknock sought to secure the tie by making some offensive changes. Andrei Enache, who was having a great game, brought pace and drive on the left while the introduced Alex Doyle was enjoying a wonderful cameo role at No 10. Quick feet and quick ball by the youngster had the Crumlin defence at sixes and sevens.
More goals were inevitable. A third came when a Hughes corner was touched on by the Crumlin defender and as it hung in the air Franc Ajunomah hit a left foot shot into the roof of the net. Celtic were now in full flow and a fourth duly followed when the ever reliable and equally talented Aaron Rice scored a great individual goal – beating three players before planting the ball home. Castleknocks answer to Luis Suarez, Leigh Reilly, rounded off the scoring to complete his hat-trick. Reilly has the steely determination and deadly finishing that we associate with the Uruguayan but thankfully he doesn’t resort to biting opponents to satisfy his hunger – he scores goals to do that. FT: 1- 5.
And so another scalp taken in the SFAI. This was not a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination and there’s a lot of work to do on the training ground in the coming weeks. Having said that to score 5 goals against a game Crumlin team when you’re not at your best tells you a little about the character and potential of this team. This certainly was a game of two halves with Celtic doing their best impression of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde.
Premiership giants Cherry Orchard are next up but the SFAI is the Cup of dreams and these Celts have the belief, talent and work ethic to make their dreams come true. Whatever happens in the next round these Young Celts and their boisterous fans are enjoying this rollercoaster ride. Well done Boys, keep it going.
