- OUR PARTNERS
“ Celtic Express held by battling St Francis in enthralling game ”
The great Indiana Jones travelled from adventure to adventure and like the swashbuckling hero the Castleknock U13’s have been enjoying their own adventures with some wonderful League and Cup performances this season. This week, on a cold January day , it was back to league business for the first time in an incredible 16 weeks . Indeed the Celts last competitive game , thanks to the Christmas break, bad weather and some cancellations, had been the SFAI Cup on Nov 29th. The opposition was the mighty St Francis whose ambitions this season are for league honours. With 3 players unavailable it was an injury ravaged Celtic that travelled to Baldonnell to face this daunting challenge. The question on everyones lips was were the “ring rusty” Celts ready to mount their own promotion challenge?
It did not take long to get our answer as Celtic started like an express train as the Boys early passing was only matched by equally quick movement which had Francis at sixes and sevens. In turn chances were being created and Francis were thankful to their strong, well organised and resolute defence for keeping Celtic at bay. However pressure finally told as Celtic broke the deadlock mid way through the half. Franc Ajunomah won the ball and played it square to Mark Hughes whose early ball found Aaron Rice. Rice, who was involved in everything in a dominant first half, threaded a lovely defence splitting pass from midfield through to the on running Leigh Reilly. The striker appeared to have lost control of the ball following a poor first touch but he recovered magnificently to essentially skill the keeper giving him a straightforward tap in. A deserved lead for Celtic and a deserved goal for Reilly who looked sharp all day.
One up but Francis served notice as they broke swiftly and had a goal disallowed for a high boot. Celtic continued to play their football at a high tempo drawing regular applause from the spectators but it was Francis who scored next as a defensive error following a Francis break allowed the home side to score the equaliser in the last minute of the half. 1-1.
The pattern of the second half was similar to the first. Celtic dominating possession and Francis playing deep hoping to catch Celtic with the long ball over the top. Credit to Francis who upped their work rate and while they spent a lot of the half closing down Celtic their players never stopped working and when they did break they always looked dangerous where the pace of their No 8 and No 10 was always a threat. Celtic nearly secured the win their play deserved in the last minute when following a foul on Ciaran Collins Hughes’ free kick from 25 yards out on the left just inched past the far right hand post with the Francis keeper rooted to the spot. FT: 1-1.
Castleknock may have dominated play and possession but from Francis’s perspective their commendable work rate possibly merited the draw in a game that had it all with the spectator applause on both sides telling its own story. Celtic may be disappointed with two points dropped but it says a lot about this teams progress that they consider a draw to a top team like Francis as two points dropped. Their were some excellent performances for Celtic. Rice and Reilly shone particularly in the first half and Dylan Mc Donagh, at left full or is that left wing back, continued his recent good form while in midfield Mark Hughes was to his imperious best - winning the ball and spreading play at every opportunity. A special mention to the cameo appearance of John “Twinkle Toes” Kane who turned out on his birthday, having earlier played for the u12’s, to help the injury ravaged Celts. Thanks Johnny – you’re still a genius.
Two dropped points or was it a case of a point gained against top class opponents – a result that leaves the Celts well placed for a promotion challenge. This team keep growing, they keep learning and you know what they’re getting better!!!
