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Late Late Show by Catre see Castleknock win points v Portmarnock
The U17’s resumed League action with a trip to Paddy’s Hill to play Portmarnock AFC. We have commented before about this teams football potential but their Achilles heel has being their temperament which has seen them lose three games from winning positions. During the close season the Boys had put in a lot of hard work and they were chomping at the bit to get back to league action.
The pitch was small but in perfect condition and ironically on such a good surface Celtic struggled with their passing game early on. Portmarnock took advantage of this and scored early on. Following a cross from the right that fell to the Portmarnock No 8 who, completely unmarked by the sleepy Celtic defence, finished well from 12 yards out. 1-0. Celtic to their credit soon realised that playing into a strong wind meant they had to keep the ball on the “deck” and started to take control of the game. The football being played was good – one touch quick passing with in particular Wayne Deegan, Peter Germaine and Alex Regan on the left hand side. Portmarnock were chasing shadows and conceding a lot of frees from which Regan and Deegan came close. Just when it looked like Celtic would score they were caught on the hop. The midfield was dispossessed and again a sleepy defence allowed the Portmarnock striker in to finish well. 2-0 down and Portmarnock sensed the vulnerability. Minutes later it could have been three but for a smart save by keeper Eoin Farnham who had been clearly unsettled by the strong winds. This seemed to restore the Celtic keepers confidence and from then offensively and defensively he was never in trouble. Similarly centre backs Marty Gedominas and Omar Emara grew into the game as theylooked more and more assured. Celtic were dominant but could not break down the resolute Portmarnock defence. HT: 2-0.
At half time the Coaches talk was simple “ Keep doing what you are doing. Score next and you WILL win the game. Now eat your Jaffa Cakes and win this game”. Celtic started the half with renewed determination as they dominated possession. The re-introduced Liam O’ Neill , who was out of sorts in the first half, was now on fire as he constantly probed in an attacking role and nearly scored with a thunderous strike that rattled the cross bar with the keeper beaten. Then Rob Laffey hit a curling left foot shot that seemed destined for the right hand corner only for the Portmarnock keeper to make a miraculous save. Pressure was being maintained as Portmarnock literally parked the Double Decker bus. Corner after corner came with top class deliveries from Germaine and Narcis Catre but credit to the home defence that refused to be breached. It looked as if it would be one of those days when Celtic got a lucky break with 17 minutes left. A hopeful ball was played in from the right and credit to Emara for never giving up as he hit the ball just as it was going out of play two yards from the goal post and somehow it squeezed in off a Portmanock player 2-1 . GAME ON and 16 minutes to go.
More pressure more chances but still no goals but finally the equaliser came with 5 left on the clock. Catre who was proving a menace on the left played another in swinging corner with deadly accuracy that went straight in although Adam Rahaman swears his hair touched the ball as it went in. 2-2. Wild celebrations and relief. The Celts refocus quiockly as they searched for a winner and it came from Catre who again proved the difference as he finished following a break on the left with a shot over the advancing keeper with Regan following in. The icing on the cake came in stoppage time as Marty rounded off the scoring as he coolly placed the ball into the net from 30 yards with the Portmatrnock net minder 25 yards out of his goal. FT: 2-4
The lads were suitably chuffed as was birthday “boy” Coach John O’ Neill. There were plenty of positives – the quality of football played, the performances of some of the players most notably Cian Galvin and Peter Germaine and the strong attitude and temperament that we have not seen this season that allowed the Celts clawback a two goal deficit for the first time this season. The real question is can they perform like this on a repeated basis.
