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Kiano brace sees Celtic through in Jimmy Flood Cup”
It was a Sky Sports Super Saturday in a windswept Porterstown as Cup fever gripped the Dublin 15 suburb of Castleknock with many Celtic teams drawn at home in the latter stages of the Cup. The U13’s were drawn against Leixlip Utd whom they had put to the sword last Saturday with a comprehensive victory. But Leixlip aren’t League leaders by accident and would be anxious to exact revenge in this Jimmy Flood Cup quarter final tie. Their team talk would be “let’s show Celtic how Leixlip can play”. As for Celtic they were reminded of the recent FA Cup upsets as Man City and Chelsea were knocked out by Middlesboro and Bradford respectively. The scene was set and the stakes were high – a semi final spot in the Jimmy Flood Cup awaited the victors.
The early exchanges showed that Leixlip had erased the memory of their recent defeat as they battled for every ball. The wind was making good football difficult but Celtic remained focused and warmed to their task by playing some nice football. The breakthrough goal came on the quarter mark – the inform Dylan Mc Donagh and Antonio Neto linked well before playing a dangerous ball from the left across the box that Messrs Reilly and Ryan should perhaps have done better but just as Leixlip thought the danger was cleared the ball fell to the well placed Cathal Flynn struck a lovely shot from the edge of the box into the top corner 1- 0. Celtic sought to capitalise and it was nearly two when Franc Ajunomah’s header 6 yards out from a Mark Hughes free kick just flew over. But Celtic were not to be denied. “R&R” were back in action – Leigh Reilly broke free on the left and showed both good speed and skill as he went by his marker and the advancing keeper before placing the ball across the goal with Kiano tapping in from less than a yard out. HT: 2-0.
Having played into the wind and built a solid two goal lead one would have expected Celtic to pull away but credit to Leixlip as their hard work ensured it was from an easy ride for Celtic. Despite Leixlips hard work and effort they could not get by the well marshalled Celtic defence marshalled superbly by Matthew Elliott. Celtic too had their chances with a Hughes corner that hit the post the closest to a goal in a tense third quarter. With just over 10 minutes the tie was secured. Alex Doyle found Kiano with a long throw and the youngster showed the confidence and skill of an inform striker as he coolly shielded the ball allowing it to beat him and his marker before swivelling and rifling a right foot shot into the net. A quality finish. 3 – 0. In the last passage of play Leixlip won a corner and from the resulting cross goalkeeper Tommy Bowe was adjudged to have taken down the Leixlip striker – PENALTY. However credit to “Tomas the Cat” as he redeemed himself with a good save to keep a deserved clean sheet. penno action FT: 3-0.
This was a far from easy win and no it was far from the Celts best performance but the Boys will need no reminding of this. However one should note that the pitch condition and strong winds played a part in this. Furthermore playing the same team two weeks running, especially one that was beaten so handsomely last week, creates its own challenges and therefore one can only commend the lads approach to this tie that led them to a comfortable if unspectacular win.
And so the exciting times continue and the Celtic lads can look forward to a Semi Final tie in the coming weeks . Exciting times indeed and whatever happens between now and the end of the season the Boys and their supporters are enjoying the ride. match action
