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Strong Defence the platform for epic 1-0 Home win v St. Kevins Boys FC
Start of the season and all the required items were in place: Full width pitch, check; nice grass and surface, check; referee ; check; 13 Celts ready to do battle, check. And what a start to the season. Led by Captain Lee Canavan the team took to the field in a 1-3-2-3 formation with the aim of playing nice football. Dawide “Glue Gloves” Biernat in goal, Ethan O’Reilly, Dylan Thompson and Bradley Creighton in defence, Dylan Coyne and Lee Canavan in midfield with Nkemjika Onwemreh, Adam Geraghty and Dylan Osborne the three pronged attack. Jake Rice, Cian DaCosta, Evan Ryan and Owen Boyle the players chomping at the bit to get some action. Josh Holland unfortunately missed the game through injury. Right from the off both teams tried to play a passing game. It was an even start with the Castleknock team supporting each other all over the pitch. Adam G just failed to connect to a fine pass after his clever run to beat offside. Dylan Coyne was first to test the St Kevin’s keeper with a stinging shot to the top corner but somehow it was kept out. Then Evan Ryan with a pile driver free kick but just wide. OOOOHHHH things were looking tasty.
As the game opened up Glue Gloves had to be at his best saving three shots in quick succession. But with every save made, Castleknock Celtic started an attack. Because Glue Gloves also has radar feet with every one of his passes from his box straight to a Castleknock Celtic player. So, play it from the back was the order of the day and some great passing moves developed from the full backs. 15 minutes in and Castleknock started to dominate. Dylan C, Dylan O and Lee C were bossing the midfield with great energy, strong tackles and composed passing, when they could. But with offside now in play it was a new experience for the front 3 and something they will learn from. St Kevin’s started to come back into the game when the Castleknock players were caught in possession. They all learned today that there is a big difference with 9 players on the pitch and offside so the players are closer together and time to dilly dally with the ball is not there. 0-0 at half time and a well earned break.
Keep playing football and use the space outside was the request from the coaches. Playing up the hill and into a slight breeze was a big test for Castleknock and one they passed with flying colours. Using the space out wide Nkemjika found space and drilled a shot just wide of the keepers right hand post. Dylan O was finding space in midfield and a couple of majestic through balls, destroying the St Kevin’s offside trap, led to 2 good chances for Castleknock but none converted. From a corner cleared to Dylan C, a quick left foot pass back top Dylan O, a quick crossfield ball and smash, Nkemjika unlucky again. Adam G was now bossing the left side of the pitch with Bradley C. Some smart play on the edge of the box and the ball fell kindly and Dylan C smashed the ball goal bound from all of 20 yards but again the St Kevin’s keeper with a top save. From the corner, quick thinking by Jake R for a short corner released Evan and unlucky with a sweet ball into the box.
Another fine move had Nkemjika O driving down the right channel and a great cross into Evan Ryan who with great technique was unlucky with a stinging header. All the while St Kevin’s were putting the pressure on but Glue Gloves was there every time. Owen B, Dylan T and Jake R were quietly doing the business on the park, stopping play and setting up attacking moves. Ethan O’R started to find his running legs with some fine runs and passing from deep in his own half. As the game wore on Adam G took control on the left side of the front 3. Controlling possession and winning free kicks kept the pressure on St. Kevin’s. And so the pressure told when when Adam was sent through, beat the keeper to the ball, sliding it past in slow motion with 2 St Kevin’s players chasing back the ball just crept over the line. He must have been secretly watching Aguero with that finish! BOOOOYA 1-0 to the Castleknock Celtic and cheers all round. With 5 minutes left it was time for the Captain to lead by example with some fine defending on show by Lee C and great composure when in possession. A couple of Glue Gloves saves later and more heroics in midfield and peep peep peeeeeep game over and a well deserved 1-0 victory.
So, what a start to the season. The mighty Celts march on. The game was not without its problems and the players were honest enough to tell the coaches where they can improve. Good to hear and surely this team will rise to the occasion. Coach Alan said all players must be ready to learn in training. Coach Ray told the players we must train with the same intensity as playing a match. Handshakes all round and off we go. So Man of the Match? A very tough call. Some strong candidates throughout the team with special mention to Dylan C, Dylan O, Lee C and Adam G but MOTM goes to Dawide “Glue Gloves” Beirnat for his saves and most importantly his distribution of the ball with either foot.
