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Hat Trick Hero Reilly the difference as Celtic show cutting edge
And so we’re off…………the season start is upon us. Like Christmas there’s always loads of excitement in the build up and just before it starts the nerves kick in as we wonder what will happen – fearing the worst and hoping for the best. This was definitely the feeling in the Celtic U 14 Camp as they entered new territory playing in the Major Division for the first time. And their first game was definitely going to be a baptism of fire as they travelled to the home of one of the powerhouses in Irish football – Cabinteely FC. Pre season had gone poorly – 3 departures, player injuries and the inevitable summer vacations meant that little time was available to get the team ready. Despite this the lads had packed a lot in over the past few weeks and they were as ready as they were going to be. Before the game the players were reminded that they had earned the right to be in the Major and the requirement today was to give a performance, regardless of the scoreline, they could be proud of. Were the Celts ready? The next hour or so would tell the tale.
Cabinteely started with the confidence of a team that had finished 4th in the Major last year and had knocked St Kevins Premier out of the 2015 All Ireland Cup. For the first 10 minutes there was only one team playing football and it was the Cabinteely Boys. They were moving the ball well leaving the Celts chasing shadows. Indeed for the first 7 minutes the ball did not leave the Celtic half. Despite playing second fiddle the Celts stuck to their task and in the 10th minute got the break you need in a game like this. A long clearance by Donatus Mweke, who didn’t put a foot wrong all day, found Leigh Reilly out right 35 yards from goal. From there the youngster combined all three attributes of pace, power and skill to get the better of the Cabo defence before powering home from an acute angle. Even Dad, Pat, showed rare emotion as he punched the air to celebrate the youngsters goal. 0-1.
Minutes later it was two and again it was Reilly doing the damage as he beat 4 players with sublime skill before finishing past the home keeper. 0-2. Two goals in three minutes - Cabinteely were shell shocked. Celtic now had a spring in their step. Mark Hughes thought he made it three following a great one two with Reilly but the Referee disallowed it for offside despite Hughes being clearly 3 yards onside. Still, nothing could stop Celtic as they searched for a third and got their reward on the stroke of half time when Reilly completed a deserved hat-trick with a well taken penalty. HT: 0-3.
Three up but against a side of Cabinteely’s quality the game was far from over. Cabinteely to their credit had regrouped and worked hard to get back in the game. Unfortunately for them they came up against a well organised defence marshalled by Alex San Emeterio and the immovable object that was Donatus Mweke. And when all else failed keeper, Tommy Bowe, was in no mood to concede. With 15 minutes of the half remaining the points were secured when Hughes, a 6 year veteran on the team, got the goal his performance deserved with a wonderful free kick from 30 yards out. FT: 0-4.
An excellent win for Celtic but let me assure you Cabinteely are a talented team and if you had only seen the first 10 minutes of this game and heard later it was 4-0 you would have assumed it was Cabinteely who won the game such was their quality early on. Having said that credit to Celtic for working hard their way back into the game and taking their chances. This is Major football and chances are few and far between – today Celtic took theirs. There were plenty of positives for Castleknock but it was the work ethic of all 13 players which will have pleased the Coaches most. A special mention to hat trick hero Leigh Reilly who gave arguably the most complete performance in the first half that you are likely to see anywhere this season – it wasn’t just the goals it was the movement, awareness and speed of thought which made him stand out above the rest.
And so a great start to the season for the Celtic lads but this is only a first step in a long long road but a road the Boys are thrilled to be on.
