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Catre’s Super Strike the difference in close encounter with Navan Rd”
It was an early start for local rivals Castleknock Celtic and Navan Rd but there was nothing sluggish about the teams such was the intensity of this game. From the off Navan Rd broke and nearly punished Celtic with only seconds on the clock. The first half was a cagey affair and while Celtic enjoyed more possession it was Navan Rd who came closest to a goal when they broke swiftly following a Castleknock corner and forced keeper , Alex Regan, into a wonderful save following a 1v1 with the striker. Not for the first time this season Celtic were thankful to have a keeper of Regan’s class in their team. HT: 0-0.
After a first half dominated by quality defences Celtic moved Narcis Catre into midfield in an attempt to add a bit of creativity to the proceedings. The tone of the half was set when a stunning Daniel Hughes shot from 30 yards out dipped over the keeper but not enough to elude the cross bar. Celtic were on top but just could not break down the well organised Navan Rd defence. The hardworking Luke Mulcahy’s pace was added up front to assist Liam O’ Neill and despite some defence splitting passes Celtic were too often guilty of drifting offside – 11 times in all. Surely a record. As the game wore on it became clear that a goal could seal the points and with 20 minutes to go Celtic forced the breakthrough. Hughes found himself out right and swung in an inch perfect cross the quality of which was exceeded only by the left footed volley from 8 yards out into the back of the net by the gifted, if a little crazy, Narcis Catre. 1-0. It was always going to take a quality piece of play to unlock the Navan Rd defence and this was a goal to rank with the best.
Navan Rd’s response was to up their game and this they did as they searched for the elusive equaliser. Try as they did Navan Rd just could not breakthrough a resolute Castleknock rearguard and the final whistle was greeted by the Castleknock Coaches with relief FT: 1-0.
A close but deserved win and another valuable three points for Celtic. While the game at times lacked free flowing football it more than made up for this with the work rate and determination of both teams. Both defences were outstanding and Navan Rd may feel their performance deserved a share of the spoils. Maybe it did but if a game like this was to have a winner then no one could deny that the quality of the strike from Catre was worthy to win any game. Celtic were thrilled to secure victory in a tight game and remain unbeaten but they are far from the finished article and it is clear that the Coaches have much work to do on the training ground in the coming weeks.
