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Collinstown Smash & Grab denies wonderful Celtic”
John Travolta may have set the world alight with “Saturday Night Fever” but it was “Saturday Cup Fever” that came to Porterstown for a mouth watering Tony Hackett Cup Q/F that pitched the top two teams in the division - Collinstown and Celtic. Paddy Power had made Collinstown favourites with their CV showing them sitting top of the table with the benefit of a good win over Celtic earlier in the season. Still Celtic were in decent form themselves and were in no mood to roll over. This was the CUP and anything could happen and it did!!!
The game started like an old fashioned Cup tie with pace and it was Collinstown who struck in the opening two minutes when their powerful No 12 burst through the defence before smashing the ball into the roof of the net. What followed was the charge of the Green & White Light brigade with a first half display never see before from a swashbuckling Celtic. They literally powered forward incessantly. The football was pure and intelligent and this produced chances – three over the top with the keeper beaten, two against the post, three wonderful saves by the Collinstown No 1 and that was just the ones that came closest. Esse, Ivan, Ben, James, Luke and Andre all came close but the Collinstown defence stood tall. Never has this Reporter seen such a one sided first half and how Celtic never scored will remain a mystery that perhaps only Sherlock Holmes (brother of Coach Sherlock) will solve. And despite all the possession and all the chances it took a wonderful save at the other end from “Mad” Max Ostachuk to keep the scoreline at 0-1.
At half time the Coaches encouraged their charges to give more of the same and at the start that’s what they did as Esse came close. But within minutes it was 0-2 with a freakish and unfortunate own goal to make it 0-2. Collinstown were lifted and fought for every ball but Celtic kept their heads up. Caitlin Labont came close before Esse was taken down for a penalty. Up stepped the “Lukemeister” but his well struck shot brought a wonderful save from the Collinstown keeper with the ball then hitting the underside of the bar before being cleared to safety. It was one of those days.
Celtic kept battling with again Esse, Andre, Caitlin and Ben going close before with four minutes left Collinstown broke and scored a good goal to make it 3-0. With a minute left another well finished goal gave Collinstown a more than flattering 4-0 win.
First of all well done to Collinstown who battled all day long, were clinical in attack and in their goalkeeper had the best player on the park. Best of luck to them and it will take some team to deprive them of the Cup.
As for Celtic, what can you say other than hard luck. The Boys were asked to give a performance and they did – what more can a Coach ask for. They did not deserve to lose and this was not lost on their noisy supporters who gave the lads a big cheer, and deservedly so. There were some tears but some treats and refreshments soon put a smile on their faces. If they keep playing like this their day will come and quickly. WELL DONE LADS. PROUD OF YOU.
