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Following two indifferent performances that led to back to back defeats Celtic welcomed current league leaders and title challengers Peamount Utd to Porterstown for a Monday Night Special. Injuries meant that Celtic only had 12 players available including Ciaran Collins who played with an injury to his right knee. From the off it was clear that this would be a game played at high pace and high intensity.
The opening exchanges were akin to a boxing match as both teams battled for supremacy. Celtic drew first blood when Antonio Neto released Kiano Ryan who showed the explosiveness of a future Derby winner as he outpaced the Peamount defence to place the ball past the advancing keeper. 1-0. Exactly what Celtic needed to build confidence but in truth this only served to waken the Peamount team and within minutes it was 1-1. A failed clearance saw the striker hit home from 10 yards out. The Peamount tails were up and with their impressive No 8, Aaron, dominating the midfield it was they who created the better chances. First they headed over from 3 yards out ,then they hit the post before Tommy Bowe made another fine save. Just minutes before half time Peamount thought they had taken the lead only for Ciaran Collins to make a wonderful clearance off the line. HT: 1-1
The Coaches knew that if something wasn’t changed that Celtic would be in trouble. The No 8 needed to be stopped and Celtic needed more possession in midfield. The solution – Dylan Mc Donagh for the whole second half marked the No 8 out of the game. In turn Celtic gained the upper hand in midfield with Mark Hughes, who had a quiet first half, and Neto seeing more of the ball. All of this resulted in Celtic enjoying more possession with most of the attacks coming down the right where Evan Nolan and Kiano were linking well. 10 minutes into the half Kiano went down the right before playing the ball into the path of Leigh Reilly whose shot found the bottom right hand corner. It wasn’t Leigh’s best strike but it was just what Celtic and young Reilly needed. 2-1 but again the lead was short lived. Peamount broke swiftly but the midfielders shot brought a wonderful reflex save from Bowe with his legs only for the ball to break to a Peamount player who somehow scrambled the ball home. 2-2. However this time Celtic did not allow Peamount to gain an upper hand and it was they with 15 minutes left on the clock Celtic again took the lead. Again it was an attack down the right, again Kiano beat his man and squared the ball where Leigh, having made a strikers run, powered home from 6 yards out. 3-2 - “Lethal Leigh” was clearly back in business.
Previously Celtic had let the lead slip twice within minutes - could they now hold out for 15 minutes. What ensued was a frantic 15 minutes where both teams fought for every ball. Kiano came close at one end and then Peamount hit the bar. Celtic possibly should have had a penalty and then Peamount nearly scored from the clearance – it was that sort of game. Celtic were tiring fast but they fought for everything. Hughesy had a new lease of life – box to box, tacking and winning everything; Donatus marshalled the defence brilliantly while Reilly & Kiano continued to be a threat. Peamount battled valiantly but the clock ran out as the Ref blew his whistle. FT: 3-2
First of all compliments to Peamount who played their part in a hard fought and sporting game. In truth they had the more clear cut chances and perhaps deserved at least a share of the spoils. On the other hand no one would deny Celtic’s efforts deserved at least a point. They showed tremendous character all over the pitch against a Peamount side that are genuine title contenders.
The result was a bonus but the real positives were the positive attitude of the players, the return to goal scoring ways for “Lethal Leigh”, the confidence boosting performances of Tommy & Kiano. On top of this we saw Hughesy and Neto produce magnificent second half performances but the lads were first to acknowledge unsung hero was Dylan Mc Donagh who sacrificed ball playing for a classic man marking job. I say “unsung” but at the end the Coaches and all his team mates made their appreciation known to the “Iron Man” . Well done lads. Be proud. It’s a positive step but it’s only a step and you need to build on it.
