- OUR PARTNERS
Smash & Grab wins the day
Semi Finals day saw Tolka Rovers make the short visit toCastleknock Celtic on a sunny spring morning with a place in the May final at stake. Both teams arrived with great wins in the Quarter-Finals against St Kevins and Joeys respectfully. From the off Tolka were clearly up for the game and within a minute had forced a corner. What followed was like a scene from “what happened next” as under no pressure Celtic contrived to score an own goal. 0-1. With an early lead Tolka stole the initiative and for the next five minutes pinned Celtic back in their own half. However, slowly but surely, Celtic regained their composure and started to exert significant pressure on Tolka. Tolka seemed content to soak up the pressure by playing very deep in an attempt to stifle the pacey Celtic attack . Still Celtic were creating havoc down theTolka wings with Ciaran Collins and the impressive Evan Nolan providing a master class. Chances came - twice Leigh Reilly headed over, with the keeper beaten, from Mark Hughes crosses and Dylan Mc Donagh forced the keeper into a good save with a rasping shot. HT: 0-1
At half time the Celtic Coaches just told their charges to do “more of the same” and that’s what we got as for the first 15 minutes on the half Tolka did not enter the Celtic half. Hughes saw a free kick from distance edge wise, then from a Hughes corner Leigh powered a header over from 4 yards out. Minutes later Leigh just failed to touch home a Collins shot. It just wasn’t going to be Leigh orCastleknock’s day.
With 20 minutes left Celtic were dealt a fatal blow. Tolka broke with a long ball to their striker who was clearly offside but still showed composure by lifting the ball over the advancing Tommy Bowe. One can only gather that as the player was so far offside that the Ref never saw it. Still it was 0-2. Celtic to their credit gamely stuck to their task but Tolka had been lifted by the goal. From being out on their feet they now chased everything and broke when they could indeed on one such break they nearly scored only to be foiled by a smart take by Tommy Bowe.
Celtic pushed and pushed. A Hughes free kick was parried by theTolka keeper falling inches away from the Celtic strikers to touch home. With 5 minutes left Kioan Ryan crossed where the ball was net by the on running Alex San Emeterio who powered the ball home with his head only to see the ball hit the keeper who in fairness was well positioned. It was that sort of day and Tolka to their credit saw the game out. FT: 0-2
And so another Cup run gone. Another Celtic defeat with this one particularly hard to take given their dominance. Unfortunately in football like life you don’t always get what you deserve. In truth while dominating possession and showing quality at times Celtic lacked the quality in front of goal and the guile to break down a well organised and marshalled Tolka defence. The lads will have to dust themselves down and move on because next up are St Kevinson Monday night. And that’s exactly what they need - a tough encounter to get their minds focused again
Congratulations to Tolka. They have proven themselves worthy of the Major league. Well organised, well disciplined and hard working they will always be a tough team to play against. Best of luck to them in the Final and we hope they have a great day out.
