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“ Flynn leads way as Celtic power past Ardmore”
Having cruelly been knocked out of the Cup last week Castleknock were keen to put on a display on their home patch with Ardmore Rovers from Bray providing the opposition. With a tight and competitive squad three changes were made from last Saturday's starting team.
The early exchanges in the game were disjointed as both teams sought to adjust to the recently sanded surface. Castleknock were deliberate in their build up while Ardmore were looking to break quickly with their talented centre forward, who had earlier in the season scored twice against Celtic, looking particularly sharp. In a tense opening quarter, centre back, Cathal Flynn, looked the most assured player on the pitch. Reading the game immaculately he literally stifled the Ardmore attack while at the same time turning defence into attack with his quick thinking and astute passing. Credit to Flynn who has fought his way back to form and with displays like these the Castleknock Coaches can sleep easily. In games like these it can be defences that turn games and today Flynn along with the calming influence of Matthew Elliott were clearly intent on helping keeper, Tomas Bowe, keep a clean sheet. At the other end Kian Ryan was playing up front and there were signs early on that the Boy was also coming back to his best. Pressurising the Ardmore defence he looked lively all day.
With 12 minutes gone Celtic made the breakthrough when the elegant Alex San Emeterio whipped in a dangerous cross which Ryan finished with a goal that was the hallmark of all great strikers – good positioning and a cool finish. His T-shirt told it all as he lifted his jersey to the crowd to display his statement of intent “Back to goalscoring ways”.
1-0 but it was far from comfortable and despite enjoying more possession and chances thanks to the creative work of San Emeterio and Ciaran Collins, Celtic were thankful to some excellent defensive work from Dylan Mc Donagh. Midway through the half, changes were made with the Celtic “veterans” aka Hughes, Reilly & Kane entering the fray. The impact was almost instant as Matthew Russell scored just as the Referee blew for an injury to the Ardmore keeper. Minutes later Hughes nearly scored when following a good run his left foot shot just edged past the post. It was 2-0 after 25 minutes – Hughes took the ball from the defence and strode forward past 2 players before playing an immaculate ball between two defenders to Leigh Reilly 3 yards out from goal. With the keeper unsighted Reilly cleverly dummied the ball to wrong foot the keeper who was bracing himself for Reilly’s shot that never came. HT: 2-0.
With a two goal cushion Celtic pushed on in the second half. All season we have seen great wing wizardry from “Cha Cha” Collins and “Twinkle Toes” Kane and today “Twinkle Toes” was treating the crowd to some show stopping play. He varied his play with one-two’s to Hughes, with whom he showed a great understanding, and top drawer dribbling down the wing to torment the Ardmore defence who just could not handle the youngster.
A third goal was inevitable and it was all about Reilly. Intercepting an Ardmore throw he lifted the ball over the visitors' defender before closing in on goal and leaving the Ardmore keeper with no chance. As Celtic’s domination continued Andrei Enache, Cha Cha, Russell and Twinkle Toes were all denied by good goalkeeping and brave defending. However pressure finally told in the dying minutes when the re-introduced Hughes pressurised the Ardmore defender from an Ardmore kick-out before beating another player and squaring the ball to Reilly who finished with his normal professionalism. FT: 4-0
And so a good day all round. Perhaps not a vintage performance but the second half was definitely top drawer. While it was another solid professional performance by the Castleknock 12 the Coaches will have been most pleased with the return to form of Flynn, Ryan and San Emeterio. A special mention to Ardmore who on the day only had 9 players and who played with great endeavour and will deem themselves unlucky to have trailed 2-0 at half time giving themselves too much of a hurdle on what was a energy sapping pitch.
