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Hardwicke FC were the visitors to Porterstown on Wednesday night for this top of the table clash in the NDSL under 18 Premier Division. With an excellent 12 wins from 12 in the league this season another win would have secured the league title for Hardwicke FC. Given the recent run of results from Celtic, not many would have bet against Hardwicke FC. In the reverse fixture in February, this Celtic team suffered their first defeat in 16 months, perhaps this would be the night to secure some retribution for that result.
Due to a long injury list Celtic were forced to play a number of players in unfamiliar positions including Shay Kinsella, just back from a 4 week layoff in the centre back position. However long time squad member Ruairi O’Flaherty playing alongside Kinsella together with David Spillane and Cian Kelly ensured that the Hardwicke front line were kept quiet. Indeed, had Cian Kelly opted not to play it would have been understandable as he was carrying a bad ankle injury. Such was his performance that the player he was marking – an under 18 international, was forced to switch wings, although David Spillane didn’t afford him much space on the other side, so he switched wings again.
The game was a very tense affair during the earlier stages with a number of strong tackles from both sides. On the rare occasions when Hardwicke threatened the Celtic goal, Celtic keeper Luke Kearney was on hand to block them and on at least two occasions, without much regard for his own safety as he put his body on the line.
At half time the score was 0-0 and confidence in the Celtic squad was up. The team talk from the coach, Keith Healy was calm and measured with direct and specific instructions for the second half.
During the early stages of the second half Celtic began to take control, the midfield of Daniel Ferreira, Jack Monaghan, Matthew Mullen, Ciaran Buggy and Callum Carberry together with front man Cory Power ran non-stop pressing Hardwicke back into their own half. The pressure paid off when Hardwicke conceded a number of corners in quick succession in the fifteenth minute. Callum Carberry delivered a corner into the Hardwicke penalty which the defence headed clear. As the ball fell from the air about 22 metres from goal, Matthew Mullen was on hand to volley the ball into the top right hand corner of the net past the outstretched arms of the 6’ 2” Hardwicke goalkeeper. Mullen doesn’t score too many goals, but when he does they tend to be spectacular rather than “tap ins” from 2 yards – this was one his best.
Hardwicke were now rattled. However they were determined not to lose, and launched attack after attack leaving themselves exposed in defence. Celtic soaked up the pressure and were quick on the counter attack and very unfortunate not to double their score when a Jack Monaghan shot was inches wide. Despite a very strong Celtic defence, Hardwicke did eventually break through to draw level. Aidan Sampson, now in midfield was running at the Hardwicke defence at every opportunity. Celtic came close to the scoring a second goal with further near misses from Darren Doyle and Shane McDonagh.
When the final whistle was eventually blown two exhausted teams left the pitch, whilst Celtic were pleased with performance, judging from the sounds from the opposite side of the pitch, the same couldn’t be said Hardwicke.
Without doubt Hardwicke will secure the league title sooner rather than later and at the end of a long season, league tables don’t lie. The best team over the course of a season usually finishes on top. But this Celtic team must ponder exactly what went wrong in the latter stages of the season. With just one game remaining, runners up spot is still a possibility, but they will be depending on results from other fixtures to go their way.
A special mention to the large numbers who turned out in support on Wednesday – they weren’t disappointed
