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With the festive season upon us the might Shamrock Rovers arrived in Porterstown in excellent form and not looking to brandish any early season gifts. If playing a team 2 Divisions up and unbeaten since September wasn’t hard enough the Celtic Coaches awoke to the news that three of the squad were unavailable due to illness.
Shamrock Rovers tipped off and one would have feared the worst for Celtic such was Rovers crisp passing for the first couple of minutes. But the Celts were up for this game and began to pressurise the opposition all over the pitch with Kian Ryan up front proving that the first line of defence is in attack. Mark Hughes and Dylan Mc Donagh began to influence and then dominate midfield to give Celtic the upperhand. Ryan and Hughes both had good chances before Hughes scored with a free kick from 30 yards out but credit must be given to Leigh Reilly who showed his brain is as quick as his feet as he dummied the ball when the Hoops keeper wrongfully assumed Reilly would try to shoot. 1-0 and with it a confidence boost.
Celtic were dominant everywhere and Rovers seems to have no answer especially when it came to Hughes who was everywhere. Chances came with Ryan coming close and Hughes had another freekick headed off the line at the far post. But Celtic always needed to be on their toes and credit to keeper Thomas Bowe who was forced into making a fine save from a well struck shot by Rovers Lloyd Turner 20 yards out. HT: 1-0
Despite the lead and dominating play Celtic were very aware that Rovers are a top team and that a goal at this level was nothing. Clearly that was the thoughts of the Rovers coaches who fired up their Boys who looked to take the battle to Celtic. It was a tight opening 10 minutes with Cathal Flynn and Alex San Emeterio, who had been in control in the first half, really put to the test which they passed with flying colours. Mc Donagh was doing his usual unsung hero stuff in midfield – battling, tackling and playing the simple but critical passes. It had now become a fearsome battle and both teams seemed to sense that the next score was crucial. Thankfully it came Celtics way with Hughes setting up Ryan who finished with predatory skill from 6 yards out. This lifted Celtic and deflated Rovers in equal measure and it was no surprise when 5 minutes later Celtic went three up and this time it was the quick feet of Johnny Kane that did the damage. A deserved goal for his display on the left wing where the Rovers defence just could not get a tackle in.
Rovers to their credit never stopped battling and got a goal back to make it 3-1. Again back came Celtic and with 5 minutes left Ryan settled any jitters finishing well from Hughes’s pass. Celtic looked to increase their lead further and Ciaran Collins just failed to find the net which would have been a reward for a fine second half performance. In the fifth minute of stoppage time Rovers got a consolation goal following a well worked move from the left wing that was finished in style by their ever alert forward.
And so a fine win for the Celtic boys but more importantly it was the performance, this time against top drawer opposition, which again showed that on their day these young Celts can mix it with the best. Once again it was a combined team effort and the Coaches will have been happy to have witnessed a top class work rate when not in possession to match their undoubted skills on the ball.
