- OUR PARTNERS
Celtic travelled to Leixlip on Saturday for their second U13 M1 league match of the season and deservedly came away with the spoils after a competitive encounter.
Dylan Coyne captained the side and gave another great performance from centre midfield, linking up play and putting Celtic on the front foot throughout the game. The first half was a tight affair with chances at both ends but it was Celtic that opened the scoring through Cillian Hegarty after some good work by Ibrahim Camara down the left. The lead didn't last long, Leixlip won a corner which Celtic struggled to clear resulting in a scrappy equaliser for the home team.
Celtic defended resiliently as Lexlip pressed , with Dauda, Jatin, Sam and Brian playing well as a defensive unit and Adam Geraghty playing in front of them picking up any loose ball and setting Celtic off going forward. Dawide Beirnat was solid between the posts making several fine saves to keep the scores level. Awwab and Scott provided the width from midfield.
Celtic had the chance to go ahead again before the break when Cillian was poleaxed in the box, only one decision the ref could make and he pointed to the spot. Up stepped Cillian but his well struck penalty was kept out by an outstanding save by the Leixlip keeper diving wide to his right. 1-1 at the break.
Changes from the manager at half time, with James Murgatroyd replacing Sam Mulhern at the back, Gentian Ramadani into midfield and Ethan O'Reilly on at centre half. Ciaran Murtagh was introduced down the right as Celtic looked to play with more width in the second half. It wasn't long before Celtic went in front again with a brilliant piece of solo play from Ibrahim who chipped the ball over the centre half's head before spinning and running onto it and calmly slotting it past the keeper. Sadio Mane would have been proud of it.
Celtic dominated through to the final whistle and a piece of individual brilliance from Cillian Hegarty secured the points. Hegarty collected the ball just over the half way line, before beating the defender for pace down the right flank and scoring from an almost impossible angle over the keeper into the far corner. Hegarty was unlucky not to get the chance of redemption from the spot again, as he was tripped inside the area but the referee waved play on and it wasn't to be.
Another very good team performance from Celtic with men of the match Adam Geraghty and Jatin Ramesh worthy of special praise with neither putting a foot wrong all game. A great three points, very well done lads.
