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Malahide in Seventh Heaven as Celtic cast aside
Following a strong performance the previous week and following good training this week, Castleknock travelled to Gannon Park in good spirits and hoping to topple league leaders Malahide Utd. What transpired was more akin to the “Nightmare on Elm Street” as Malahide punished a frail Celtic.
The early exchanges gave no sign of what was to come. Indeed Celtic had the first two attacks of the game. With 10 minutes gone Celtic failed to deal with a cross from the right allowing the Malahide striker a simple finish. 1-0. Minutes later it was 2-0 when a shot from distance found its way into the net. 2-0. Celtic were rocked and Malahide soon added a third when the Celtic defence failed to clear the ball allowing the Malahide player to power home. HT: 3-0.
Three down the Castleknock coach switched to a 3-5-2 with one simple instruction “Forget the first half . Let’s go and play football”. In fairness to Celtic they stuck to their task as they tried to play their passing game. However after 15 minutes disaster struck – a shot to nothing and it was 4-0. Minutes later, more of the same and it was 5-0 before the Celtic defence conspired to allow Malahide score a sixth with still 15 minutes to go. Cruel on Celtic as they had actually enjoyed the majority of possession thus far in the second half. With gaps showing up all over the pitch Malahide punished Celtic with another goal. 7-0. To their credit the lads kept going and got a goal that their hard work, if not their quality, deserved. Mark Hughes played the ball to Leigh Reilly who finally got the better of his man before sprinting forward to produce a quality finish from 20 yards past the oncoming Malahide Utd stopper. FT: 7-1
Well done to Malahide. We knew they were a good team but as good as they are we cannot say how good as today they were never tested. At the start of the season we advised that this is a league that gives few chances so when you actually gift seven goals you cannot expect to win. Self inflicted defensive errors have been the story of Celtic’s season and they need to address this. The scoreline does not do the quality and potential of this team justice. If the lads can learn to do the simple things right there is enough quality to make this team challengers. Com’n lads – let’s get this right. Starting on Tuesday at training.
