Six Goal Celts Sink Goonies

20^th July 2010

Cootehill Celtic        6 - 09               Drumgoon       2 - 08

The Celts Under 16 side advanced to the next round of the Under 16 Division 4 Shield competition with a comprehensive 13 point  victory over parish rivals Drumgoon in Hugh O’Reilly Park on Tuesday last.  Cootehill led from start to finish and after an early Tom Hayes goal putting them three points in front, the Celtics never really looked back - the home side had strong performers in every line of the field. Impressively all Cootehill's scores over the hour came from play.

The Celtics started the game strongly and corner forward Tom Hayes soon had the ball in the back of the Goonies’ net after a long delivery from midfielder John Carney.  Drumgoon answered back with two quick points, one from a free and another from play to close the gap to the minimum.  The Celts went straight back on the attack and pushed out their lead to five with four points without reply through the boot of Hayes (2), Fiachra Hughes and a long range effort from centre forward Ryan Reilly.

Cootehill Captain John Carney grabbed his side’s second goal soon after Reilly’s point, Carney collected a Drumgoon kickout and burst through the middle of the visitor’s defence and just when it looked like he lost possession, a fierce left foot shot on the loose ball flew past the keeper and into the net to put the Celts eight in front after 20 minutes.

The Celts were enjoying plenty of possession thanks in part to the midfield dominance of Carney and Christopher Keenan while in defence the half back line of Joseph Freeman, Aaron Cosgrove and James McKitterick were on top of their opposition numbers.  Inside Barry Smith collected a lot of loose ball in the full back line and was ably supported by Fintan Roche in the opposite corner.  The home side also won back a lot of possession in the opening half through overturning Drumgoon through fierce pressure and excellent tackling.  Another Ryan Reilly point after a great run by the same player and a second goal from Tom Hayes rounded off Cootehill’s scoring for the half but a long delivery into the Celts square wasn’t dealt with and a Drumgoon forward was on hand to fire to the net. 

The half time whistle sounded soon after with the Celts nine points in front, their three goals and 5 points against Drumgoon’s one goal and two.

The home side introduced Caoimhín Carney into their attack at the break and they continued to press home their advantage after the restart with two points from cousins Ryan Reilly and a fine effort from wing forward Ordhán Reilly.  John Carney kicked his second goal of the game from close range after playing a quick 1 – 2 with Hayes.

Drumgoon hit back with two points, one from play and another from a free before another long ball into the square bounced around before a Drumgoon forward kicked into the net from point blank range and brought the margin back to nine.

Ryan Reilly kicked another fine point from 30 metres after a storming run from centre back Aaron Cosgrove found Reilly unmarked.  Caomihín Carney kicked Cootehill’s fifth goal of the game when he sharply turned inside two Drumgoon defenders and fired into the roof of the net from a tight angle.  Tom Hayes put Cootehill 14 points in front with a point from 20 metres out as the game moved into the final ten minutes.

Drumgoon to their credit never gave up and kicked three point without reply but the Celts’ had the final say and Ryan Reilly kicked goal number 6 as he collected a long ball from the impressive John Carney and rounded  the keeper to ensure a 13 point winning margin.

Cootehill Celtic: Alex Hamilton; Barry Smith, Fintan Roche; Joseph Freeman, Aaron Cosgrove, James McKitterick; John Carney (2 – 0), Christopher Keenan; Fiachra Hughes (0 – 1), Ryan Reilly (1 – 4), Ordhán Reilly (0 – 1); Johnny McKay, Tom Hayes (2 – 3).
Subs: Caoimhín Carney (1 – 0); Dermie Connolly; Christopher Ellis.