Denny Premier A League Final ; Killarney Celtic 3-3 St Brendans Park

Denny Premier A Final 2010/2011

By Murt Murphy

Killarney Celtic 3-3 St Brendans Park

The Park FC produced an amazing Houdini like act to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat as Killarney Celtic looked champions elect in this enthralling Denny Premier A Final, played on a surprisingly good surface at Mounthawk Park on Friday night so it back to the same venue for the replay on Friday next.

Both sides will learn from the game – Killarney Celtic will know that they took their foot of the pedal when leading 3-1 with ten minutes to go, should have finished the Park off when they were totally dominant in the opening half and also that no matter what your lead is – you must keep your shape for ninety minutes plus.

The Park will feel like they won the game but know they got out of jail because they played so poorly, they know a repeat in the replay, and Celtic will not be as charitable second time around.

The story of the goals is that Celtic got a dream start when they took the lead in the 10^th minute when nobody picked up Chris Brady who collected a short John McDonagh corner and his cross was headed to the Park net by Gee Paketarus. Celtic thanks to their midfield dominance looked like scoring a hatful of goals but they two disallowed in the 3oth and 32^nd minute from Gee man and Robert Watson and only Pa McCarthy threatened for the Park who were lucky to be going in just 1-0 down at half time.

Celtic made in 2-0 in the 57^th minute when Con Barrett was guilty of missing a vital tackle on Stephen Hayes who low cross was finished to the net by Gee Paketarus but then Robert Watson was substituted by Pa McGrath and suddenly the game changed.

In the 66^th minute McGrath opened up the Park defence with a great move and he had Stephen Hayes on his left screaming for the ball but he opted to shoot himself and he shot badly wide and gilt edged chance of making it 3-0 had gone.

The Park swept up field within a minute and were awarded a free right side about thirty yards from goal. Up stepped Graham O’Leary to curl an unstoppable free kick to the top corner of Shane Murphy’s net and it was game on.

However in the 75^th minute it appeared game over when Trevor Nagle with his first touch sent in a defence splitting through ball that Stephen Hayes gleefully hammered to the back of the net and at 3-1, it looked game set and match for Celtic.

However Celtic got more ragged and Park kept attacking which led to Pa McCarthy racing into the box and beating the keeper with a chip that David Clifford finished to the net in the 86^th minute.

Then Shane Murphy denied David Clifford with a great diving save but in the 91^st minute – Celtic were caught out again on the left side as Pa McCarthy beat Shane Murphy to ball the keeper should never have come for, and his chip was deemed over the line by the linesman despite David O’Sullivan booting clear.

There was still time for Celtic to get the winner but Darragh O’Brien made a diving save to deny Trevor Nagle at the death.

Roll on Friday night and the replay – it promises to be a cracker.

Teams:

Killarney Celtic

Shane Murphy, Chris Brady, Terence Moriarty, David O’Sullivan, John McDonagh, Chris Davies, Garry Keane, Peter McCarthy, Robert Watson, Stephen Hayes, Gee Paketuras .

Subs: Pa McGrath for R Watson, Trevor Nagle for G Paketuras, Brendan Falvey for S Hayes . Manager Karl McMahon .

St Brendan’s Park

Darragh O’Brien, Martin Bowler, David Magee, Con Barrett, David Doyle, David McLoughlin, Eoin McMahon, Greg Healy, Adrian Quirke, Alan O’Shea, Pa McCarthy

Subs: David Clifford for M Bowler ( inj), Graham O’Leary for G Healy, Garvin O’Callaghan for D Doyle . Manager Tommy Naughton .

Referee: K O’Regan