::: Gorey Celtic FC

Sunday 13th September 2009
Gorey Celtic C 7 - 0 Cloughbawn C

Celtic’s third league game of the season featured a home start against Cloughbawn’s thirds and kicked off at 3.20pm. A scorching hot day provided a perfect platform for the Celts to put last weeks defeat firmly behind them. With Celtics panel strongly boosted by the addition of five new and returning players a strong performance was hoped for, and the team did not disappoint.

The first half saw Celtic ease into the game with some nice passing movements and a good overall work-rate. The opening goal came after 15mins following some great work down the right side by Darren O‘Mahony , with Phelim Gallagher nodding home an exquisite cross.
The second arrived when Darren himself rattled the back of the net with a fine shot from the corner of the box after 30mins. The half-time scoreline of 2-0 was well deserved with Cloughbawn creating very little in the way of a clear-cut chance.

H.T.: 2-0

A rousing halftime talk from John Murphy inspired both the subs and Mark Walsh to put the game well beyond Cloughbawn’s reach. Celtic continued to pass the ball well and the team’s workrate saw no sign of abating.
The introduction of Clyde Phayers early in the second half saw him score two minutes after his introduction following a mazy run into the penalty area and a low shot past the spread-eagled goalkeeper. The score soon reached 4-0 following the arrival of the second “super-sub”, new signing Colin McShane 15min into the second half , the fresh arrival soon showed his ability with a nice left –footed diagonal shot, which accurately found the corner of the net.
The rest of the half saw hat-trick hero “Mark Walsh “ show what he was made of , with the flame haired wonder showing he also had fire in his boots. His first and Celtics 5th came following a trick shot which caused confusion in the Cloughbawn and Celtic ranks , the conjuror later quelled the doubt with a lovely left footed effort to the right corner of the net. Mark continued to make probing runs through a tiring Cloughbawn defense and his defense splitting run soon led to the next goal. He capped off a fantastic individual performance with a screamer late into the second half.

His hat-trick was made all the more impressive by the fact it was scored while Celtic had only 10 players on the pitch . Celtic losing the much aggrieved Andy Flemming when 5mins after his introduction as the third substitute mid-way through the second half, he received what appeared to be a heavy fore-arm to the face. Vociferously complaining at the perceived injustice he was then asked by the referee to leave the pitch. This did not however dampen the manor of victory with all players putting in a “man of the match” performance. Celtics strong passing performance , fantastic work ethic plus lethal finishing saw Celtic take a very convincing three home points.

An outstanding team performance was the name of the day, with Tom Crofts , Ken Price, Phelim Gallagher and Darren O‘Mahony showing well in the first half with the second half belonging to Mark Walsh.

Team: Shay Redmond, Robbie Bent, Paul Sweeney, Tom Crofts, Conor Lynch, Mark Walsh, Ken Price, Paddy Callery, Alan McArdle, Phelim Gallagher, Darren O'Mahoney.

Subs: Clyde Phayres for Gallagher (60 mins) ,Colin McShane for Darren O'Mahoney (60 mins), Andy Flemming for Callery (70 mins).