::: Gorey Celtic FC

Sunday 25th January 2009
Cloughbawn 1 - 7 Gorey Celtic C

Celtics fifth league game of the season saw the Celts pay the return visit to Cloughbawn for a 2pm kick-off. The two teams having already met 2 games earlier in Umbro Park with the Celts recording a 7-0 home victory.
Today’s trip also featured a heavy scoring performance by the Celtic team with them once again reaching a seven goal tally and the home team replying just the once allowing the team record an impressive 7-1 away victory.

The opening goal came after five minutes when Paddy Callery slipped a neat pass in to Darren O’ Mahony who dispatched the ball across the goal area only for Sean Feeney to tap to the net from close range. Darren later came close after 15min when he nipped in at the back post only to shoot wide following a cross from Liam Clarke who beat a player down the left wing .
Cloughbawn came close shortly after following a free kick from outside the area with goalkeeper Ken Byrne tipping the stinging shot over the bar. Celtic's second goal came after 23min when Paddy Callery re-won a ball in the midfield area, exchanged passes with Kris Swinton and then passed to O' Mahony who duly dispatched to the net. Celtic were now creating chances for fun but had to wait til 5 mins before the break in inccrease their lead, Liam Clarke skimmed the crossbar following a long range right footed effort, O'Mahony on 34min produced a right footed reaction save from the out-stretched Cloughbawn keeper at the right post. The third goal arrived after 40min when Sean Feeney executed a deft chip over an out-coming Cloughbawn defence only for Liam Clarke to cross to the far post where O'Mahony forcefully nodded downward to the oppositions net. O'Mahony later completed his hat-trick just on the cusp of half-time from the penalty spot, when the referee deemed a Cloughbawn player to have handled the ball inside the area.

H.T.: 0 - 4

Celtic entered the second half holding 4-0 lead and were soon to see the first substitution after 50min with Clyde Phayers entering the fray in place of the injured Darren O'Mahony. Cloughbawn pressed early in the second half and were rewarded after 58min when they found themselves two on one following a left sided cross and duly dispatched a controlled left footed volley low to left corner of the Celtic net.
The Celts however replied after 68min following a good dribble forward by Liam Clarke who deftly poked the ball past the out-coming keeper making it 5-1. The next substitution saw Kris Nowak make his debut in place of fellow Pole Kristov Swinton. Another chance fell to Barry Glencross who following a mazy dribble shot narrowly over the Cloughbawn bar after 77min. Mick Hassett came on as the third substitute replacing Connor Lynch who had sustained a knock to the head earlier in the first half which he failed to fully shake off.
Celtics sixth goal came on the 83rd min when Clyde Phayers headed a Liam Clarke corner downward to the left of the Cloughbawn keeper. The scoring was finally rounded off when Liam Clarke played a nice 1-2 with Robbie Bent only to place the ball beyond the Cloughbawn keeper, making it 7-1 at the final whistle.

A strong team performance was once again the name of the day with the back four all defending resolutely. From an attacking point of view O'Mahony and Clarke both took their chances well.
There were many candidates for man of the match on the day but the overall high level of team performance was the most pleasing aspect of the game.

Team: Ken Byrne, Robbie Bent, Tom Croft, Pa Murphy, Conor Lynch, Barry Glencross, Paddy Callery, Sean Feeney, Liam Clarke, Darren O'Mahony, Kristov Swinton.

Subs: Clyde Phayres for O'Mahony (50mins), Kris Nowak for Swinton (66mins), Mick Hassett for Lynch (80 mins), Damien Mordalski.