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Illies bow out with pride
intact
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Illies Celtic...0 Castlebar Celtic...4 (Maughan 6, 56 & 88, S McHale 55) By Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at Stranaclea Road A FINE exhibition of the striker's art from Castlebar Celtic’s John Maughan propelled Gavin Dykes’ side into the last sixteen of the FAI Junior Cup at the expense of Illies Celtic at Stranaclea Road on Sunday Afternoon. The home side were always going to be up against it against the 2006 semi-finalists, who boasted former Eircom League defenders Andrew Neary and Stephen Ryan in their starting line up. What Illies didn’t need against such formidable opponents was to concede an early goal, but that’s what happened in the sixth minute. The Castlebar opener was one of the more bizarre goals you are ever likely to see. After the visitors’ appeal for a penalty was turned down by referee Eamonn Doherty. Illies keeper Noel McDermott placed the ball down in the mistaken belief that his side hade been awarded a free kick. The ball was still live and the alert Maughan tapped the ball into the empty net. |
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After the commotion
surrounding the goal faded, the game continued at a
frantic pace and it was the visitors asking most of the
questions. On the quarter hour, right-back Niall Walsh,
who was off to Portsmouth for a trial after this game,
volleyed a dropping ball just past McDermott’s right
hand post from 25 yards. Illies, when they had possession, were forced into rushed passes that gave their attacking players little chance. On 17 minutes Alan Fletcher tried to release Mark McLaughlin but the Castlebar captain Sean Reilly cut out the danger. Three minutes later the Mayo Super League side almost had a second when a sweeping move from left to right featuring Patrick Fitzgerald and Maughan ended with Russell Gibbons in the clear on the right and side of the Illies box. Gibbons had more time than he knew and snatched at the chance, the ball slicing harmlessly wide. Back came Castlebar. Gerry Burke picked apart the Illies defence with a through ball that the jet-heeled Maughan was onto in a flash. The Boyle native hit a venomous drive that McDermott did superbly to turn around his near post for a corner. |
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With Illies labouring
unsuccessfully to make headway against the mobile
Castlebar backline, chances were at a premium for the
Inishowen men, however William McLaughlin did enjoy
limited success along the left wing and on 28 minutes he
cut into the visitors box but his finesse-free cross
struck a yellow shirted defender at he near post. On 33 minutes Illies took the left wing route to goal again and this time it almost led to an equaliser. Oliver O’Donnell fizzed the ball across the six yard box to Niall McDaid who slid and made a good connection from six yards out but somehow the former Scotland U16 international goalkeeper Michael Wallace prevented the ball from crossing the goal-line. Then, after being found by a neat McDaid reverse pass, William McLaughlin went on a bustling run straight at the Castlebar rearguard but his progress was checked, illegally, by Ryan. |
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Maughan should have made it 2-0 in first half injury
time when he accelerated past Paul Doherty but his chip
over the advancing McDermott skimmed the crossbar and
went over. Despite his side’s dominance, Dykes would, no
doubt, have been concerned at how many chances the
passed up in the first half, and Castlebar emerged for
the second half with a renewed focus. After Illies took the centre, Maughan charged down the clearance, collected the loose ball and made a bee-line for McDermott’s goal only to flick the ball narrowly wide of the far post. Ten minutes into the second half Maughan was taken down in the Illies box and referee Doherty pointed to the spot. Up stepped Sean McHale to dispatch the ball high beyond McDermott’s grasp. There was barely time for the Illies outfielders to draw breath before they saw their keeper beaten for a third time, Maughan once more outstripping the Illies defence, and this time he beat the Illies goalkeeper as well. That was effectively the end of the match as a contest, but credit to Illies, they refused to throw in the towel. Aidan Doherty flicked on a long McLaughlin throw in to Paddy Doherty whose header from point-blank range brought out the best in Wallace. Niall Walsh almost moved another bead to Castlebar’s side of the abacus in the 70th minute |
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with another controlled low
strike before the same player intervened at the other
end to deny Paddy Doherty a clear goal scoring chance.
Illies substitute Dominic Coyne then failed to score a consolation for Illies when well placed with ten minutes to go. Fittingly, Johnny Maughan–‘Bravo’ to his friends and admirers on the Castlebar sideline–completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute, chasing down a long throw before finishing smartly past McDermott. The news that Redcastle had defeated Pike Rovers up the road at Foyle Park was greeted with some surprise alone the Castlebar sideline. Perhaps those sides will meet later on down the trail. For Illies, the end of the road was seen some way off. Illies Celtic: Noel McDermott, David Doherty, Paddy Doherty, Paul Doherty, Caolan McCann, Niall McDaid, Oliver O’Donnell, Aidan Doherty, Alan Fletcher, Mark McLaughlin, William McLaughlin. Subs: Jim Doherty for Paul Doherty (59), Dominic Coyne for Paddy Doherty (76). Castlebar Celtic: Michael Wallace, Niall Walsh, Andrew Neary, Simon Kelly, Sean Reilly, Stephen Ryan, Sean McHale, Patrick Fitzgerald, John Maughan, Russell Gibbons, Gerard Byrne. Subs: James Minogue for Gerry Burke (59), Declan Flynn for Patrick Fitzgerald (71), Fintan McHale for Russell Gibbons (80). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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