Celtic remain on course for league crown

10 February 2016

CELTIC Bhoys seconds brought the wind and rain to heel before clamping Rossglass County as they stayed well clear at the top of the Division 3 table.

The Hoops may be six points ahead of second-placed Comber Rec, but the Park Way outfit, Dromara Village thirds and Moneyslane thirds all have games in hand and are breathing down their neck as the race for the divisional crown heats up.

Mark Leahy’s title chasers couldn’t have dreamt a worse start to the game as they fell behind after only 10 seconds.

Celtic, who had the fierce wind in their backs, took the kick off and intended playing the ball back to ‘keeper Ronan Holland, but Gavin Smyth’s pass fell short and the fleet-footed Conor Vize was on to the ball in a flash and beat the young custodian all ends up with a raking finish.

Celtic tried to retaliate immediately and two minutes later Eddie Hinc saved well from Chris Laverty got on the end of a Jamie Kelly corner. The Hoops didn’t have long to wait for the equaliser and it came eight minutes later.

Liam Gibney, whose footballing brain remains untouched by the ravages of time, played a delightful ball over the top to the roaming Dylan Duffy. He took one look and put the ball on a plate for Jay Gibney to make it 1-1.

Ciaran McGarrity chanced his arm from well outside the box on 15 minutes before Liam Gibney had an audacious chip from 45 yards out saved by a back-pedalling Hinc.

Celtic were working up a nice head of steam and with 26 minutes gone took the lead. McGarrity, Kelly, Laverty and Duffy were all involved in a slick passing move before Jay Gibney applied the finishing touch to make it 2-1.

Two minutes later an improvised free kick from Kelly fell nicely for Gibney, but he shot wide from a great position. However, it was 3-1 11 minutes later when Ross Laverty spotted Hinc off his line and his cheeky cross was given a helping hand by the wind as it sailed over the stranded Rossglass custodian.

Rossglass created a superb opening for Vize in the 44th minute, but he blasted over following superb work from the indomitable Danny Gilmore.

Celtic opened the second half on the attack and duly made it 4-1 in the 51st minute when Duffy’s deep cross from the right flank was somehow dispatched to the net from a seemingly impossible position at the back post by the predatory Liam Gibney. Rossglass refused to capitulate and driven forward by Gilmore, went close to making it 4-2 when Matthew O’Hare was halted in his tracks by a brave intervention from Holland.

With 61 minutes gone the Laverty boys carved out an opening for Kelly, but he was booked for diving after a superb challenge from Gilmore. Paul McGarry blasted over at the other end before Chris Laverty made it 5-1 after excellent approach play from Kelly and Ross Laverty.

Holland was in action a few minutes later when he saved from Shane Walsh and Mageean as Rossglass tried to put a good look on the scoreline. He was also given a helping hand by Ross Laverty when he cleared a Mageean effort off the line, but this was a game Celtic never looked like losing, despite Rossglass’ flying start.

Celtic Bhoys II: R Holland, G Smyth, N Gordon, C McGarrity, S Leahy, C Laverty, D Duffy, R Laverty, L Gibney, J Kelly, J Gibney. Subs: S Rowden, C Lynch, A Carling.

Rossglass County II: E Hinc, C Williamson, J Milligan, D Gilmore, P Fitzsimons, B Mageean, L Smyth, O Tumelty, S Walsh, M O’Hare, C Vize. Subs: P McGarry, M Burke, T Redmond.

Celtic Bhoys II 5

Rossglass County II 1

NEWCASTLE LEAGUE DIVISION 3

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder