February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mike Fitzpatrick
Cork 0-13, Celtics 0-10
Although not the most exciting of ties to be played in recent times, this Div. II football match between two of the contenders for top flight football could be an important result when one looks back upon the season a few months from now.
Cork entered the fray straight from their disastrous 1999 season in Div. 1 where they lost all seven of their games.
Celtics, under the tutelage of Donie O’Sullivan, feel they should be up with the big guns next season, and who knows, maybe this young side can come good. Celtics opened the tie with a flurry, hitting two unanswered points from Garret McLoughlin and Paddy Donoghue, to give Celtics an early lead.
Cork gained control though and hit four points consecutively from Brian Flood, Sean O’Flynn, and Liam Hanley. Cork moved into a three point lead before the break, though the tie was still anybody’s.
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McLoughlin hit a point over the bar from the penalty spot to move Celtics back into the hunt, and coming into the interval both sides missed numerous chances to move ahead.
Celtics opened the second half with a more attack-minded mission, though accuracy was something to be desired. Three wides in a row did nothing to boost their three point first half haul and, until Tony Rafferty registered a point, it looked as if luck would abandon them completely.
It was now a two point game, Celtics went on the attack once more to and were unlucky not to snatch a lead when McLoughlin’s low shot to the left was saved by Cork’s goalie Paddy O’Sullivan.
Brian Flood’s free taking for Cork increased his sides lead, although Celtics continued to fight back and kept the tie to within two points until late in the half.
A late fightback from O’Sullivan’s side witnessed Gary Scully’s long kickout being gathered by Kieran Traynor, who passed to Flynn, and onto O’Sullivan who scored one of the best points of the afternoon.
Paddy Donaghue, with the goal at his mercy, was denied by another fine save from Cork’s O’ Sullivan in goal, and when the whistle blew at full time, it was Cork’s victory which returned the Munster side to winning ways.
Celtics: Gary Scully, John Walsh, Kenny Cox, Liam Murray, Barney McCormack, Aidan Traynor, Tony Rafferty (0-2), Kieran Traynor, Danny O’Sullivan (0-2), Gareth McLoughlin (0-2), Derek McKenna (0-1), Sean O’Sullivan (0-1), Alan O’Regan, Paddy Donoghue (0-1), Eddie O’Flynn (0-1)
Cork: Paddy Sullivan, Kenny Delanty, Dave O’Regan, Joe O’Sullivan, Liam Hanley (0-1), Morgan Burns, CJ Doherty, Ian Smith, Eric Dockery (0-1), Sean O’Flynn (0-1), Brian Flood (0-7), Tadhg O’Donovan, Alan Barry (0-1), Teddy Mulvihill, Tadhg O’Callaghan (0-1). Subs: Denis Kiley (0-1)
Man of the match: Brian Flood (Cork)