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Celtic’s first half display enough to secure Cup win in Leixlip”
We may be in Summer football but there’s something about Cup football that, regardless of the time of year, stirs the juices. Fate had drawn these old foes together for their eight competitive fixture over the past two and a half years. Leixlip are at the wrong end of the table but appearances can be deceiving as this season the Premier division has shown there is very little between all the teams. Celtic had secured the points a fortnight ago thanks to a mesmerising first half performance but Leixlip showed enough in their second half comeback to give them the confidence that they could deliver a home win. Let the games begin!!!
Celtic, as they have done in recent weeks, started in explosive fashion. Inside the first two minutes Leigh Reilly saw his shot from 6 yards drift wide and with Dylan Mc Donagh peppering in crosses from the left it was all Celtic. The breakthrough came mid way through the half. The inform Nathan O’ Reilly fed Reilly who laid it back to Lloyd Turner. Turner’s shot was parried away to Nathan who powered home from 10 yards. Celtic did not look to rest on their laurels and sought to capitalise again. Reilly hit the post, Eric Hannon hit a cracker from 30 yards that rattled the cross bar before Mark Hughes hit a delicious chip over the defence where Sean Blood rose high beating the defender and keeper hitting the underside of the bar but the Ref adjudged the ball not to have fully crossed the line. The second finally came when Donatus Mweke met Hughes’ corner with a power header that was stopped on the line but Donatus ensured the goal by thundering it into the net. HT: 0-2
In truth Celtic did not want the half to end but were reminded the job was only half done. Again Celtic started brightly but the break had come at the right time for Leixlip who obviously had received a stern talking too and looked a different team. Challenging for everything they slowly but surely came into the game and began creating their own chances. With 15 minutes to go Leixlip got their reward with a well taken goal. The ball was swept in from the left over the top and the right winger finished well from an acute angle. 1-2 and game on.Celtic were rattled. Leixlip pushed for the equaliser but Celtic re-grouped as the game became end to end. For Castleknock Turner went down the right before cutting in and squaring to Reilly who planted the ball home from 8 yards but no the Ref said the ball had gone out of play for a goal kick. Unfortunate for Reilly as it was the second time in two weeks that he has what looked like a good goal disallowed. Minutes later Nathan forced a good save from the Leixlip number one. At the other end Leixlip were launching forward in search of the equaliser however the Celtic defence stood tall and saw out the game. FT: 1-2
An entertaining game and a deserved win for Celtic although the Coaches will be concerned about the Teams inability, when in the ascendency, not to put opposition away. Today Leixlip were allowed back into the game and indeed they may have felt that had they got the equaliser they could have gone on to win in extra time. Credit must be given to Leixlip for battling back in this regard and with character like this they will climb the League table quickly. From Castleknock’sperspective it was Mission accomplished and they are in the hat for the next round of the Cup. There will be no time to rest for Celtic as they will be back in action next Tuesday with runaway league leaders, Malahide, the opposition. Celtic will go there respecting the opposition but not fearing as with only one defeat this season the lads travel confident in the knowledge that if they play to their ability they can challenge anyone.