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They say there’s no rest for the wicked and while these Angelic Celts are not wicked they too are getting no rest with big games coming thick and fast and this week was no different with the visit of league leaders Leixlip Utd. Another challenge and another chance to test against the best around. Heady days indeed!!!
On an extremely bumpy Pitch 10 it was Leixlip who started the better and for the first 5 minutes had a lethargic looking Celtic pinned back. However, having weathered the early storm, Celtic eased there way into the game and scored the crucial first goal with 15 minutes on the clock. Mark Hughes won the ball and played it up to Andrei Enache in turn played the ball first time out right to Ciaran Collins. The rest will go down in Castleknock folklore as the mercurial Ciaran cut inside before beating one, two, three players and then easing to his left to plant the ball into the Leixlip net. A goal worthy of Messi, a goal worthy of a Magician because that’s what it was …MAGIC. 1-0.
With the nerves eased Celtic set about their task with relish. Dylan Mc Donagh was a constant thorn in Leixlips side as his raids on the left were only matched by his non- stop work rate. Soon it was two and again Collins was involved this time as provider when his cross from the right into the box was met by Alex Doyle who supplied a cool finish. Leixlip were shaken and within minutes Leigh Reilly made it three with a good finish. Celtic were dominant and it was no surprise when they made it four when again the Magician involved as his cross was cleverly dummied by Doyle to allow Reilly a simple finish. HT: 4- 0.
In recent games Celtic have faded in the second half and the Coaches demanded that the Boys stay switched on. The message was clearly heard as the young Celts replicated their first half performance. Chances came Hughes created two good chances for Reilly, the second following a run beating four players, but Reilly’s subsequent shots flew over. But the youngster was not to be denied when he scored to complete a well deserved hat trick with who else but the Magician providing the assist. Shortly after Enache made it six when following an intercepted clearance he broke clear beating the centre back and keeper before planting the ball home. 6-0.
There was still more to come. Kiano got in on the act as he headed down a Leixlip clearance before literally bursting the net with a screamer into the left hand corner. 7-0. The goal machine Reilly completed the scoring when he finished well from a Hughes through ball. FT: 8-0.
This was an excellent performance from the Celts. Let’s be clear Celtic really did the business today against a shell shocked Leixlip. But let us also point out that Leixlip are not league leaders by chance. Today was not there day and for Celtic everything went right. This was a deserved win but the score line betrays the quality of the opponents. These two teams will resume battle in the Cup quarter final and let me be clear about this it will be one hell of a contest against two good teams. Celtic will need to be weary of the wounded lion that is League leaders, Leixlip Utd.
We have mentioned the quality of the performance but one could not fail to mention the performance of young Ciaran Collins. With such potential the youngster has over the past two seasons produced glimpses of his undoubted talent but they have been all too fleeting and all too rare. Well today we saw the full package as Ciaran entertained the crowd from start to finish. It wasn’t just his wonder goal it was his overall performance where on an impossibly difficult pitch he controlled the ball a la Messi. In a word he was Magical and there are no more amazing Magicians than Merlin. Thankfully Ciaran is Castleknocks Merlin and long may it continue.
Well done lads. As we said at the start these quality games are coming thick and fast. So be ready ,stay focused and most of all enjoy the ride.