Late strikes by Ardmore Rovers delivered sucker punches on Celtic in Porterstown Park which left the Coughlan colts very disappointed for the second week in succession. While they took their chances last week, it was not so against their Brayside rivals whom they had defeated 4 months earlier.

In a much-delayed game, originally scheduled for 2pm, it started at 3pm after the Ardmore contingent got stuck in traffic on the M50 after a traffic accident. The rain had made the conditions tricky for both teams, but it was Celtic who coped better and created a host of chances with Karl Sampil firing over the bar from close range and crashing another off the crossbar. They were to hit the woodwork a number of times that was to prove costly. Adam Fleming had joined the Celtic midfield midway through the first half to assist the depleted numbers of the Celtic squad, and his presence gave the home side a new dimension. He created panic in the visiting defence every time he got possession, and created numerous chances as he whipped the ball into the danger zone. Celtic continued to flout a host of golden chances, but you spurn such opportunities at your peril, and so it proved.

Celtic were caught square at the back 10 minutes from time, and the Ardmore striker finished well. They followed this up with a second strike with minutes remaining, which left the home side scratching their heads because they had put in a very committed shift, but failed to find the back of the net. We will continue with our focus on defending at training this coming Thursday, though a little bit of shooting practice won't go amiss.