Castlefin Celtic secured an important win against Milford United to move second in the Brian McCormick Sports Premier on Sunday.
Castlefin Celtic 1-0 Milford Utd
When the players had to race back to the dressing rooms just as the game was about to kick-off it looked as if we may not have a game at all.
A huge hail show had descended but it soon disappeared again and we kicked-off just ten minutes late.
Castlefin Celtic had the elements in their favour in the opening half but despite a number of close things the game remained scoreless at the break.
Milford United found themselves under a lot of pressure but a combination of poor finishing, good defending and some excellent goalkeeping by Caolan McGettigan kept them in the game.
The visitors were themselves dangerous on the break with the Blacks, Darragh and Kyle and Gary Merritt all lively in attack.
Milford also had a strong claim for a penalty turned down by Referee Paddy Duffy in the 28th minute when Terence Shields was man-handled in the box, it looked like a big let-off for the home team.
Charlie Collins Reports
The home team started well and went close on three occasions, Emmet White’s low cross just eluded Ronan Tourish in the 6th minute.
White’s 25-yard free-kick was well saved by McGettigan in the 10th minute and Rory Dalton’s cross cum shot clipped the crossbar in the 13th minute.
Darragh Black’s run and cross was blocked by Peter Bryson in the 15th minute as Milford came more into the game. In the 25th minute, the home team should have gone ahead.
Ronan Tourish’s corner found Johnny Doherty free on the six-yard line but he failed to get a good connection with the goal at his mercy.
A minute later Kyle Black headed just over, but immediately McGettigan was forced into another excellent save by Ian Ward’s drive from 25 yards.
Then came that big penalty shot for Milford before both Raymond Foy and Ward went close for the home team. Just before the break, Kyle Black did well again and when his shot wasn’t properly dealt with Terence Sheilds was just too high from the edge of the box.
With the elements now in their favour, Milford looked favourites to go on and win the game but that didn’t happen and if anything the home team had the better of the few chances that were to be had in the second-half.
In the 63rd minute, Rory Dalton produced a superb run and cross which Raymond Foy just failed to make the most off and Emmet White’s follow up justly drifted wide. However three minutes later White made no mistake with what turned out to be the winning goal.
Ronan Tourish did brilliantly down the right side and his excellent low cross left White, who made up a lot of ground to get there, with pretty much a tap in at the far post for what proved to be the all-important winning goal.
Tourish shot just wide in the 72nd minute and hit the post when Foy put him through in the 78th minute and while Milford huffed and puffed with a series of free-kicks and corners the never really troubled the home keeper Chris O Donnell and Castlefin Celtic held on for a very important three points.
The result leaves them a point behind leaders Kilmacrennan Celtic with a game less played and sets up what should be a cracker between the two teams in two weeks time.
CASTLEFIN CELTIC: Chris O Donnell, Johnny Doherty, Marty Owens (Barry Tourish 60mins), Michael Dunnion, Peter Bryson, Raymond Foy, Rory Dalton, Corey Lee Bogan, Ronan Tourish, Ian Ward, Emmet White.
MILFORD UTD: Caolan McGettigan, Rory O Donnell, Dan O Donnell (T J Everson 80mins), Mark Flood, Johnny Logue, Gavin Grier, Darragh Black, Joey Cullen ( Cathal McGettigan 44mins), Kyle Black, Gary Merritt, Terence Shields ( Anthony Hegarty 72mins ).
REFEREE: Paddy Duffy.
