Noel Recruitment Premier Division
Moone Celtic FC 2 Caragh Celtic FC 2
With the game played in ideal conditions on perfect pitch, this promised to be a thriller and it did not disappoint. Before either team could get settled into this game it was one a piece within the first two minutes. Straight from the kick off, Caragh attacked and after a few quick passes made their way out to the left, the cross was met by Caragh Marksman Ben Ellard who rounded Aaron Dunne and buried the ball in the Moone net. From the tip off Moone attacked and Evan Farrell took a cross field pass from Owen Fox, ran into the Caragh box and laid it back for Garry Carroll who made no mistake from seven yards. From this point on the goals may have dried up but the intensity definitely did not and both sides had their moments in the game.
Caragh enjoyed much of the possession and looked dangerous particular down their right side where they had Moone in trouble. From this area of play, Caragh won a corner and the ball seemed to bobble around the six yard box for ages before it was eventually cleared by Tadgh Phelan when it looked easier for Caragh to score. Caragh lay siege in the Moone half for the first ten minutes or so but also showed that they were dangerous on the break when Owen Fox cut across from left to right to receive a James Ashmore pass but was adjudged to be off side. Soon after the home side’s Evan Farrell crossed for Callum Kelly but he shot narrowly wide.
As the game continued end to end Caragh won a free just inside the Moone half and Aaron Kennedy gathered and cleared quickly to Evan Farrell who found Owen Fox and his pass in behind the Caragh defence to Garry Carroll was brought back for offside against Carroll. Both sides seemed to be stronger attacking on their right side and on Caragh made inroads on the Moone goal on twenty third minutes and should've taken the lead after some hesitation in the Moone defence but could not capitalise on it.
At the water break both teams got to reset and when play recommenced, Caragh were quicker out of the blocks and the second goal that they looked like getting came on twenty four minutes, when they attacked down their right and the cross was buried into the bottom corner by the inform Ellard for his second of the game. In general play it was no more than they deserved.
Moone made their first substitution of the day soon after when Scott Flood was introduced on the left side of defence and he was quickly into the action. The holiday he returned from only a few hours earlier seemed a distant memory. Moone then started to settle into the game and from this point until half time it was end to end, a credit to both teams despite the relentless heat. Half time was welcomed by both sides.
The second recommenced with Moone controlling the game a bit more and ten minutes in had claims for a penalty when Callum Kelly and the Caragh goalkeeper both committed to the tackle inside the box but play was waived on by referee Alan Mulholland and Moone won the resultant corner. From this corner Garry Carroll rose highest and powered his header goalward only for the upright to save Caragh.
Caragh were reminding Moone that they too could counter attack and James Ashmore intervened just outside the Moone box to give away a free to Caragh which Aaron Kennedy saved and gathered. Moone changed formation at this point going three at the back and with this committing more players into midfield they started to gain the upper hand in possession and put the squeeze on Caragh with Evan Farrell winning a corner which was whipped into the back post, Scott Flood kept if in play but Owen Fox could not keep the shot on target.
Moone then found themselves as Caragh did in the first half getting the goal their possession deserved. Starting in defence where Scott Flood won a header, clearing to Evan Farrell on the right who released Callum Kelly in behind the Caragh defence and his pinpoint cross was finished to the Caragh net from the head yet again of Garry Carroll.
This spurred Caragh on a bit more and they had their own chances on the counterattack firstly with Aaron Kennedy gathering and then when Moone were camped in the Caragh half with Moone committing numbers forward looking for the winner, they cleared to their lone man upfront who who raced from the halfway line in on Moone’s goals only for Lar Wall to get a perfectly timed tackle to give Caragh a corner. This was Caragh’s last attack and Moone’s was a corner which Tadgh Phelan narrowly sent wide.
It was an energy sapping game and both sets of players deserve huge credit for the tempo of the ninety minutes that just played out. Caragh were good performers particular in the midfield and down their right flank which created problems for Moone all day. Moone themselves had plenty of stand outs, Aaron Kennedy in goals who made some important close range saves, Evan Farrell and Owen Fox on the wings, Liam Horan in defence firstly and then midfield, Cal Kelly and Garry Carroll upfront who is unlucky to miss out on the Man of the Match award which goes to Tadgh Phelan. Normally the man getting the goals at the other end, he was entrusted into the centre of the Moone defence today and his strength and speed saved Moone time and again but his clearances to the men upfront were always putting Moone on the attack, fair play Tadgh. Best for Caragh Celtic were Billy Martina and Ben Whelan.
A mention too about the referee Alan Mulholland. While referees never get every decision right and decisions one way or the other will always be argued, his performance today allowed the game to flow end to end and when there was one or two flash points he sorted them without fuss and players got straight back at what they did best, putting on a fantastic display in intense heat.
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