Celtic & Aberdeen notch wins in Umbro Cup
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The Galway Umbro Cup has moved into its second day at Drom, the home of Salthill Devon Football Club. The early focus this morning was on the standout section of the tournament, the 1996 Elite group. After yesterday's unlucky defeat to Valerenga, Glasgow Celtic came into their 10.40am game with Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa knowing that a win was sorely needed if they were to make a strong challenge for the trophy.
The Scottish side got off to the perfect start as lone-striker Jaison McGrath showed great strength to shrug off his marker and slide a beautifully-weighted through-ball for Paul McMullen to race on to. Yesterday's star of the show, McMullen reached the ball split-seconds before the Haifa goalkeeper and was sent tumbling - the referee pointed straight to the spot. Conor McManus stepped up to slot home the penalty and send his side into a very early lead. Celtic began the game playing a 4-5-1 formation, with McGrath leading the line, McMullen and Muhanned Burhatwa on the wings and a three-man midfield comprising of McManus, Conor Shaughnessy and Liam Henderson. Shaughnessy acted as the anchor, usually staying back to protect his back-four while allowing his midfield partners to push on. Henderson in particular built on his strong showing yesterday to turn in another eye-catching display.
Celtic should have gone in at the break up by more than just their one goal lead, but first Burhatwa failed to connect well with the ball as it dropped to him, alone at the back-post and then centre-back Mark Barrowman narrowly missed out connecting on an excellent cross minutes before the interval.
The second-half was played along similar lines to its predecessor. Celtic started brightly and again saw a good chance go by as Burhatwa got free down the left to swing over a cross that was just inches too high for the diminutive McMullen. Aerial prowess is one of only few facets missing to the tricky winger's game. The Hoops management decided to switch things up during the second-half to keep Haifa on the back-foot, McMullen and Burhatwa regularly switched wings to keep the opposing defence off balance before the latter was replaced by Luke Donnelly and the team switched to a 4-4-2, with McMullen joining McGrath up front.
For their part, Maccabi Haifa continually struggled to penetrate a resolute Celtic defence. Mark Barrowman was imperious for the Hoops and acted as the rock upon which the waves of Haifa attacks were broken against. Eiloz Ori Or did manage to sneak in a venomous striker, but it was straight into the confident arms of Jordan Hart in the Celtic goal. With time running out McGrath was causing increasing problems to a stretched Israeli back-line, he first hit a snap shot from the edge of the area narrowly wide before receiving the ball in space 16 yards out and making no mistake with a clinical finish in the bottom corner to double his side's lead and guarantee a first three points of the tournament for Celtic.
In the group's other game this morning, Aberdeen put on a fine performance to overcome Valerenga by two goals to nil. This game saw another early goal for a Scottish side, with Irishman Scott Ferries heading home Scott Adams' whipped corner from the right. Minutes later, defender Jason Brown just couldn't quite apply the required power on his header from another Adams corner to double the Aberdeen lead. Cameron Young was excelling in the centre of the park for the Scots and showed both his eye for a pass and his fearsome tackling during the opening 25 minutes.
The second-half saw an increasingly-frustrated Valerenga side as they struggled to get back into the game, and took exception to some of the challenges coming in from a very competitive Aberdeen. The game was also becoming something of a one-man show, with Stuart Hodge's influence coming right to the fore. The striker hit a sweet left-footed volley just over from the edge of the box and then almost got on the end of a teasing low cross delivered by Young, these chances coming before Hodge put too much power on a close-range header from six yards. But he did have his moment when in the dying stages of the game, he raced away from the Valerenga defence to poke past the 'keeper and condemn the Norwegians to defeat.
Elsewhere today, in the 1996 Boys section, North East Counties overcame PK 35 Helsinki of Finland by a goal to nil courtesy of a Paul Finnegan goal. Finnegan bundled home after an excellent corner from the impressive Thomas Rogers. Rogers himself had chances to get on the scoresheet, prodding an effort tamely at the 'keeper in the opening stages before, late on, getting free by the touchline, carrying the ball into the box and shooting low just past the far post. There were also good chances for Daire Rowe and Patrick Farrelly before the referee's whistle confirmed an excellent result for the North East Counties.
The Scottish side got off to the perfect start as lone-striker Jaison McGrath showed great strength to shrug off his marker and slide a beautifully-weighted through-ball for Paul McMullen to race on to. Yesterday's star of the show, McMullen reached the ball split-seconds before the Haifa goalkeeper and was sent tumbling - the referee pointed straight to the spot. Conor McManus stepped up to slot home the penalty and send his side into a very early lead. Celtic began the game playing a 4-5-1 formation, with McGrath leading the line, McMullen and Muhanned Burhatwa on the wings and a three-man midfield comprising of McManus, Conor Shaughnessy and Liam Henderson. Shaughnessy acted as the anchor, usually staying back to protect his back-four while allowing his midfield partners to push on. Henderson in particular built on his strong showing yesterday to turn in another eye-catching display.
Celtic should have gone in at the break up by more than just their one goal lead, but first Burhatwa failed to connect well with the ball as it dropped to him, alone at the back-post and then centre-back Mark Barrowman narrowly missed out connecting on an excellent cross minutes before the interval.
The second-half was played along similar lines to its predecessor. Celtic started brightly and again saw a good chance go by as Burhatwa got free down the left to swing over a cross that was just inches too high for the diminutive McMullen. Aerial prowess is one of only few facets missing to the tricky winger's game. The Hoops management decided to switch things up during the second-half to keep Haifa on the back-foot, McMullen and Burhatwa regularly switched wings to keep the opposing defence off balance before the latter was replaced by Luke Donnelly and the team switched to a 4-4-2, with McMullen joining McGrath up front.
For their part, Maccabi Haifa continually struggled to penetrate a resolute Celtic defence. Mark Barrowman was imperious for the Hoops and acted as the rock upon which the waves of Haifa attacks were broken against. Eiloz Ori Or did manage to sneak in a venomous striker, but it was straight into the confident arms of Jordan Hart in the Celtic goal. With time running out McGrath was causing increasing problems to a stretched Israeli back-line, he first hit a snap shot from the edge of the area narrowly wide before receiving the ball in space 16 yards out and making no mistake with a clinical finish in the bottom corner to double his side's lead and guarantee a first three points of the tournament for Celtic.
In the group's other game this morning, Aberdeen put on a fine performance to overcome Valerenga by two goals to nil. This game saw another early goal for a Scottish side, with Irishman Scott Ferries heading home Scott Adams' whipped corner from the right. Minutes later, defender Jason Brown just couldn't quite apply the required power on his header from another Adams corner to double the Aberdeen lead. Cameron Young was excelling in the centre of the park for the Scots and showed both his eye for a pass and his fearsome tackling during the opening 25 minutes.
The second-half saw an increasingly-frustrated Valerenga side as they struggled to get back into the game, and took exception to some of the challenges coming in from a very competitive Aberdeen. The game was also becoming something of a one-man show, with Stuart Hodge's influence coming right to the fore. The striker hit a sweet left-footed volley just over from the edge of the box and then almost got on the end of a teasing low cross delivered by Young, these chances coming before Hodge put too much power on a close-range header from six yards. But he did have his moment when in the dying stages of the game, he raced away from the Valerenga defence to poke past the 'keeper and condemn the Norwegians to defeat.
Elsewhere today, in the 1996 Boys section, North East Counties overcame PK 35 Helsinki of Finland by a goal to nil courtesy of a Paul Finnegan goal. Finnegan bundled home after an excellent corner from the impressive Thomas Rogers. Rogers himself had chances to get on the scoresheet, prodding an effort tamely at the 'keeper in the opening stages before, late on, getting free by the touchline, carrying the ball into the box and shooting low just past the far post. There were also good chances for Daire Rowe and Patrick Farrelly before the referee's whistle confirmed an excellent result for the North East Counties.
About Dean Hayes
Dean covers Waterford United and, due to a challenge from Gareth, writes in an increasingly Gonzo style. Having found himself with a considerable surplus of a culinary herb, Dean founded sister 'site extrathyme.ie some years … View Full Profile