Celtic progress to Umbro Galway Cup Final
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Glasgow Celtic put on a battling display yesterday evening to secure a win against the FAI Development Squad in their crucial 1996 Elite group clash at the Umbro Galway Cup.
In what was a highly-attritional encounter, the Scottish outfit managed to showcase their quality throughout ,while almost totally stifling the FAI side's attacking threat. At the heart of this defensive effort was Irishman Shane Dineen, who was devastating at centre-back for Celtic alongside the equally impressive Mark Barrowman. Almost as if to highlight his dominance, Barrowman almost made the first telling impact at the other end of the pitch when he narrowly fired wide a free-kick from the edge of the area. This effort came in the second-half, after an opening 25 minutes in which neither side created anything of any real note.
But Celtic were warming to the task in front of them, and their key men were beginning to exert their influence. Up front, the ever-lively Paul McMullen was, at times, running rings around a helpless Irish back-line. Complimenting the tricky dribbling of McMullen was Jason McGrath, the hard-working striker was instrumental in linking-up play and helping his side establish and maintain possession in the final third of the pitch. Behind these two, Liam Henderson was once again pulling the strings in midfield and showing all of his usual combatitiveness.
It was then no surprise when the Hoops opened the scoring mid-way through the second-half. Irish 'keeper Eoghan Daly came to gather a dangerous through-ball, but in doing so just over-carried the ball beyond the line of his box. A free-kick just outside, and to the left side of, the box was awarded by the referee. Henderson then chipped the ball into the six-yard area where McGrath was on hand to apply the finishing touch, heading low beyond Daly to put Celtic ahead. This was a killer blow for the Development Squad as they had struggled to get into the game in an attacking sense from the off, and now needed to find a goal from somewhere to even the tie.
Celtic were certainly not struggling for attacking threat however, the impressive Calum Waters surged forward from full-back to swing over to the back post a fine ball that Conor McManus headed to close to Daly, allowing the 'keeper to make a good save. But the sealing goal was coming, it could be sensed in the air. It finally arrived, in the final few minutes, when Luke Donnelly turned on the edge of the box and drew a good save low to his left from Daly, but Ross Stewart arrived to fire home the rebound and seal the win for Celtic.
The Hoops have today taken full advantage of that win by adding another against Scottish rivals Aberdeen to book their place in tomorrow's cup final. Celtic won by two goals to one in a tight game at 11:50 this afternoon. As things stand, Valerenga will provide the opposition in tomorrow's final day decider, they earned an important win by the same scoreline earlier in the morning against Israeli side Maccabi Haifa. But that could still change however, depending on the result in this evening's game between the FAI Develoment Squad and Haifa. That game will kick-off at 7.05pm. It's all set up for a dramatic and exciting final day and a half of the Umbro Galway Cup here at Drom, so stay tuned to Extratime for all the latest developments.
In what was a highly-attritional encounter, the Scottish outfit managed to showcase their quality throughout ,while almost totally stifling the FAI side's attacking threat. At the heart of this defensive effort was Irishman Shane Dineen, who was devastating at centre-back for Celtic alongside the equally impressive Mark Barrowman. Almost as if to highlight his dominance, Barrowman almost made the first telling impact at the other end of the pitch when he narrowly fired wide a free-kick from the edge of the area. This effort came in the second-half, after an opening 25 minutes in which neither side created anything of any real note.
But Celtic were warming to the task in front of them, and their key men were beginning to exert their influence. Up front, the ever-lively Paul McMullen was, at times, running rings around a helpless Irish back-line. Complimenting the tricky dribbling of McMullen was Jason McGrath, the hard-working striker was instrumental in linking-up play and helping his side establish and maintain possession in the final third of the pitch. Behind these two, Liam Henderson was once again pulling the strings in midfield and showing all of his usual combatitiveness.
It was then no surprise when the Hoops opened the scoring mid-way through the second-half. Irish 'keeper Eoghan Daly came to gather a dangerous through-ball, but in doing so just over-carried the ball beyond the line of his box. A free-kick just outside, and to the left side of, the box was awarded by the referee. Henderson then chipped the ball into the six-yard area where McGrath was on hand to apply the finishing touch, heading low beyond Daly to put Celtic ahead. This was a killer blow for the Development Squad as they had struggled to get into the game in an attacking sense from the off, and now needed to find a goal from somewhere to even the tie.
Celtic were certainly not struggling for attacking threat however, the impressive Calum Waters surged forward from full-back to swing over to the back post a fine ball that Conor McManus headed to close to Daly, allowing the 'keeper to make a good save. But the sealing goal was coming, it could be sensed in the air. It finally arrived, in the final few minutes, when Luke Donnelly turned on the edge of the box and drew a good save low to his left from Daly, but Ross Stewart arrived to fire home the rebound and seal the win for Celtic.
The Hoops have today taken full advantage of that win by adding another against Scottish rivals Aberdeen to book their place in tomorrow's cup final. Celtic won by two goals to one in a tight game at 11:50 this afternoon. As things stand, Valerenga will provide the opposition in tomorrow's final day decider, they earned an important win by the same scoreline earlier in the morning against Israeli side Maccabi Haifa. But that could still change however, depending on the result in this evening's game between the FAI Develoment Squad and Haifa. That game will kick-off at 7.05pm. It's all set up for a dramatic and exciting final day and a half of the Umbro Galway Cup here at Drom, so stay tuned to Extratime for all the latest developments.
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