- Diarmuid Kelly
- Sun, Jan 22 2012
Wexford Youths moved to within one point of Castlebar Celtic in the Bus Eireann Women's National League after winning in dramatic fashion in Castlebar. Edel Kennedy came off the bench to secure the victory and halt the Celtic comeback after Avril Kilkelly had dragged her side back into the contest with a magnificent brace.
Castlebar Celtic started the game in bright fashion, and commanded possession from the off, but were instantly made pay for their lack of chance creation when The Youths stormed into the lead with their first attack of the game. Maria Delahunty floated a corner into the danger area that was not dealt with by the Celtic rearguard and the ball fell to Brianne O’Connor who toe poked home from six yards.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when The Youths doubled their lead, again, against the run of play. A long hopeful ball from Celine Slye evaded the Celtic defence allowing Cherelle Khassal to control and then finish to the net in one glorious movement. An example of the natural guile, that for all their industry, Celtic lacked up front.
However, blessed with strong runners like Emma Hansbury and Emma Mullen, the Celtic Ladies started forcing pockets of space with brute force rather than mystifying technique and it was through this recourse that they halved the deficit.
When Grainne Barrett picked up the ball twenty five yards from goal there did not look to be much on for the midfielder other than to have a shot. Her powerful drive took a wicked deflection onto the upright and bounced out to Susie Cunningham who fired to the roof of the empty net.
With a huge possession advantage and with only the minimum between the sides the conditions were set for Celtic to force the equaliser but Khassal was lively up front for The Youths and on twenty seven minutes capitalised on a dithering clearance to restore the two goal advantage. Khassal ran down
Jenny Byrne who could only play the clearance off the diminutive forward who raced clear into a one on one with Aisling Concannon and made no mistake slipping it underneath the advancing keeper.
Castlebar looked to fashion a response before the halftime whistle and Cunningham and Hansbury both went close with volleys but narrowly missed the target leaving the halftime scores at three goals to none in a half that the hosts controlled except for the three opportunities that were taken with aplomb by The Youths.
Celtic had it all to do in the second half but could take heart from the fact that they were the dominant force in the preceding half and looked to continue in the same vain in the second. They set out their stall quickly and pressed the visitors into their own half with routine effect but again found it difficult to create the chances in and around The Youths penalty area.
With chances hard to come by, Celtic reverted to long range efforts in their pursuit of parity and Avril Kilkelly made these count twice in the second period.
After fifty two minutes the left back got the ball out from under her feet thirty yards from goal before unleashing a wonder strike into the top corner that left Charlotte McCormack with no chance in the
visitor’s goal.
Despite the possession advantage The Youths were still dangerous on the break, the introduction of Rachel Hutchinson gave them even more pace up front and she hit the post with a wonderful first time shot that had the keeper beaten all ends up and left a stark warning to the adventurous Celtic ladies that they would have to be mindful of the breakaway if they were to avoid a repeat of the first half script.
The dominance finally paid off for the hosts with merely five minutes of normal time remaining, and again it was Kilkelly who had the midas touch. After her initial corner was cleared back to her, Kilkelly made an angle before sending the ball back with interest to the far top corner to the massive elation of the home crowd.
Their elation was short lived however as, again, totally against the run of play The Youths took the lead once more, and for the final time. Khassal again was pivotal as her mazy run lead her into the
Celtic area where she pulled off a shot. Concannon pulled out a great save to deny the striker but Kennedy was on hand to guide the rebound home and seal the win.
Castlebar Celtic: Aisling Concannon; Lauren Boles, Avril Kilkelly, Marie Harrington, Jenny Byrne; Grainne Barrett, Aileen Gilroy, Susie Cunningham, Emma Mullin; Emma Hansbury, Shaunagh Jackson.
Subs: Rachel King for Grainne Barrett
Wexford Youths: Charlotte McCormack; Celine Slye, Jessica Gleeson, Nicola Dunphy, Trish Cleary; Linda Douglas, Ciara O’Brien, Kylie Murphy, Brianne O’Connor; Marie Delahunty, Cherelle Khassal.
Subs: Rachel Hutchison for Brianne O’Connor, Edel Kennedy for Linda Douglas, Laura Heffernan for Kylie Murphy.
