Celtic Bhoys pull through Clarence Cup Round 3 on penalties against Portaferry Rovers
The NAFL,
Clarence Cup Round 3,
Venue: Ballyhornan 3G Pitch, Saturday 22 2 25
Final Score: Celtic Bhoys 5 5 Portaferry Rovers (Celtic won 5-4 on penalties).
Celtic Bhoys had the win almost in their grasp as they led 5-3 in the closing minutes of the game but in a lapse of concentration when they let a goal slip as Portferry’s Roy Wilson equalised followed by Moragn Smyth 4th goal forcing the cup tie into penalties after a titanic struggle between the two sides writes Jim Masson.
On paper Portferry Rovers looked the stronger being positioned albeit at the second bottom of the NAFL Division 1B, whereas Celtic Bhoys are 4 divisions below them lying second top of 2C pushing to win the league this season.
Celtic have only suffered one defeat this season and have been playing their cotton socks off. So this clash was always going to be a serious contest from the whistle.
(Match Photos by Jim Masson/DownNews©)
Both teams were probing defences early on and Portaferry’s Ronan Smyth hit a volley just wide of the Celtic nets.
Then Celtic took a free kick and captain Michael Rice sent the ball to Shaun Megahey foraging down the right but the header opportunity was just a stretch too far.
The pace of the game was relentless most of the time in the first half, but slowed with injuries and fouls as the game progressed into the second half.
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At one stage Conail Kerr looked to be taken down in the Portaferry box but no penalty was awarded. Then Sean ferris who was fired up for the occasion received a pass through from Rice and almost got the ball past keeper Pearce Smyth.
Celtic were doing most of the heavy lifting in the match but Portraferry had a number of productive breaks that could have produced goals. From a free kick, Megahey sent the ball to Rice at the right hand post and he almost managed to squeeze the ball over the line.
Eventually it was Sean Ferris after making a number of good runs who hit an absolute corker from 30-yards to the top of the Portaferry net on 38 minutes.
But Portaferry came straight back pressing to get that equaliser and they did on 41 minutes winning a penalty when Caoimhin Groves took down Morgan Smyth after exerting pressure on the Celtic defence.
Smyth hit the ball from the spot making no mistake slotting it past keeper Nathan Curran.
The first half ended level with both teams knowing they had a game on their hands.
The second half started with Portaferry trying to bulldoze through to the Celtic goal in a big effort. Then it was Celtic’s turn to move into attack mode.
Portaferry came on late and produced two goals, one by Morgan Smyth again in the 90th minute when the ball crossed from the right across the face of the Celtic goal and Smyth knocked it in to equalise forcing extra time.
Then in the 94th minute Roy Wilson nailed another goal for Portaferry making them look like the winners on the day… but Celtic were like a cat with 9 lives and was not finished!
Niall Morrison then scored a terrific goal with a rocket from 40-yards which hit the back of the Portaferry net.
Both teams were locking horns and the game started to slow down with a number of injury breaks and yellow cards.
Sean Ferris then took another goal giving the home side the home side a two-goal advantage.
Then two minutes later just on the whistle Morgan Smyth resurrected his side back from the dead and scored again, for his fourth goal in the match. .
Celtic had the match in the bag but with just a minute of extra time to play out, the game changed dramatically. They almost let it slip away.
Portaferry came back like a tornado catching Portaferry unawares. in the closing stages. Portaferry turned up the heat and battled strongly intro the Celtic half and won a penalty which was converted by Morgan Smyth who finally in extra-time produced another very late goal shocking Celtic to the roots when they thought the match was over.
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Smyth scored four goals in the match, 2 in action and 2 from penalties. But they may believe that the turning point in the match was giving away the own goal to Celtic.
In the end, the match went to penalties and the last kick of the game settled it when sub Sean Mageean stepped up to the spot and coolly slotted the ball in.
The Celtic work rate seemed greater than Portaferry’s opening up opportunities to strike but Portaferry came, saw but didn’t conquer. It was a close-cut match with Celtic having the attacking edge, but they almost lost the match on a lapse of concentration towards the end when Portaferry came back at the forcing a penalty shoot out.
The next round will no doubt be tougher for Celtic Bhoys but this season they have proven so far to be Teflon tough with only one loss in all their matches.
They still have a chance of collecting some silver this season as they are in three cup ties but yet have to face some formidable opposition, but they are up for it.
Good luck to the winners and commiserations to Portaferry for giving their all.
Celtic Bhoys: 1 Nathan Curran (GK) 2 Ryan Doran 3 Eamon Gargan 4 Caoimhin Groves 5 Michael Rice (C) 6 Corey McCartan 7 Shaun Megahey 8 Jordan Curran 9 Sean Ferris 10 Gerard Collins 11 Conaill Kerr. Subs: 12 Nial Morrison 14 Patrick Ferris 15 Conor Carberry.
Portaferry Rovers: 1 Pearce Smyth (GK) 2 Roy Wilson 3 Eoghan Doran 4 Brian Fitzsimmons (C) 5 Tony Wilson 6 Niall Milligan 7 Eoin Magee 8 Ronan Smyth 9 Morgan Smyth 10 Mark Trainor 11 Shane Bright. Subs: Conal Sims 14 Sean Mageean 15 Garrett Curran.
