Celtic Bhoys Defender Eamon Gargan breaks leg against Kelvin Old Boys
The NAFL,
Division 2A League Match,
Venue: Ballyhornan 3G Pitch, 9 5 26,
Final Score: Celtic Bhoys 1 0 Kelvin Old Bhoys (match abandoned due to injury).
As the season is hurtling to a close, The Kevin OB came to Ballyhornan to face Celtic Bhoys. The OBs were pushing for promotion and needed the 3 points to have a chance of getting into the first division writes Jim Masson.
However, as the match progressed into the second half, Celtic Bhoys defender Eamon Gargan broke his leg in a tackle and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
This was a very unfortunate incident at the end of the football season when many players were looking forward to the summer holidays.
Chris Teggart, Celtic Bhoys’ co-manager said: “This was the second last game for our team this season and it was very unfortunate that Eamon Gargan received two breaks in his leg from a heavy tackle. He has already received surgery and his injury will take time to heel.
“Everyone in the club wishes Eamon a speedy recovery.
“We hope to see him back in action again next season. He is a great defender and has played his part in the team’s success this year. Celtic Bhoys got off to a slow start this season losing 2 of their first 3 games but then we won 14 in a row which kept us up there.”
For the first 20 minutes of the match, the teams cancelled each other out with Celtic making some excellent runs at the visitors’ goal and the OBs defending solidly. It was a case of the immovable object against the irresistible force.
With a strong wind blowing down the pitch behind Celtic, ball control was very difficult but they did forage ahead and made some great crosses.
10 minutes in and Sean Ferris hit a cracker of a volley low fromn 40 yards but it was just held by keeper Stephen Cairnduff.
Then in an attack by the OBs, their players had three kicks close in at the home goal and twice the defenders blocked the shots and Nathan Curran blocked the third denying them a goal.
The Celtic front line of Sean Ferris, Sean McMahon and Shaun Megahey was connecting well. And in midfield Jordan Curran was battling for possession and working hard feeding balls upfield. A cross into the OB box almost saw McMahon open the scoring hitting just a fraction wide.
But the OB were there for the points and a charge at the Celtic goal looke dlike a serious goal opportunity were it not for the safe hands of Nathan Curran. Then the OBs had another 3 kicks at the Celtic goal but each time they were blocke
On 35 minutes Gerdie Collins hit a volley on target and it rebounded off the goalkeeper and as he ran in he connected again with the rebound and made sure the second time opening the scoring for Celtic.
Celtic seemed to go up a gear and Sean Ferris crossed to Shaun McGahey in the OB box but his strike was just over the top bar.
Just before flaf-time, Eamon Gargan made a great cross to Megahey in the box who turned sharply and hit but he went wide of the OB goal.
Then on a quick break OB Darren Smyth reached the Celtic goal and close in hit the ball over the top bar missing the chance to equalise at a crucial stage in the match.
Into the second half early on Sean McMahon hit a lovely curling ball but it just went wide of the OB back post. Celtic were turning up the pressure at this point.
And minutes later Megahey again hit over the OB top bar. Then just when it looked as though Celtic were pressing for goal number two, Celtic full back Eamon Gargan was involved in a tackle with an OB player and crumpled to the ground.
The contact with the players boot could be heard across the pitch as it struck his shinpad. Eamon’s leg was broken and an ambulance was called to take him to hospital.
The match was subsequently abandoned and the points were awarded to Celtic Bhoys.
Wishing Eamon Gargan a speedy recovery!
Celtic Bhoys: 1 Nathan Curran (GK) 3 Eamon Gargan 4 Jordan Deegan 5 Caoimhin Groves 6 Gerard Collins 7 Jordan Curran 8 Patrick Ferris 9 Sean Ferris 10 Sean McMahon 12 Shaun Megahey. Subs: 14 Niks Aleksejevs 15 Jack Zych 16 Ryan Doran.
Kelvin Old Boys: 1 Stephen Cairnduff (GK) 2 Bradley White 3 Leon Skillen 4 Stephen Hislop 5 Andrew Logan 6 Dean Sproule 7 Joshua McDowell 8 Ryan Jackson 9 Carson Elliot 10 Brandon Masson 11 Darren Smyth. Subs: DFylan Rodgers 14 Mark Gorman 15 William Gill.
