Celtic Bhoys held to a draw at home in Ballyhornan by Dundrum
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League. Premier League match at Ballyhornan. Match Report by Cyril McKinney. Celtic Boys 3 Dundrum 3.
Celtic Boys were caught cold in the opening 16 minutes of this league encounter with Dundrum on a cold Ballyhornan Saturday afternoon.
Dundrum were on the front foot right from the first whistle and before Celtic Boys even warmed up Dundrum took the lead through Christopher Mulholland in the first minute when he took advantage of a momentary lack in concentration from the home defence to cooly despatch a low shot to the back of the net from the edge of the box in front of goal.
On 13 minutes Celtic Boys Peter Casey hit a pile driver from long distance which was deflected and hit the outside of the Dundrum keeper’s right hand post.
Dundrum responded and three minutes later were 0-2 up when Shane Todd was on hand from a left wing corner to side foot home from 15 yards out at the back post.
Try as they might Celtic Boys could not get back in the game as chance after chance came and went without hitting the target, and when they did, McGreevy in the Dundrum nets was equal to the task.
Connolly was over the bar from the edge of the box on 20 minutes, Ferris then missed the target as did Collins. At the other end Curran made a great save from Mulholland when he looked odds on to score. As the half developed Celtic Boys continued to press but lacked the composure on the ball as both teams looked to close each other down and not give the opposition time to settle on the ball.
The second half started with Celtic Boys on the front foot, but again were not finding the target when in decent positions. Casey volleyed wide from the left edge of the box on 54 minutes and on 68 minutes were given a life line back into the game when somehow Dundrum right back Jordan Kennedy headed to the back of his own net when trying to deal with a Celtic Boys right wing cross.
This gave Celtic Boys an extra spring to their step and on 85 minutes they were on level terms from a left wing corner when Conaill Kerr, on as substitute, was waiting at the back post and found the back of the net from close range.
At this point Celtic Boys were not done and went in search of a winner and were rewarded on 88 minutes when Sean Ferris arrived late in the box and got on the end of a right wing diagonal cross from Casey and slotted home from 8 yards out to the delight of the home support to put Celtic Boys 3-2 up.
The home delight was short lived when Dundrum equalised in the final minute. After great work down the left wing by Fitzpatrick he crossed to the back post where Mulholland kept his cool and fired to the roof of the net past a despairing Curran in nets and defenders on the line.
An entertaining game overall with both teams deserving to get something from the game.
Celtic Bhoys: Nathan Curran, Shaun Megahey, Conor Doherty, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Blaine Connolly, Gerard Collins, Corey McCartan, Peter Casey, Sean Ferris, Stephen Galbraith , Barry Treacy Subs: Eoin Kelly for Stephen Galbraith , Ruairi Quinn for Ryan Fitzpatrick , Conaill Kerr for Conor Doherty.
Dundrum FC: Johnny McGreevy, Jordan Kennedy, Shaun Keenan, Daryl Russell, Kyle Glavin , Brent Gibson, Shane Todd, Andrew Smyth, Chris Hogg, Patrick Cunningham, Christopher Mulholland. Subs : Jamie Carroll for Kyle Glavin , David Fitzpatrick for Shane Todd.
