You are > Home > Soccer: Nagle double leaves Athletic feeling blue
20 January 2011
Soccer: Nagle double leaves Athletic feeling blue
Premier A Killarney Athletic 0 Killarney Celtic 3
LEAGUE champions Killarney Celtic enjoyed a derby day to remember on Sunday, defeating their local rivals Killarney Athletic 3-0 on their home patch. Two superb strikes from Trevor Nagle and a Gary Keane master-class in the middle of the park saw Celtic easily claim all three points from Killarney Athletic in this Premier A league encounter, played at Ferndale on Sunday morning. A spirited performance in which the Hoops were comfortable almost throughout, though referee Stuart Templeman brandished four red and 11 yellow cards in a harmless enough Killarney derby, it was far from being over-robust or heated. The away side showed their intent from the off, passing the ball well, with Athletic chasing shadows, and Pa McGrath fired over with the first shot in anger. Celtic’s Stephen Hayes intercepted a sloppy defensive pass and his quick thinking and pass found Keane in space at the top of the box, but his audacious effort took the paint off the wrong side of the post. John McDonagh was on his toes in the eighth minute, getting the faintest touch as Athletic’s James Coffey lurked in the danger area, after David Hayes had conceded a corner. Trevor Nagle, whose movement was causing Athletic all sorts of problems, just missed the goal with a curled effort. He then brought the best out of O’Connor who made a fantastic fingertip save onto the crossbar at the expense of a corner, which David Hayes headed over. Coffey then played a long ball over the top that Lucas Polack latched onto but Celtic keeper Mike Gustafir made a brave save at the Athletic man’s feet. Nagle, again, hit the post in the 17th minute before Celtic broke free with Keane and Anthony O’Leary exchanging passes to set-up Peter McCarthy. His powerful shot went inches wide of the bottom corner, as the champions chipped away at their cross-town rivals. Celtic then struck for a well-worked goal, as Pa McGrath finished to the net in the 24th minute, involving Chris Brady at right back, McCarthy and O’Leary on the left hand side, who sent a peach of a pass into the box for the midfielder to hook it home from eight yards. Athletic, having awoken from their slumber, temporarily at least, created two gilt-edged chances in succession. Denis Galvin missed what could be classed as a sitter, after Brian O’Reilly headed into the striker’s path but the youngster fired wide with the goal gaping. In the 30th minute, Galvin escaped down the right, and this time O’Reilly was unlucky not to get a toe on a dangerous cross.
The Hoops fought back and Martin Crowley cleared of the line from Nagle after sublime football from McCarthy, Hayes headed wide from a corner and Nagle forced O’Connor to save again. Nagle, who was on fire, hit the side-netting with the final effort of the 45 after McGrath passed through the eye of a needle as Celtic retired 1-0 in front at the break. The home team attacked from the restart and O’Car-roll and Hurley combined to send Galvin free on the right. Good skill took him almost to the by-line and he looped a clever effort from the tightest of angles that stretched Gustafir to his limit, tipping over with his fingernails. The game was slowed down by a number of bookings for run-of-the-mill tackles that are a must on derby days. Celtic then went 2-0 ahead in the 55th minute with a stunning goal that showed the quality throughout their team. Passing and moving the ball quickly from back to front, Stephen Hayes received the ball wide on the left and crossed a hungry centre forward’s dream. Nagle had not left his side down on his first full start, and showed great desire to get across his man and bullet an unstoppable header to the roof of the net – the constant thorn now piercing the home team’s side. Alan Nagle cleared off the line from Galvin, as O’Reilly and O’Carroll became prominent in a good spell for the blues. Celtic’s McGrath was unlucky to see his reflex effort go straight at O’Connor in the 76th minute and McDonagh’s effort was deflected away as Celtic pressed in the nine-a-side. The two most impressive players on the pitch, Keane and Nagle, combined to make it 3-0. Keane, cool and calm, collected the ball in his own half, strode forward and sent the in-form Nagle clear with the perfectly weighted pass. Rounding the keeper and finishing with aplomb, Nagle and Celtic celebrated another three points and moved into second place in the table with games in hand. Athletic will be looking over their shoulders and games with Ratoo and Ken-mare will be valuable sixpointers in this season’s relegation battle. Killarney Athletic: B O’Connor, R O’Carroll, I Lopeteguy, J Coffey, M Crowley, C Farrell, J Hurley, B O’Reilly, L Polack, R O’Sullivan, D Galvin. Subs used: D Gleeson for R O’Sullivan. Killarney Celtic: M Gustafir, C Brady, A Nagle, D Hayes, J McDonagh, A O’Leary, G Keane, P McGrath, P McCarthy, S Hayes, T Nagle. Subs used: B Spillane for P McCarthy, M O’Sullivan for P McGrath, B Falvey for A O’Leary. Referee: S Templeman.
