Derby Delight For Connaught Champions

The Celtic U16 girl’s side kept their title hopes alive after an excellent 2-0 win away to local rivals, CastlebarTown. Celtic’s defensive dominance was compounded by the fact that it took Town 37 minutes to get their first shot on goal, and Sinead Dyra made no mistake between the sticks. Celtic could, and probably should, have gone into the half time break a couple of goals to the good, but a combination of good defending and poor finishing kept them at bay. Celtic did, however, dominate all over the pitch. Around 10 minutes into the second half, Tara Phillips, playing centre forward, turned the Town center back and buried the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal to the relief of the visitors. The game was put out of reach from Town 10 minutes later when Jennifer Chambers slotted past the Town ‘keeper. Celtic were seldom troubled due to superb defensive displays from Ellie Dillane, Rebecca O’Malley, Feena McManamon and Megan Dever, and Sinead Dyra in goal commanded her area superbly. Mary Corcoran and Sarah Baynes gave superb protection in front of the back four while Rachel Baynes was a menace higher up the pitch, linking up well with Tara Phillips, Jenny Chambers and Aisling McNulty up front. Grainne Flynn replaced Jenny Chambers with 20 minutes to go and made her mark in a front two with Aisling McNulty, who worked tirelessly throughout.  The Connacht Champions saw the game out without any real worries, keeping their title hopes alive for another week at least. Celtic: Sinead Dyra; Feena McManamon, Ellie Dillane, Rebecca O’Malley, Megan Dever; Sarah Baynes (c), Mary Corcoran, Rachel Baynes; Tara Phillips, Jennifer Chambers, Aisling McNulty. Grainne Flynn, Emma Knox, Deirbhile Mellotte.