Ludden & Lavelle Lead The Way

Celtic U14 side scored an emphatic win over Galway club Colga FC in the second round of the National cup on Saturday afternoon in CelticPark. The away side started the brightest and went one up after 10 minutes when Celtic failed to clear their lines. However their response was immediate when Dara Ludden netted after great work from Ciaran Gavin. His strike partner Mikey Lavelle made it two shortly afterwards when he coolly finished from close range. Celtic began to find their game and inspirational captain Thierry Baba scored his first after a surging run. Not to be outdone by this Lavelle helped himself to a second when he cleverly chipped the keeper. Colga pulled one back just before Baba scored his second after a superb corner from Cathal Coyne. Ludden was not to be a party pooper and he too scored a brilliant second goal to leave all three with a brace apiece. Once more Lavelle stepped up to the plate to score his third when he slid the ball under the advancing keeper to leave the home side 7-2 up at halftime and put the pressure back on his strike partner!!!!!.

Celtic made five changes at the start of the second half and sub Paddy Heneghan put his name on the score sheet after a quick throw from the alert Dylan Felle. Just when you thought all the chips were in Caffolas Ludden notched his hat-trick when the unfortunate away keeper was again lobbed to leave the home side comfortable 9-2 winners. While the strikers take all the plaudits for some excellent finishing this was a team effort throughout. Keeper Alan Kelly was rarely tested and dealt with anything with confidence. The back four of Shane Downes, Ruaíri Nevin, Brian Walsh and Liam Whyte were again in commanding form and never let their bigger opponents any time on the ball. Midfield of Ronan Dervan, Cathal Coyne, Thierry Baba and Ciaran Gavin kept the supply to the front two who duly obliged. Subs Paddy Heneghan, Dylan Felle, Michael Fahy, Colin Hope, Evan Doyle and Kevin Moran all helped make this a great team effort. Again the club are greatly indebted to those team parents who again excelled themselves in giving the away team a feast after the game to take away from their heavy defeat. Well done to all involved.