Search Results for 'Declan Kilkelly'

It’s not to often that when you go to a game, two goals have gone in before you settle into the contest. But that’s what happened last Sunday night when Castlebar Celtic hosted Dundalk in the Newstalk A league in Celtic Park. In a game which saw nine goals go in over the 90 minutes, two of them hit the back of Robert Hennelly’s net before some of the crowd had even arrived, two minutes into the game. In what was at times a lopsided game, Celtic did manage to pull the gap back to only two goals with minutes to go, despite being 5-1 down at one stage midway through the second half.

Castlebar Celtic currently sit in fourth place in the Newstalk A Championship table on seven points from their six games. This weekend they are looking to push their points total on to 10 when Dundalk come to Celtic Park on Sunday evening.

Iorras Aontaithe were able to keep ahead of the back in the Elverys Sports Super League last weekend, but they can’t afford to slip up as the season enters it’s final third. Last time out they came to Celtic Park and went away with the points thanks to a 2-0 win. Brendan Nallen and Garrett O’Malley were the men to hit the back of the net for Iorras. This weekend there on the road again when they head to Swinford to take on a side that are sitting comfortably in mid table at the moment. Last weekend however didn’t go to plan for the east Mayo men with Westport United putting them to the sword in the sports park. The home side knocked four past the Swinford goal keeper Neil McNicholas. Mark McNally opened the scoring in the first half, with second half strikes from David Horkan, Danny Scahill and Vinny O’Malley rapping up the game for Barry Kilgallon’s men. Westport now sit in third place in the table two points behind Iorras but they have a game in hand on the north Mayo men and last year’s champions Ballina Town where are currently in second spot one point ahead of Westport.

Castlebar Celtic have started to feel the pinch of the economic downturn and on the playing front their Newstalk A League side are starting to feel the effects.

Castlebar Celtic will welcome Bohemians to the Celtic Park on Sunday for their second game in the Newstalk A league on Sunday afternoon. Celtic opened up the their league campaign last Sunday with a 1-1 draw away to Sporting Fingal in Dublin. An under strength Celtic side saw manager Declan Kilkelly have to go between the sticks due to an injury crisis. Chris Rowland opened the scoring for Celtic after 20 minutes and went in at the break leading. Sporting Fingal had former Irish international Glenn Crowe in their ranks, and Kilkelly was very happy with the performance of his centre half, pairing against such an established League of Ireland performer. “Declan Flynn and Shane Moran, who it has to be remembered is only 18, did really well for us against Sporting Fingal,” he said. “They are a top side who have come on a lot since they came into the league a number of years ago.” Having to go into goal wasn’t something that Kilkelly wanted to do, and he hopes he doesn’t have to again. “It wasn’t something I really wanted to do, but you have to do these things and I did my best for the lads. I’m still a bit sore after it. I took a bang in the ribs near the end which is still a bit sore at the minute.”

Ballina Town's defence of their Mayo Super League title took another blow on Saturday night when they slipped to their first defeat of the season after they were surprisingly overturned by Castlebar Celtic in Celtic Park. It's the third time in as many games that Brendan Kenny's side have failed to register a win and Iorras Aontaithe didn't let the chance to open up a gap a the top slip in Carne. Despite trailing to bottom of the table Snugboro United, Michael S Togher's men dug out a hard fought 3-2 win to leave them four points clear at the top with maximum points from their six games. Westport United now only trial Ballina by a single point and have two games in hand on the champions thanks to a 2-1 win over Straide and Foxford United in the Sportspark on Sunday. Ballyheane did their chances of survival this season a big boost on Saturday evening with a 2-0 win over Fahy Rovers in Quigley Park. Swinford's good start to the season continued when they beat a struggling Manulla side 3-1 on Saturday night to leave them in fourth place in the table.

Castlebar Celtic are facing into a their opening game of the Newstalk A League this weekend with a injury crisis on their hands. Celtic will be without the services of Shane Hynes, Gary Price, Stevie Gavin, Ashley Stevenson, and Pat Fitzgerald on Saturday due to injury. But more importantly it looks like they will be without goalkeepers Danny O’Leary who has a groin injury and Robert Hennelly leaving them without a recognised number one between the posts. Castlebar Celtic manager Declan Kilkelly told the Mayo Advertiser this week, “ Danny had a great game last weekend against Carlow, but he played with a groin injury, he’s seeing a specialist, but we don’t know if he’ll be able to play any part in the game.” With no recognised goalkeeper available, Kilkelly could be in line for a place between the sticks himself for Celtic. “At the moment it looks like it could be me or an outfield player, but I’d prefer not to have to play, we just have to wait and see for now.”

Castlebar Celtic progressed to the semi-final of the Newstalk Cup on Wednesday night thanks to a 2-0 over Galway United in Celtic Park, setting up a last four showdown with Bohemians in Dalymount Park which is provisionally fixed for Wednesday May 19.

Castlebar Celtic 2

Castlebar Celtic will be pushing on for a place in the Newstalk Cup semi-final over the next six days, when they entertain both Sligo Rovers and Galway United in the group stages of the competition. Declan Kilkelly’s men have Sligo Rovers first up on Sunday evening at 7pm, with Galway United making the trip north on Wednesday evening in a rearranged fixture. It’s a hectic few days but Celtic manager Declan Kilkelly is hoping that his side will face into another tie the following weekend in the cup semi-final. “It’s good to have the games, we’ve had a break since the Finn Harps game in the league cup because the Galway game was put off, but I’d rather we didn’t. The semi-finals of the cup are down for the weekend after the Galway game and we’ll be looking to be there.”