This pulsating league encounter had everything; a flurry of penalties for both sides plus enough goalmouth action to fill ten games. At the death the Laois side held on for a merited win that edges them that bit closer to the league crown.
Portlaoise Celtic 'B' 5
Carbury 4The home side were rocked back on their heels when visitors Carbury were awarded a penalty with just four minutes on the clock. The Kildare outfit duly converted their spot
kick to threaten Celtic's league aspirations.
The hosts' response was immediate and deadly. A sweeping move saw Keith Lynch feed Ger Fitzpatrick who treaded a through ball forward to Thomas Lawless. The Celtic front-man looked up and crossed for the lurking David Nevin who volleyed emphatically past the Carbury custodian.
That well-worked equaliser was soon forgotten as Carbury were awarded a second penalty. A Carbury raid down the right flank then saw a cross spiral into the Celts' penalty area. Lynch did well to head clear but the ball then clipped a fellow defender's hand. That second spot-kick was converted on the twenty-minute mark to further undermine Celtic's trophy dream. Again though the home side recovered well and swiftly.
Right from the tip-off Celtic streaked forward and won a corner. From the corner the hosts were awarded a penalty. Lawless strode up and sent his spot kick rocketing into the top right-hand corner of the Carbury net. The Celts kept up their forward momentum as they bagged a lead goal for the first time just minutes later. Cillian Doyle set off down the left wing then linked up with Lawless. Lawless returned the favour and Doyle smacked home a great shot to copper-fasten the home revival.
The Celts' visions of league glory were dealt a blow early in the concluding half when Carbury grabbed a well-worked equaliser. The Laois side's forward momentum was restored when Nevin poked the ball into the Carbury net after a scramble in the Kildare side's area. The visitors were denied an equaliser soon after when Thomas Loughman pulled off a stunning save to keep out yet another Carbury penalty. Celtic's response to this let-off was impressive.
A pinpoint pass from Eugene LaCumber set Fitzpatrick free in midfield. He played in Mark Ryan who in turn spotted Doyle free. Doyle lifted his cross to the back post where Lawless powered his header past the Carbury custodian. A last-minute Carbury goal reduced the deficit to the minimum. With Celtic nerves jangling Lynch pulled off a miraculous goal-line clearance to ensure Celtic hung on to a hard-fought if merited win.
While David Nevin picked up the accolades as the best performer on the park he was ably abetted by Ger Fitzpatrick, Thomas Lawless and Cillian Doyle.
PORTLAOISE CELTIC 'B': Thomas Loughman; James Holohan, Keith Lynch, Keith Dwane, Fran Roche; Ger Fitzpatrick, Mark Ryan, Eugene LaCumber, Cillian Doyle; David Nevin, Thomas Lawless. Subs: James La Cumber for Ryan (injured - 85 mins), Paddy McDonagh for Nevin (85 mins)
