U13 | Ardee Celtic’s title hopes dashed after draw in Blackrock
U13 Premier Division | Rock Celtic 1–1 Ardee Celtic
Ardee Celtic’s U13 Premier Division title hopes were dashed with this 1–1 draw with Rock Celtic in Blackrock on Saturday morning.
The mid-Louth side occupied third place before the game and needed to beat Rock to maintain their challenge for the title.
The result, however, was good news for second place Quay Celtic who could still win the league if they can beat Rock in their last game of the season.
The Seasiders got off to a flying start, taking the lead after only four minutes with a goal from Mark Leavy, who caught everybody out by finding the roof of Shane Halpenny’s net with a 30-yard free kick.
Halpenny made amends five minutes later with a fine save to deny Evan Durnin and Durnin’s striking partner, Evan McEnteggart, should also have scored on 13 minutes but his header was easily saved by Halpenny.
Ardee had their first sight of goal 11 minutes when dangerman James Rogers burst through the Rock defence but fired wide of the target.
Minutes later, a Rogers pass set up Daniel Clinton but his effort was smothered by the alert Niall Brennan.
Rock didn’t heed the warning signs and Ardee deservedly levelled in the 22nd minute when a deep cross by Rogers was slotted home by Oisin Lynch to level the game at 1–1.
An intense midfield battle took place in the second half that saw defences hard to breach and both sides had penalty appeals rightly waved away by referee Colm McConville.
It was the home side who came closest to a winner but Shane Halpenny dived full length to push Durnin’s diving header away after he was picked out by Sebastian McGeough’s right wing cross.
ROCK CELTIC: Niall Brennan, Darragh O’Gradaigh, Sean Gartland, Mark Leavy, Jai Akhal, Sean Reynolds, Sebastian McGeough, Nathan Todd, Evan Durnin, Evan McEnteggart, Barra Duffy, Joseph Laverty, Cillian Wall, Eddie Territt, Cian Sheridan.
ARDEE CELTIC: Shane Halpenny, Ryan Halpenny, Matthew Kane, Killian Taaffe, James Russell, David Magee, James Rogers, Oisin Lynch, Daniel Clinton, Adam O’Reilly, Noah Coyle, Tadhg Kellet, Jack McKeever, Jamie O’Callaghan.
REFEREE: Colm McConville.
