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The Killarney Derby: Celtic to host Athletic under Friday night lights
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Premier A, Killarney Celtic v Killarney Athletic, Friday (7.30pm), Celtic Park
In what promises to be a typically feisty local derby, FAI Junior Cup quarter-finalists Killarney Celtic will play host to league leaders Killarney Athletic under lights in Celtic Park on Friday night.
The Hoops have already achieved a great amount of success on the national stage this season with historic wins over Ballynanty Rovers and Newmarket Celtic, and next week they play Cork City in a friendly before facing off against Janesboro in what is surely the biggest game in their forty-year history.
Domestically they’ve only played seven games in the league but have an impressive record of five wins, a draw and just one defeat. That puts them in fifth place, eight points behind near neighbours Athletic but with four games in hand.
We’ve had a solid first half of the season with Athletic and find ourselves top of the league with twenty-four points from eleven games played. We had a good 3-1 win over current champions Dingle Bay Rovers last Wednesday night so confidence is high, but we know Celtic will be an even bigger challenge. They’re still very much the team to beat in Kerry as far as we’re concerned.
Friday will be a good test of where Athletic are, while Celtic will be hoping to get a massive week or so off to the best possible start. It should be a great game.
Killarney Celtic
Possible starters: Roy Kelliher; Chris O’Leary, Jamie Spillane, Gary Keane, John McDonagh; Pa McGrath, Matt Keane; Wayne Sparling, Conor Randall, Stephen Hayes; Cathal O’Shea.
Form: WWWLL
Top scorers: Wayne Sparling (13), Cathal O’Shea (10).
Killarney Athletic
Possible starters: Brian O’Connor; Conor Farrell, Paudie O’Connor, Eanna Kavanagh, Adam Moynihan; Seán Cournane, Joe Hurley, Mike O’Donoghue, Paudie Clifford; Shane Lynch, William Courtney.
Form: DDWWW
Top scorers: Shane Lynch (11), William Courtney (10).
Last meeting: 2015/16 – Killarney Athletic 0-1 Killarney Celtic

