U17 League
Killarney Celtic 3-0 Mastergeeha
Celtic Park

Killarney Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Kerry U17 League with a solid win over Mastergeeha on Monday night, thanks in no small part to a midfield masterclass from dynamic duo Evan Looney and Cian McMahon.

Looney and McMahon lined out at centre mid for the Hoops and together with tricky No. 10 Cian McCarthy they dominated proceedings, featuring prominently in all three of their side’s well-taken goals.

The hosts took the lead in the 15th minute when Looney whipped in a delightful, left-footed cross from deep and winger Dylan O’Callaghan was on hand to direct an accurate header back across the goal and into the corner of the net.

Geeha, who are currently seventh in the league, were up against a strong Celtic team but to their great credit they dug in and made it to half-time just one goal in arrears.

The killer second goal arrived early in the second, however, and it was Looney again who did the damage, this time ghosting into the penalty area to apply a neat finish from 12 yards out. The visitors’ heads understandably dropped thereafter and with Pádraic Looney and Jack Cooper in control at the back, Celtic never really looked like conceding.

Looney and McMahon continued to pull the strings and the latter deservedly got his name on the scoresheet late on when he beat his man before rifling an unstoppable shot beyond the reach of the Geeha keeper from all of 22 yards.

Geeha fought manfully throughout but they just couldn’t fashion a clear-cut opportunity, despite threatening on the counter-attack on numerous occasions in the second half. The effort certainly wasn’t lacking, especially not from Daniel Herlihy, Cian Murphy and Phil O’Leary who battled hard to stem the tide.

All in all, coach Conor McCarthy will be pleased with Celtic’s showing in what was their penultimate game of the regular season. Their place in the league semi-finals is guaranteed and they now appear likely to finish first in Section B of the U17 League. They are currently five points clear of Ballyhar Dynamos in second and 12 points clear of Tralee Dynamos in third, although the latter have a couple of games in hand. Ballyhar can secure a top two finish by defeating Dynamos at home on Saturday.

First and second in Section B will play first and second in Section A in the league semi-finals at the end of the season. On the other side of the draw, Rattoo Rovers and Park are favourites to advance.

Man of the Match: Evan Looney/Cian McMahon. Both were excellent.

Celtic: A Carey, L O’Donoghue, P Looney, J Cooper, D Falvey, C McMahon, E Looney, D O’Callaghan, C McCarthy, G Osieba, A May Keane. Sub: P O’Sullivan.

Mastergeeha: C Fleming, D Brosnan, S Warren, D Herlihy, C Murphy, N McCarthy, P O’Leary, S Kennedy, C Moynihan, D O’Riordan, D Tangney. Sub: A O’Connor.