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THE stage is set for the biggest-ever game in the history of soccer in Killarney when local kingpins Killarney Celtic take on the might of Dublin’s Sheriff Youth Club FC in the semi-final of the FAI Junior Cup semi-final this Saturday.

With the quarter-final victory over Limerick side Janesboro FC attracting over 2,000 supporters to Celtic Park, this crunch encounter is expected to see a bumper crowd turning out to see the local boys in green battle it out with the current cup holders and the top junior side in the country.

The big game will kick off at 5pm at Kilbrean Park, home of Mastergeeha FC.

Celtic manager Brian Spillane said: “Sheriff are the best junior club the game has ever seen and they will expect to beat us. We are the underdogs, nobody expects us to win but we’ll give it everything and there will be no blame game afterwards if we lose”.

He added: “At the start of the competition Sheriff was the team nobody wanted to meet but now, to be honest, we are anxious to have a go.”

Sheriff’s experienced manager, Alan Reilly, declared: “I’m not trying to play down the favourites’ tag but it’s a semi-final and anything can happen.”

He said: “If we do what we are capable of I’d be quite confident but this is the Junior Cup and Celtic are on a good run so we’ll have our work cut out for us”.

To avoid congestion and to ensure every supporter gets to the ground in ample time to see what promises to be a classic, Celtic will be running shuttle-buses from the Killarney Outlet Centre bus park every quarter of an hour from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. The fee for the return journey is €5. Admission to the game is €10 for adults, €5 for students and OAPs and children under 16 are free.

Killarney Celtic Chairman Paul Sherry remarked: “We are putting crowd control plans in place as we are expecting a huge attendance given that we have gone further than any other Kerry side in this competition.

“Kilbrean Park is in a rural area and therefore we ask all those attending the game to respect the club, the neighbours and their properties and to co-operate with stewards and Gardaí as safety is paramount.

A number of car parking spaces will be available at the ground on a first come first served basis, and weather depending, car parking facilities will also be available close by.

Killarney Celtic have produced a special souvenir programme for the big match, packed with interviews, player profiles, paths to the semi-final, the club history and some fascinating insights and it will be on sale in Killarney on the eve of the game and at the venue on Saturday.
 

 
Above: The Killarney Celtic team that lined out against Janesboro FC recently. PICTURE: KONRAD PAPROCKI