A fine second half performance from the Park saw this bunch of players clinch their first league title at Christy Leahy Park on Tuesday evening. As usual they gave their supporters a few heart stopping moments along the way but they throughly deserved what was their eight straight victory in the league.
A nervous start from the Park boys led to a few chances going the way of Killarney Celtic. When Thomas Burke came for and failed to collect a ball into the box it required Dylan Casey’s clearance off the line for Park to remain on level terms. Michael Slattery was once again playing well and he tested Josh Fleming in the Celtic goal on a number of occasions in what wasn’t a memorable first half.
Park stated the second half much better. Passing and moving more confidently they started to pile on the pressure. It paid off when Dylan Casey’s free kick was expertly flicked on by Gearoid Fitzgerald twelve minutes after the restart. When the ball hit the back of the net it brought relief all round and Park really started to play well. Robin McCarthy was causing problems for the Killarney back four and in the sixteenth minute he won a corner which was eventually cleared off the line just when it looked like Park would go two up.
McCarthy was again involved four minutes later when he played a lovely ball to Michael Slattery on the Celtic endline. Back to goals and with defenders all around him, Slattery worked a little bit of magic to suddenly find himself one on one with the Killarney keeper and his right footed shot nestled in the corner of the net to give Park some breathing space.
Cue an avalanche of chances for the Park to seal the win. Sean Carmody, Slattery, McCarthy, Dan Goggin and a number of other Park players had a cut at beating Celtic’s fine stand in keeper Gearoid Looney but failed to do so.
With six minutes left on the clock Dylan Casey was bundled over the end line but a Killarney corner was awarded. From the resulting corner Gearoid Fitzgerald was adjudged to have pushed a Celtic player in the box and a penalty was given to Killarney. Ian McGillycuddy coolly slotted home the kick and once more it was back to the finger nails. Park dealt well with a number of corners and Matt Lukco made a number of outstanding tackles to ensure Celtic would not equalise. When Celtic’s last free was well held by Thomas Burke the referee finally blew the whistle to confirm Park as Premier league champions for 2015.
Adam Ward, Kevin Browne, Robin McCarthy, Michael O’Gara, Thomas, Jake Deering, Niall Sertutxa and Matt Lukco
Front row left to right:
Gearoid Fitzgerald, Dylan Casey, Sean Carmody, Michael Slattery, Ruairi O’Kelly, Raul Vnczel and Dan Goggin.
Missing from the photo was James Rusk as he was on Kerry duty.
Others involved during the year were Jakub Zlotocki and Alfie Christie.
There was no trophy presented to the boys on the night, but the relief and joy on their faces was there for all to see. This bunch have been together since U-11 and mentors such as Kieran Ruttledge, Warren McDonald, Derek O’Connor and Eddie Wadding have all put time and effort into their development. Paudie Barrett is claiming though that it’s his return has made all the difference!
Thank you to all the parents, friends, family and club members who were there and have been there all season to support this great bunch of young men.
Now for the cup semi final against Castleisland in the coming week or two.
League Winning Panel:
Thomas Burke, Kevin Browne, Matt Lukco, Dylan Casey, Adam Ward, Sean Carmody, Michael O’Gara, Dan Goggin, Gearoid Fitzgerald, Niall Sertutxa, Michael Slattery, Ruairi O’Kelly, Raul Vnczel, James Rusk, Jake Deering, Robin McCarthy, Jakub Zlotocki and Alfie Christie.
Report by P.Carmody.
