vs 
Sat 21 Nov 15
Score: 1 - 2
Match Report
Trim Celtic nearly pulled off the great escape against last year's league and cup champions after a
rusty start found them a goal down in the first five minutes. Celtic had not played in four weeks and
it showed at the start as they struggled to come terms with the Kells passing and were lucky not to
be further behind as Kells spurned two further good chances. Towards the end of the half Celtic
began to find their feet as, first Daniel Coleman and then Conor McGinley beat the offside trap to
bear down on the Kells goal with Coleman pushing wide and electing to cross and McGinley
beating the 'keeper but hitting the post.
The half time introduction of Liam Reilly and Cian Russell gave Celtic more pace up front with Russell in particular giving the Kells defence a torrid time. A great ball down the line by Andreas Lopez put Russell in on goal but his early shot screwed just inches wide of the post. Then, against the run of play, Kells got a second when a good stop by Kevin Dalton fell nicely for the Kells front man to make it 2-0 with twenty minutes to go. From then on it was all Celtic as the link up between Lopez and Russell was creating chance after chance. With fifteen minutes left another good link up between Lopez and Russell put the latter in on goal again and this time he made no mistake as he lobbed the on-rushing 'keeper from twenty yards. The last ten minutes were like the siege at the Alamo as Celtic peppered the Kells goal with shots from Andrew Gibney and Russell coupled with a few goalmouth scrambles which meant the Kells goal was leading a charmed life. Then ,in injury time, Russell got free again but this time his lobbed effort bounced agonisingly wide of the upright. With a bit more luck and a bit more clinical finishing Celtic could have comfortably collected all three points but instead had to leave Navan empty handed. Best for Celtic were Cian Russell, Andrew Gibney and Daniel Coleman.
Trim Celtic: Kevin Dalton, Andrew Gibney, Mark Cunningham, Oran Kirby, Adam Wilson, Daniel Coleman, Andreas Lopez, Evan deCourcey Tobin, Eoin Gaffney, Fionn McEvoy, Conor McGinley Subs: Cian Rusell (for McGinley), Liam Reilly (for Gaffney), Eoghan Lenehan (for McEvoy), Kevin McGowan, Jack Vaughan, Luke Doyle
The half time introduction of Liam Reilly and Cian Russell gave Celtic more pace up front with Russell in particular giving the Kells defence a torrid time. A great ball down the line by Andreas Lopez put Russell in on goal but his early shot screwed just inches wide of the post. Then, against the run of play, Kells got a second when a good stop by Kevin Dalton fell nicely for the Kells front man to make it 2-0 with twenty minutes to go. From then on it was all Celtic as the link up between Lopez and Russell was creating chance after chance. With fifteen minutes left another good link up between Lopez and Russell put the latter in on goal again and this time he made no mistake as he lobbed the on-rushing 'keeper from twenty yards. The last ten minutes were like the siege at the Alamo as Celtic peppered the Kells goal with shots from Andrew Gibney and Russell coupled with a few goalmouth scrambles which meant the Kells goal was leading a charmed life. Then ,in injury time, Russell got free again but this time his lobbed effort bounced agonisingly wide of the upright. With a bit more luck and a bit more clinical finishing Celtic could have comfortably collected all three points but instead had to leave Navan empty handed. Best for Celtic were Cian Russell, Andrew Gibney and Daniel Coleman.
Trim Celtic: Kevin Dalton, Andrew Gibney, Mark Cunningham, Oran Kirby, Adam Wilson, Daniel Coleman, Andreas Lopez, Evan deCourcey Tobin, Eoin Gaffney, Fionn McEvoy, Conor McGinley Subs: Cian Rusell (for McGinley), Liam Reilly (for Gaffney), Eoghan Lenehan (for McEvoy), Kevin McGowan, Jack Vaughan, Luke Doyle