O'Keeffe spot on as Trim Celtic battle to the end

Just when it was looking like extra-time would be inevitable Jack O'Keeffe calmly scored from the penalty spot to earn Trim Celtic a 3-2 victory over Skerries Town in the Leinster Junior Cup today.

Tully Park basked in summer-like sunshine all afternoon but O'Keeffe stayed cool and calm to slot home from the spot in injury time and seal the dramatic win.

After surging ahead with superbly-taken goals from Jack O'Keeffe and Dean Courtney inside the opening eight minutes it looked like the NEFL side might stroll to victory.

However, Skerries Town came surging back in the second-half and scored two goals of their own from Jack Pender on 77 minutes and Josh Mullin equalised matters in the 89th minute after a surgling, unstoppable run.

However in injury time Trim Celtic put together a fine attacking move and O'Keeffe fell under the force of a tackle and referee Jason Sheerin pointed to the spot.

The same player stepped up to take the spot kick and fired the ball low to the net for a dramatic winner.

Brian Faulkner, Courtney, Oisin Devlin, Sean Fitzgerald were among those who went close to adding to the home team's account but they just couldn't get a third - until O'Keeffe struck.

Skerries Town, who pressed forward relentlessly in the second-half, also had a player sent off in injury time to compound a miserable afternoon for them.

Trim Celtic - Aaron Ryan; Mark Leavy, Sean Fitzgerald, Ger Murray, Patrick Brophy, Callum Ennis, Oisin Devlin, Conor Walsh, Jack O'Keeffe, Brian Faulkner, Dean Courtney. Sub - Leon O'Neill for Devlin 76 mins.

Skerries Town - Mihal Skrzyplzak; Emmett Trant, Chris Crowley, Jamie McDarby, Darren Lynch, Harry Nugent, Colm Gill, Shane Dennis, Sean Lynch, Josh Mullin, Conor McKenna. Subs - Stephen Gaffney for Trant 55 mins, Conor Kinsella for Gill 59m, Jack Pender for Dennis 70m.

Referee - Jason Sheerin (Meath Branch).

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