Govern shines through as Celtic edge tight contest

U-14 NIALL BYRNE CUP

The blustery conditions and scattered showers did its best to spoil this NERL u-14 Niall Byrne Cup final at the MDL on Saturday, but the quality of the football shone through as Trim Celtic edged the contest by the odd goal in three against a tidy Parkvilla side.

Despite the difficult conditions both sides tried to play ground football and the passing and movement was excellent throughout with Trim Celtic overcoming early nerves to assume control and claim the spoils.

Parkvilla were dangerous and for the opening 20 minutes they controlled the contest with Alex McGibney the general in midfield and Matthew Selfridge causing problems up front.

Trim Celtic looked nervous and struggled to retain possession as Parkvilla swarmed them and forced turnovers.

However, the Navan side failed to convert those turnovers into chances and once Trim settled into the game they were the dominant side.

There were few real chances of note in the opening quarter of this 70 minute contest. Parkvilla huffed and puffed, stretched the game wide and tried to use the wind advantage to play quick passes through the middle.

However, they found the outstanding Shane Govern impenetrable as he marshalled his back line superbly and quickly snuffed out any potential danger the Navan side threatened.

Govern was magnificent and it was fitting that the centre-back opened the scoring with his powerful free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard box arrowed low into the right corner to give Ciaran Norris no chance.

That 20th minute goal settled Celtic and they controlled the contest for the majority of the remainder with Ben O'Donnell excellent in midfield and Govern's defensive partner Evan McGuinness also excellent in his work.

Daniel Nally was a constant lively threat up front and his excellent first touch and obvious strength made him difficult to contain. Liam Collins put in some decisive tackles in midfield and his creativity and eye for a pass shone as Trim settled.

Parkvilla never seriously threatened Oisin Leonard in the Trim Celtic goals in the opening half and the Hoops could have extended their lead a couple of times before the interval.

Caleb Hartnett had his jersey pulled by Dane Cahill when racing through on goals, but the referee didn't spot it and the 'Villa defender escaped censure.

Four minutes before the break O'Donnell set up Daniel Jones, but his shot from distance sailed just over the bar as Celtic had to be content with their 1-0 interval advantage.

Parkvilla made a number of switches during the opening half and at the break in an effort to wrestle back momentum, but it was Jones who went close again to doubling Celtic's lead five minutes after the restart as he arrowed Hartnett's corner over the crossbar.

Pinned back in their own half by the strong wind and incessant Celtic pressure Parkvilla struggled, but in the 42nd minute they broke quickly and Triumph Ehijator pounced on a loose ball, after Leonard had saved well from Logan Cudlipp, to tap to an empty net and restore parity.

However Parkvilla's joy was shortlived and two minutes later they were behind again when Govern's long range free fell into the path of Hartnett and he made no mistake from close range to make it 2-1.

Norris made an outstanding save to deny Govern from another long-range free in the 51st minute and that was the last of the big chances as Parkvilla defended resolutely, but against the wind they couldn't create any more opportunities as Trim coasted to the win.

Trim Celtic - Oisin Leonard; Jack Rowlands, Adam Hand, Shane Govern, Evan McGuinness, Ben O'Donnell, Daniel Jones, Sebastian Flood, Daniel Nally, Liam Collins, Caleb Hartnett. Subs - Colm Lennon for Rowlands, Charlie Morgan for Hand both 44m, Michael Lennon for Collins 59m, Noah Rochford, Conor Macken, Kieran Flanagan, Seb Flood, Dzuigas Daugatins.

Parkvilla - Ciaran Norris; Grigore Bivol, Barry Howard, Dane Cahill, Conor Cahill, Alex McGibney, Logan Cudlipp, Alfie Murtagh, Matthew Selfridge, Jake Finney, Noah Cronin.

Subs - Lochlainn Smith-O'Reilly for Cronin 20m, Daniel Smith for Howard 27m, Triumph Ehijator for Finney, Oisin Comiskey for Selfridge both half-time, Cronin for Murtagh 47m, Murtagh for C Cahill 52m, Finney for McGibney 60, Cahill for Comiskey 64m.