Parkvilla's title hopes on ice

NEFL PREMIER Navan side must now get something from their final game against Duleek

Parkvilla.........................4

Trim Celtic......................5

At one stage in this NEFL Premier encounter it looked like Parkvilla were destined to achieve the victory they needed to secure the title - the Navan club's first at this level.

After an hour they led 4-2 and were a man to the good following the early red card shown to Trim Celtic goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan.

Then it all went a little crazy for them with 10-man Trim Celtic fighting back to score not one, not two, but three goals in quick succession to seize the initiative - and win the game. Parkvilla goalkeeper Daniel Gilmour - a strong and sturdy presence between the posts - was to also see red as the game surged this way and that in a frantic second-half.

It all ensures that the destination of the Premier title will now be decided when Parkvilla travel to take on Duleek who are one point behind. First to play second, with the title up for grabs in the last game of the season. A Hollywood scriptwriter could hardly have set things up better.

Friday night under the Claremont Stadium lights old rivals Parkvilla and Trim Celtic went at each other with the kind of intensity that is now a integral part of their rivalry.

Three red cards, nine goals, many goalmouth incidents, countless meaty challenges, this game just about had everything and while Trim Celtic are out of the running for the title they were never going to lie down. They lost 1-3 to 'Villa earlier in the season. They were on a mission of their own.

The game, played before a big attendance, started at a breakneck pace and never relented, not for a second. Conor Byrne was the man in charge and he kept a firm grip on things, and made some big calls.

The first of those was in the third minute. The ball was played long into the Trim Celtic goalmouth. Parkvilla's pacy attacker Eoghan Heavey ran onto it. He was met, full on, by Gilsenan who had surged off his line. Referee Byrne pointed to the spot and showed Gilsenan red. It would have been hard to disagree with either call.

Centre-back Sean Fitzgerald bravely donned the goalkeeper's jersey, as he has done before, and did a good job too between the posts for the Celts.

He couldn't, however, prevent Kian Ratty from confidently tucking away the penalty and the contest was really up and running. At the interval 'Villa led 2-1 with the irrepressible Heavey brilliantly arrowing home a second for his side on 21 minutes before Gary Gibney, against the run of play, gave the visitors some hope with a firm shot to the net.

Shortly after the break Heavey fired home another goal, this time with a firm finish. He also had a shot rebound off the post while at the other end Trim Celtic's Jack O'Keeffe was taken down in the 'Villa box. Adam Fox fired home from the penalty spot. 3-2.

On and on the action unfolded and soon we were witnessing another Parkvilla goal. This time an almighty goalmouth scramble ended with the alert James Friery firing home from close range. 4-2

The ebb and flow continued. Trim Celtic striker Brian Faulkner came on and showed he has lost none of his sharpness by smartly heading home from an O'Keeffe corner on 69 minutes. 4-3.

Five minutes later Gilmour was shown red for a foul on O'Keeffe in the Parkvilla box. Again Fox stepped up to despatch the ball to the net from the spot-kick. Unbelievably the Hoops were now level. 4-4.

Trim Celtic then conjured up the winner in bizarre, dramatic manner when O'Keeffe whipped in a cross. The ball cannoned off a 'Villa defender and ended up in the net. 5-4.

There was a late red card shown to a member of the Trim contingent on the sideline as the tension went up a few notches. Another little piece of drama on a dramatic evening at Claremont.

Now Parkvilla turn to their winner-takes-all clash with Duleek on Sunday 9th November, 2.30pm (which has to be confirmed). The previous day Trim Celtic have a Challenge Cup final date with Johnstown. The big prizes are still up for grabs as the season hots up.

Parkvilla - Daniel Gilmour; Craig Friary, Carl Jordan, James Friery, Danny Doggett, Ben Gibney, Kian Ratty, Ryan Murphy, Jamie Blake, Eoghan Heavey, Tommy Buchanan. Subs - Callum Bonner for Buchanan 56m, Chris Kennedy for Blake 69m, Finian Collier for Jordan 76m, Roy Browne for Gibney 83m.

Trim Celtic - Conor Gilsenan; Ciaran O'Connell, Eoin O'Connor, Sean Fitzgerald, Callum Ennis, Dean Courtney, Jack O'Keeffe, Jake Murray, Gary Gibney, Adam Fox, Colm Carney. Subs - Ian Byrne for Ennis, Aaron Williams for Carney both 53m, Sam Murray for J Murray, Brian Faulkner for Gibney 64m.

Referee - Conor Byrne; assistants - Jason Sheerin, Billy Cruise.