Celts expected to keep a grip on Challenge Cup crown

NEFL CUP FINAL PREVIEW

The Hoops against the Candystripes, the holders against the challengers. The scene is set for a NEFL Challenge Cup final with a difference at the Sullivan & Lambe Stadium, Drogheda on Saturday, 2pm, with Trim Celtic and Johnstown set to meet each other to decide where the much sought-after trophy will reside for another season.

Trim Celtic are looking to win the Cup for the fourth successive season, a remarkable sequence of success, while Johnstown are seeking to get their hands on the venerable old piece of silverware for the first time.

Never before have these two teams met in the final and that's one of the features that adds a new dimension to this year's showdown.

Last year Trim Celtic once again demonstrated their truly impressive ability to produce a big performance on the big day when they defeated Louth opponents Rock Celtic with Sam Murray heading home the winner in the closing stages of extra time.

It was another success for a Trim Celtic outfit who have become masters at winning trophies under manager Robbie Horgan in recent times with Premier titles and cups brought back to Tully Park with a regularity that has turned them into giants of the local game.

Can Johnstown become giant killers on Saturday and defeat Horgan's men? The answer is probably no, not on this occasion.

Trim Celtic missed out in the race for the Premier title this season but they are still a very formidable force as they demonstrated in their league victory over Parkvilla recently. Trailing 2-4 at one stage in that game they fought back to win 5-4, despite having their goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan sent off in the opening minutes.

Some new faces have been added this season but the Trim Celtic squad is still backboned by players who know how to close out big games such as Conor Walsh, Ciaran O'Connell, Sean Fitzgerald, Adam Fox, Dean Courtney and Adam Fox who converted two penalties in that dramatic over 'Villa. Experience and guile can be crucial factors on cup final day.

Johnstown are, to their credit, clearly a team on the rise as shown in the way they impressively won the NEFL Div 1 title and made their way to the Challenge Cup showdown with a sequence of results that included a 5-4 win over Albion Rovers in the last four with Lee Duffy getting another of his hat-tricks.

Win or lose, Saturday's final will be poignant occasion for the Johnstown club. Earlier this year their manager and great community man Christy Kavanagh passed away. "The whole community misses Christy, he was Mr Johnstown, a great clubman too," is how the club PRO Justin Flynn described the man who was known far and wide.

During their history Johnstown have had their good memorable seasons such as in 2011 when they won a Div 3 and Fitzsimons Cup double but taking home the Challenge Cup would constitute a powerful statement of ambition. They have reached the semi-final stage of the Cup before without managing to make it into the final - until now that is.

A lot of work has been done on bringing young players up through the ranks at Johnstown over the years. This season their promising young guns have been joined by experienced performers such as Sean Challenger, Lee Fahy, captain Lee Kelly and former Drogheda United player Lee Duffy who has banged in the goals with a tremendous regularity this season.

The sides met in the opening round of the Leinster Junior Cup at the end of September with Celtic claiming a narrow 2-1 win after extra-time, so all the indications are that Saturday's final will be another tight, tense affair.

The red and white flags and bunting can be seen all around Johnstown with the club planning taking busloads of young supporters to Saturday's game but don't be surprised if Trim Celtic return home with the trophy.

Paths to the final (supplied by Justin Burke).

PM Blinds & Shutters Mens Challenge Cup Final 2025

Round 1

Johnstown FC & Trim Celtic (BYES)

Round 2

Johnstown FC 3 (Jonathan Forde, Liam Herbert, Lee Duffy)

Carrick Rovers 2 (Dylan Ward, Naidas Polityko)

Trim Celtic 6 (Sam Murray x3, Brian Faulkner, Aaron Williams, Gary Gibney)

Kentstown Rovers 1 (Marc Horrigan)

Round 3

Quay Celtic 3 (Kevin Teather, Luke Gorham, Thomas Dearey)

Johnstown FC 5 (Lee Duffy x3, Isaiah Philips, Lee Kelly)

Glenmuir FC 2 (Joseph Byrne, Ryan McDonnell)

Trim Celtic 2 (Aaron Williams, Dean Courtney) Trim win 4-1 pens

Round 4 (Quarter-final)

Bellurgan United 1 (Owen Armstrong)

Johnstown FC (Lee Duffy x3, Lee Kelly x2, Liam Herbert)

Trim Celtic 9 (Anthony Burke x2, Jack O’Keeffe x2, Aaron Williams, Jake Murray, Brian Faulkner, Adam Fox, James Goggins)

Oldcastle United 2 (Paul Wade, Ben Grey)

Round 5 (Semi-final)

Johnstown FC 5 (Lee Duffy x3, Liam Herbert, Lee Kelly)

Albion Rovers 4 (Conor McQuillan x2, Jamie Donagh, Kevin McCann)

Trim Celtic 2 (Sean Fitzgerald, Ian Byrne)

Monaghan Town 1 (Terence McDonald)