Donegal Celtic 0 Celtic XI 1
WILLIE McStay’s mixture of Celtic reserves and U19 stars edged out a narrow victory of Irish League side Donegal Celtic in Belfast last night.
On a humid night at Donegal Celtic’s humble venue in the west of the city, over 3,000 fans, decked mainly in Glasgow Celtic regalia, were treated to a colourful spectacle but just one goal from Scotland international Derek Riordan that came seven minutes from time. Up to that point, the hosting junior outfit more than matched their professional counter-parts.
It was Donegal Celtic who pressed hardest throughout the first-half against a side fresh from a Jock Stein Cup win over Albion Rovers and a pre-season victory over Livingston before the arrival in Belfast.
As early as the fourth minute Daniel Lyons, playing in his second spell with Donegal Celtic, directed a header just wide of goal and the diminutive striker was in the thick of it again when he measured a cross for the advancing Paul McDonald, who wasted his opportunity with a close-range header.
DC’s stand-in skipper David Munster also tested goalkeeper Scott Fox’s net with a headed attempt in the 20th minute.
Celtic’s Kevin Gawley was presented with the visitor’s best opening in the 26th minute when he breached the home defence to latch on to Ryan Conroy’s cross but he failed to register a shot able to trouble ‘keeper Declan Brown.
Donegal Celtic then had a legitimate claim for a penalty turned down; winning a corner instead after Paul McVeigh was clearly shoved over as he attempted to head Liam Bradley’s free-kick.
At the other end, Gawley then flashed a header across the face of goal and in the just before the interval, Derek Riordan almost caught Brown off his line with an audacious long-range lob that feel short of the target.
If anyone was going to score on the night it had to be the probing Riordan.
Twice in the 68th minute he was denied the breakthrough, firstly by a smart Stephen Harbinson save and seconds later after rounding the DC ‘keeper he had his shot cleared off the line by Ciaran Caldwell; the young defender being watched by Celtic, Ipswich, Blackburn and West Brom.
But when the goal did come, Riordan superbly turned to strike Michael McGlinchey’s cleverly flicked pass into the bottom corner; beyond substitute ‘keeper Harbinson.
Right at the end new DC signing Liam Watson, better known for his hurling exploits with Antrim, drove a long-range effort inches over the crossbar.
Donegal Celtic: Brown, Heagney, Gargan, McClean, Caldwell, Bradley, Munster, Lyons, Armstrong, McDonald, McVeigh
Subs: Harbinson for Brown 65; Bonner for Heagney 59; Hanna for McClean 65; Duff for Caldwell 78; Kearney for Lyons 59; Fegan for McVeigh 76; Lavery for Armstrong H-T; Thompson for Caldwell 83; McCabe for Gargan H-T
Celtic XI: Fox, Towell, Conroy, Ferry, Cuthbert, Lafferty, McGlinchey, Millar, Riordan, Gravesen, Gawley, Gaughan
Subs: Gaughan for Towell 69; Graham for Gawley 77; Monti for Gravesen 85
Referee: Ray Crangle (Belfast)
