SLIGO-LEITRIM YOUTH&SCHOOLBOYS 
U-14 LEAGUE

Date: Saturday, 9th February
Time: 1:15
Venue: Skreen Community Park, Skreen
Opponents: Western Rovers

Although Ballymote started the match 5 points clear of Western Rovers, a loss would have been detrimental for Celtic's hope of finishing fourth. However, Rovers would have had to beat one of the top 3 to finish in that position but the pressure was on. Again, with James Mullen, Paul Clarke and Jack Gethins missing Ballymote were unable to put out their favourite eleven.

From early on it was clear that a win here could not be taken for granted. Although Western Rovers were weak at the back they had a couple of very talented players and matched us well in the opening ten minutes. It probably was against the run of play that Ballymote took the lead. Despite the forwards being offside numerous times, Darragh McGowan stayed onside and latched onto a fantastic through ball from Stephen Healy and poked it past the keeper for 2. Eamon Tighe made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after a debatable handball was given.

The game looked like it would be a mauling when Ballymote added a third, Eamon Tighe and Darragh McGowan combined to put the ball in the back of the net even though it just about crossed the line. McGowan claimed credit for it getting the last touch on a scrappy effort. Colm McCann came close with a fizzing effort towards the end of the half. However, it was probably a bit harsh on Western Rovers who for the most part matched Ballymote in all ends of the park. It was their weakness at the back that let them down and their profligacy up front. However their number 9 did grab one back for the home side, a long ball floated over the top of our two centre backs heads and he ran through to fire the ball past Sean Wynne for 3-1.

Rovers were back in the game and it changed the direction of the half time team talk. Although the lead was not yet in danger, 3-2 would have made it a very nervy finish. The second half started like the same and Colm McCann had more shots and was very unlucky not to have got on the score sheets when one of his attempts looked to have crossed the line but the referee did not agree. Down the other end Sean Wynne made a great save to deny their number nine again and Celtic were hanging in there.

When Darragh McGowan completed his hat-trick with Celtic's fourth the game was dead and buried. Ballymote could now relax and a tense finish was avoided. So that hard-fought victory completes the league campaign, we await now on Calry Bohs in the semi-final which will be the biggest match of the season.

Team:  S Wynne, C Meehan, C Ward, E Brennan, D Tonry, S Booth, C McCann, E Tighe, S Healy, G Dwyer (D O Malley), D McGowan
Final Score: 4-1

Date: Saturday, 26th January
Time: 12:15
Venue: Brother Walfrid Park, Ballymote
Opponents: St.Johns Blues

Once again Ballymote were unable to field a full strength team with regular goalkeeper Paul Clarke and centre midfield supremo Eamon Tighe absent for varying reasons. However with the visit of a weak St.Johns side it was a good opportunity to give different people a start. Conor Meehan failed the goals position while Gary Dwyer slotted into centre midfield.

From the first whistle, however no-one could have predicted the scoreline would have been as heavy as it was as the Carrowroe outfit had a couple of chances and were slicing through our centre defence. It was right winger Steven Booth who opened the scoring for the home side. Played through by a good ball from Stephen Healy Booth ran down the line and cut inside. Seeing little options inside he went himself firing a low effort into the far corner for one nil. A little bit lucky for Celtic, but some of the rest of the goals were pure class.

James Mullen was next to grab a goal, his fantastic power and pace leading him through on goal to slot the ball to the keepers left leaving him with no chance. That was 3 goals in 3 games for Mullen, a good return for the big striker. Stephen Healy was due a goal as two fabulous strikes hit the crossbar, the first an audacious chip and the second a wicked drive. It finally came five minutes later when he ran forty yards, from well in his own half, beating three or four men and from the right hand side struck home to make it 3. The pick of the bunch, a brilliant solo effort from our inspirational captain who not only excelled going forward but gave 110% throughout the match, tackled hard and was the orchestrator of everything good for Ballymote.

At half time Meehan came out of goals and instantly made a difference. Within ten minutes he had hit the post with the most spectacular chip which would have undoubtedly been the goal of the season. Desperately unlucky Meehan soon made up for it with a tap in after good work from Stephen Booth and Healy. Mullen then grabbed two in quick succession, the first a one on one after being put through my McCann and his hat trick was a great run and shot which bounced over the keepers hand.

Ballymote were in cruise control and St.Johns never really got into the game despite working hard and never giving up. Healy then got his second when he smashed the ball home from 20 yards when it broke just outside the box. Meehan made it 8 nil when he weaved through the box and slot home to make it a terrible day for the Johns netminder. Healy got a deserved hat trick to cap a spell binding performance when the ball bounced around the box and his shot should have been saved by the keeper, but it bounced off his hands and went in. Darragh McGowan finished the rout when he ran through on goal and an excellent finish brought the scoreline to 10-0.

If Celtic can continue this run of form and this level of performance while getting their strongest 11 out, Calry Bohs should be no problem.

Team:  C Meehan, C Ward, E Brennan, D Tonry, J Gethins, S Booth, C McCann, G Dwyer (S Wynne), S Healy, D O Malley (G Devlin), J Mullen (D McGowan), 
Final Score: 10-0

Date: Saturday, 11th October
Time: 1:00
Venue: Brother Walfrid Park, Ballymote
Opponents: Calry Bohs

Last Saturday we welcomed table toppers Calry Bohs to Brother Walfrid Park and unfortunately the visitors returned to Sligo with 3 easy points in the bag. Missing regulars Colm McCann and Darragh Tonry Ballymote looked doomed to lose right from the kick off.

Probably a good match to watch for the neutral Celtic started the stronger and had some fantastic opening chances. Steven Booth picked up the ball on the right and weaved his way through a few defenders before his deflected shot went wide of the post. Eamon Tighe was then put through by Jack Gethins and his shot was well saved by the keeper. Calry were riding their luck and when Glen Devlin chose to try and take an extra touch on the ball when one on one it looked like Ballymote would not have their day. His touch brought the ball straight into the arms of the Calry keeper when a first time left foot shot would surely have resulted in a goal.

After this initial period of pressure Celtic as always before half time conceded. A ball was lobbed over the head of Conor Ward who was caught out of position and the visitors right midfielder slotted home from ten yards, the ball squirming through goalkeeper Paul Clarke's hands. A bit harsh on Ballymote but chances not taken up front were proving costly. A fantastic shot from Calry's no.8 enforcer made it 2-0 and a mountain for Ballymote to climb.

In the second half Celtic brightened and some good passages of play were encouraging. However, soon it was 3-0 and game over with a well taken goal from a pin point cross. Having been given a target of four shots between the two centre midfield players Eamon Tighe took it upon himself to achieve this. Having already had two shots he fired home from 20 yards high into the net for a fantastic goal. His goal tally stands at 4 for the season and probably his best yet.

However, that was as good as it got for Ballymote. Despite having a number of chances, Jack Gethins and Tighe again going close, they never looked like getting anything from the game. Had a second gone in it may have been a tight finish but in reality Ballymote just weren't good enough. Again.

Team:  P Clarke, C Ward, G Dwyer, S Wynne, C Meehan. J Gethins, S Booth,  E Tighe, S Healy, G Devlin (S Kilcoyne), E Brennan (D O Malley)

Final Score: 1-3

Date: Saturday, 13th October
Time: 2:00
Venue: Coolaney Community Park, Coolaney
Opponents: Coolaney United

In the two games we played so far we had mixed fortunes, being well beat by Merville and then soundly thrashing Boyle Celtic cubs. So today was the real test to see how we could mix it with a team of similar stature as ourselves. However, things didn't go as planned and an evenly contested match didn't go in our favour.

The game was quite dogged from the offset and the pitch failed to let the players play some of the nice football they were capable of. Coolaney had most of the early possession and their tricky forward was proving a handful with his pace. Celtic created very little and although were unfortunate to find themselves one down after 20 minutes, didnt deserve to be winning either. Steven Booth gave away a free kick twenty yards out with seemingly little on for Coolaney. Their player lofted the ball high in the air and it dropped down over Paul Clarke's head and into the net for 1-0.

A bit harsh, but Ballymote didn't deserve to be winning either. Jack Gethins was mopping up all before him in the back and was the only thing keeping United at bay. Finally the visitors got back into the game when a corner by Eamon Tighe was met with a fantastic header by Gary Dwyer who left the man on the line with no chance. A well deserved and taken goal by Dwyer who gave Celtic some hope going into half time.

Despite a harsh team talk, things didn't improve after the break and Coolaney had more than enough chances and possession to put away the game. They missed two glorious one on one chances and should have wrapped up the game. When a mix up between Gary Dwyer and Paul Clarke allowed United's striker to nip between and round the goalkeeper it resulted in the scoreline saying 2-1. Ballymote upped the ante after this, Darragh McGowan and Colm McCann having fantastic chances to level but finding the keeper at his best.

2-1 the game finished and being harsh, Ballymote were just not good enough and deserved losers in a game where the better side won.

Team:  P Clarke, C Ward, G Dwyer, J Gethins, D Tonry,  S Booth, C McCann, E Tighe, S Healy, G Devlin (S Wynne), D McGowan

Final Score: 1-2

Date: Saturday, 15th September
Time: 11:30
Venue: Brother Walfrid Park, Ballymote
Opponents: Boyle Celtic Cubs

After a dissapointing result against Merville two weeks previous, we were looking to kick start our campaign with a good performance and hopefully 3 points from our meeting with Boyle's b team. The 3 points was important but what the goals and the ease of play did for this team's confidence could not be under-stated.

Celtic started very quickly and it was not long before Conor Meehan started the rout with a low shot past the keeper for 1-0. Eamon Tighe got his first of 3 when he was put through and he slotted home to double the lead. Conor got his second when Darragh Tonry hit a long ball to him and with the keeper failing to deal with it, Meehan tapped home. Glen Devlin then smashed into the roof of the net following Colm McCann's fantastic cross. Steven Booth got in on the act when he volleyed home from 15 yards to end any Boyle hopes of keeping it respectable.

In fairness to Boyle, they kept playing and their number 5 playing centre back was the stand out player on the pitch. We have plenty of experience of being well beat but they never give up and although created quite little, battled till the end, a fantastic quality in the team. Eamon Tighe got his hat trick before the end of the half, his 2nd a close range effort after a one two with Meehan and then with the pick of the bunch, smashing the ball into the net from ten yards.

 A couple of subsitutions didn't change the course of the game and Ballymote hung on for a clean sheet while recording a couple more goals. Glen Devlin got his second and Conor Meehan got his third with a good finish. Stephen Healy got in on the act along with Darragh McGowan who wasn't long on the pitch. Colm McCann made it 12 with a well deserved goal, having put in a man of the match display and being a constant source of creativity and thorn in the side of Boyle.

A good win, but Celtic need to test themselves against better opposition to really see how far we have come.

Team:  P Clarke, C Ward, G Dwyer (S kilcoyne), S Wynne, D Tonry, C Meehan, S Booth (D McGowan), C McCann, E Tighe (E Brennan), S Healy, G Devlin  (D O'Malley)

Final Score: 12-0

Date: Saturday, 1st September
Time: 12:30
Venue: Maugheraboy Community Park
Opponents: Merville United Lions

Knowing our poor record against Merville, we knew we had a tough job to come up to Maugheraboy and try and get anything from the game. Facing a talented u-13 Merville United side, anything less than a massive performance would ultimately spell defeat. At the Ballymote Celtic A.G.M in July Jimmy McGuinness spoke how much this squad had improved over the last year but really, this year would be the real test.

Within twenty seconds Ballymote took a shock lead. Straight from the kick off Stephen Healy fired the ball towards Steven Booth. Booth wriggled free and fed James Mullen who ran through on goal and fired to the keepers left for 1-0. Merville United were shocked. Ballymote kept up the pressure and played some fabulous stuff, keeping Merville at bay for 20 minutes as they lay siege to Sean Kilcoyne's goal. Things went pear-shaped when Gary Dwyer was adjudged to have pushed the home striker in the box. A poorly struck penalty let Ballymote off the hook as Sean Kilcoyne saved well.

However, it was to be a similar story for Ballymote. By half time it was 3-1. Sean Kilcoyne and Darragh Tonry clashed as the ball fell kindly for the Merville striker for the equaliser and for the second Kilcoyne raced out and was unlucky to see the ball squirm past him. 3-1 was a killer blow even though their striker was 2 yards offside. Harsh words were needed at half time. James Mullen had a fantastic chance towards the end of the half but his shot was straight at Merville's keeper.

The home side looked to have the game wrapped up when they made it 4-1 from a fantastic free kick. James Mullen replied with one of his own, a rocket to the corner to give Celtic a slim chance. Darragh McGowan then failed to make contact in what seemed an open goal but it wasn't to be. Ballymote worked hard with Stephen Healy, Eamon Tighe and Colm McCann the teams best performers but it wasnt enough. Paul Clarke made a couple of stunning saves but couldnt stop 2 other goals going in to give Merville as always a flattering score line.

Improvement?

Team: S kilcoyne (P Clarke), C Meehan, G Dwyer (D O'Malley), D Tonry, C Ward, S Booth, C McCann, E Tighe, S Healy, J Mullen, D McGowan (E Brennan)

Final Score: 2-6