NEFL Premier Division
Sunday 23rd April 2023

Kentstown 1-3 Kells Celtic

Kells boosted by magic Juice

1. Johnny Lynch
2. Brandon Browne
3. Thomas Carry
4. Danny Murphy
5. Carl Jordan
6. Lewis O’Donnell
7. Kuba Bidzinski
8. Lar Ivers ⚽️
9. Jack O’Keeffe ⚽️ ⚽️
10. Bradley Caffery
11. Ryan Farnham

12. Paul Delaney 🔄 Carl Jordan
13. Edan McKay 🔄 Kuba Bidzinski
14. Seanie Curran 🔄 Ryan Farnham
15. Conor Kirwan 🔄 Bradley Caffery
16. Frank O’Reilly

Kells travelled to Kentstown with determination to build on good performances in the opening 2 games that had yielded nothing and set out their stall early using the smaller pitch to their advantage with Ryan Farnham getting behind the Kentstown defence twice in the opening 10 minutes but not capitalising.

Kells did all the pressing but Kentstown looked dangerous on the break and it took some superb work from Lewis O’Donnell to keep them at bay.

Kells took a deserved lead with 25 gone when Lar Ivers was bundled over in the box and Jack “Juice” O’Keeffe stroked home for his first of the game.

Kentstown had very little opportunity to attack but gave a warning 10 before half-time when their dangerous no. 10 hit a free kick just over the bar. The warning wasn’t heeded and the same player found the bottom corner with a wonderfully struck free kick on the stroke of half-time to level the scores.

Half-time 1-1

Kells started the 2nd half uncharacteristically slowly and were conceding territory with ease which lead to a lot of play around the Kells box and called Johnny Lynch into action but they took the lead again when a scramble from a corner saw poacher supreme Lar Ivers poke home inside the 6 yard box.

Kenstown started upping their aggressiveness but Kells kept the heads and extended their lead with 20 left when a pre-rehearsed corner saw Juice peel off the front Post and flick a backheel home ala Gianfranco Zola all those years ago.

Kentstown pushed hard but it was Kells who could have extended their lead with a couple of counter attacks as time ran down.

Kells off the mark in the Premier Division with the belief in their abilities giving a great platform for them to build on. Next up is a hike to the border to face Bellurgan next Friday night.