The town had an easier than expected win in the shield against Rushlight Celtic from Belfast on Saturday. They did so without hitting any great heights and were helped to a large degree by their opponents indiscipline. The home side went 1 up on 11 minutes through a Paddy Keown penalty following a deliberate hand ball in the area resulting in the Celtic defender getting sent off.
Big Paddy extended their lead on 23 minutes with a fine header and the game was virtually over on the half hour mark when Mooney scored after Sean Dornan did the spadework. At this point the Celtic goalkeeper took off his jersey and seemed to walk off, but the visitors sideline were quick on the ball and made a substitution which was accepted by the ref. 5 minutes before the interval it was 4 when the ref gave another penalty after Steele was ‘taken out’ in the area and again Paddy stroked the ball home.
The visitors came out all guns blazing in the second half and put Castlewellan under some pressure early on but the town were content to soak this up and hit on the break which they did to good effect on 57 minutes when Conal Corrigan was put through and slotted home confidently. Celtic were up in arms claiming offside but their left back was very slow to react and played everyone onside. Aidan Burns who had come on as a sub made it 6 after 65 minutes when he chested down and slipped the ball past the advancing keeper with ease.
Celtic again claimed offside but it wasn’t even close. Shortly after this Mooney was hacked down by two defenders and foolishly retaliated sparking a full scale fight, when the dust had settled both the main protagonists were sent off. With 80 minutes gone McArdle had a fantastic header come back off the crossbar before Tin Tin made the final score 7-0 when he scored from the spot after he had been taken down in the area.
Referee M Dumigan who had an excellent game, blew the match up early which was probably the right decision under the circumstances. Castlewellan will now host either Raceview Athletic ar Wesley in the second round.
