LURGAN CELTIC

As our ties with Celtic Football Club grow stronger following Calvin Carter-Vickers permanent transfer from Tottenham, we’ve created a tie with Lurgan Celtic, making them an official allegiance club. We share the same values of being open and inclusive to all, and do our utmost to represent all members in our community.

In this programme we hear about their start to 2023.

2023 kicked off for Lurgan Celtic with a return to league action away to Armagh Blues. Blues had only 1 league defeat in the lead up to the game so were not to be taken lightly, and so it proved as Armagh Blues struck first in the early minutes of the contest from a long ball forward that beat the offside trap and saw the Armagh striker hit the back of the net.

Celtic hit back shortly afterwards courtesy of Reynolds, and had the chance to take the lead when a goalbound effort was blocked on the line by the hand of a Blues defender, that saw the home side reduced to 10 men and a penalty awarded. Unfortunately, the Toman penalty was well saved by the Armagh keeper and halftime came with both sides locked at one apiece. The Hoops started the second half in menacing fashion and two early goals put the game to bed. The first came from the head of Gilmore from a teasing Crawford cross, whilst the second and Celtic’s third, came when a Crawford inswinging freekick was met by captain Lavery to slot home and secure the win and 3 points. The remainder of the game so no further scoring and the match ended with a 3-1 away victory for the Lurgan team

The second game of the month saw Celtic travel to Loughgall to face Division 1 outfit Sandy Hill in the quarter final of the Mid Ulster Shield.

In testing conditions against a well organised Sandy Hill side, Celtic were finding chances hard to come by, and their task was made all the more difficult when with the last kick of the first half they found themselves a goal down, when a Sandy Hill corner somehow ended up evading everyone and nestled in the back of the Celtic goal. Celtic were undone again early in the second half following a quick counter attack, and despite plenty of effort, the home side were able to repel the threat and the game became more stretched as Celtic pressed forward and Sandy Hill sought to counter. Celtic did eventually pull a goal back late on via a strike from the dynamic McConville, although there was not to be extra time as the game ended with Sandy Hill progressing to the semi finals of the competition.

The month of January ended with a return to league action against Glenavy Youth for the Hoops in Lurgan. Glenavy had put together a series of results to serve notice of their quality, however on the day whilst they contained Celtic initially, they fell behind and struggled to get back into the contest. Celtic struck through the potent Reynolds, who then proceeded to double the teams tally and his own personal feat in the first half to leave them 2-0 to the good at half time. Celtic were soon back on the goal trail in the second half and the impressive McAlinden and Judge both got goals deserving of their performances.

Glenavy did pull a goal back courtesy of a corner that was not cleared, but substitutes Douglas and Withers soon had Glenavy on the back foot again and the latter struck two sublime late goals to leave the final scoreline reading 6-1 to Lurgan Celtic and thus end the month on a high.