Match of the Week: Lourdes on track for double as they see off Tallaght

INFLICTING all the necessary damage in the opening half of their DDSL Under 15 Premier Two clash in Sundrive Park on Saturday, Lourdes Celtic secured a 4-1 victory over Tallaght Town to remain on course for a possible double this season.

Having only recently landed the DDSL Conway Cup following a penalty-shootout win over Cambridge in the decider, the Crumlin side are now locked in a fierce battle with Portmarnock for the divisional crown.

A hat-trick by Luke O’Connor last weekend went a long way to earning them another batch of valuable points at the expense of Tallaght who had been flying high in second place up to several weeks ago, but suffering four reversals has, in the meantime, pushed them back down to fifth.

And they were playing catch-up again just eight minutes into Saturday’s tie when Callum O’Reilly played the ball into the feet of Jack Kelly whose diagonal cross to the right set up Ryan Bramble to fire home from some 18 yards out.

The homeside had to wait just another four minutes before doubling their advantage, Alex Phillips breaking down the left and whipping in a delivery to which Luke O’Connor got his head to register the first of his three goals on the day.

Tallaght Town were unable to build on their first-half goal against Lourdes

With goalkeeper Carlo Brassel having been called into service with the match just a couple of minutes old, Tallaght had been served an early warning that they may be in for a long day.

That said, they did manage to find the back off the net when Ryan Purdy raced on to Sean Honer’s through ball and finished well from close range.

But that was to be as good as it would get for the visitors who found themselves facing a three-goal deficit at the half time recess.

In what was an impressive team move, Lourdes chalked up a third, Jake Brogan playing the ball into the centre where David Yimga combined with Phillips to open up some space before swiping a pass out to O’Connor on the right and he duly planted the ball in the back of the net.

Callum O’Reilly of Lourdes Celtic puts in a challenge on Tallaght Town’s Alfie Coughlan

Some more super team play was produced for Lourdes’ fourth as the ball was worked up-field through Thomas Tisdale, Kelly and Yimga before Phillips gathered possession on the wing and his delivery forced O’Connor to stoop down for a header that looped over the reach of goalkeeper Brassel.

Making changes at the break, Lourdes were unable to add to their tally in the second half, but Tallaght, despite the best efforts of Kyle O’Connor in the centre, just could not prise open the Celtic rearguard.

Meanwhile Lourdes did go close to extending their advantage with Kelly’s long-range attempt forcing a fine stop from Brassel while Reilly and Salvador Alfonso were also denied by the Tallaght Number One.

Yet, with O’Reilly and Yimga combining superbly in central midfield and Jack Kelly’s running up front proving a constant headache for the Tallaght cover, Lourdes were able to see out the match quite comfortably.

Tallaght’s Jason Nolan and Lourdes Celtic’s David Yimga in a race for the ball

Saturday’s triumph helps keep them well in the hunt for the divisional title heading into the homestretch during which they will twice face Portmarnock in what will surely be pivotal fixtures in determining the destination of the prize.

“Winning the Conway Cup earlier in the month was massive for us, and now we would just really love to go on and make it a double,” said Lourdes manager James Kelly.