In an exhilarating league encounter at Flomax Park on 11 May 2025, Enfield Celtic 3rds emerged victorious against Kingscourt Harps 2nds, sealing a thrilling 5-3 win. The match kicked off at 3:00pm and was officiated by referee Noel Dempsey, who had a busy afternoon overseeing a contest filled with goals and drama.
Enfield Celtic 3rds set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which allowed for a solid defensive base while providing ample support for their attacking players. Eoin Cross manned the goal, shielded by a back four comprising Sean Mcphillips and Brandon Tait as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Alex Curtis and Stephen Kane occupying the central defensive roles. In midfield, Keith Silvester and Keith Larkin operated as the central midfielders, tasked with both breaking up opposition play and initiating attacks. Ahead of them, Rimas Drobinin and Slu Zaka played as right and left attacking midfielders, while Ethan Mcloughlin took up the central attacking midfield role, supporting lone striker Darragh Curtis. The substitutes included Justin Payawal.
The match began with Enfield Celtic 3rds asserting their dominance early on. Just eight minutes in, Ethan Mcloughlin opened the scoring, converting a precise short pass from Slu Zaka inside the box with his right foot. The home side's lead was short-lived, however, as Kingscourt Harps equalised in the 13th minute through a goalmouth scramble, with the ball bundled in from close range.
As the first half progressed, Kingscourt Harps took the lead in the 30th minute, scoring another goal from inside the box, again with their right foot. Enfield Celtic 3rds, now trailing, responded with urgency and found their equaliser just before the half-time whistle. Slu Zaka netted in the 44th minute, finishing off a well-placed short pass from Brandon Tait, sending the teams into the break level at 2-2.
The second half commenced with Enfield Celtic 3rds looking to regain control, and they did just that. Just three minutes after the restart, Mcloughlin struck again, scoring his second goal of the match in the 48th minute, once more assisted by Zaka with a short pass inside the box.
In the 60th minute, Enfield Celtic was forced into a substitution as Brandon Tait left the pitch due to injury, making way for Justin Payawal. Kingscourt Harps managed to pull one back in the 68th minute, scoring another close-range goal during a scramble in the box, making it 3-3.
Tempers flared in the 71st minute when Keith Larkin received a yellow card for dissent, as the match continued to heat up. Enfield Celtic 3rds, however, were not to be deterred. In the 75th minute, Mcloughlin completed his hat-trick, scoring his third goal of the match with a right-footed shot, assisted by Rimas Drobinin.
With the score at 4-3, Enfield Celtic 3rds continued to press forward, and in the 83rd minute, Slu Zaka struck again, netting his second goal of the match with a precise finish after receiving a short pass from Darragh Curtis. This goal sealed the victory for Enfield Celtic 3rds, bringing the final score to 5-3.
The match showcased a remarkable performance from Slu Zaka, who not only scored twice but also provided crucial assists, earning him the accolade of Player of the Match. Enfield Celtic 3rds will take great confidence from this victory as they continue their league campaign.
