In a pulsating encounter at Flomax Park on 8th August 2025, Enfield Celtic edged out Ardee Celtic with a dramatic 4-3 victory in a thrilling cup tie. The match, which kicked off at 7:45pm, saw both teams display attacking flair and resilience, culminating in a nail-biting finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Enfield Celtic set up in a 4-3-3 formation, designed to maximise their attacking potential while maintaining a solid defensive structure. Sean Coyle donned the gloves as the goalkeeper, shielded by a back four comprising Conor Geraghty on the right, Sean O'Shea and Jake McCreddin in central defence, and Sean Mckeon on the left. The midfield trio featured Dylan Mcdonagh on the right, Evan Geraghty centrally, and Dan Carolan on the left, providing both creativity and support to the forward line. Up front, Ethan Mcloughlin and Tadhg Connolly operated as right and left forwards respectively, with Cian Geraghty leading the line as the striker. The substitutes for the match included Jack Campion, Alex Curtis, Remi Kareem, Paul Burdett, and David Borda.
The match began with Ardee Celtic taking an early lead in the fifth minute, catching Enfield Celtic off guard. Just eight minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage with a fluke goal that left the home side reeling. Enfield Celtic, however, responded with determination, and in the 24th minute, Evan Geraghty pulled one back with a stunning strike from inside the box, assisted by Tadhg Connolly. This goal ignited the home crowd and breathed new life into the team.
Despite the setback, Ardee Celtic managed to restore their two-goal cushion in the 32nd minute with another fortunate effort. Enfield Celtic's frustrations were compounded when Dylan Mcdonagh received a yellow card for persistent infringements shortly after. As the first half drew to a close, the score stood at 3-1 in favour of the visitors, leaving Enfield Celtic with much to do in the second half.
The second half commenced with Enfield Celtic looking to claw their way back into the match. Their efforts bore fruit in the 52nd minute when Tadhg Connolly scored with a well-placed shot, assisted by Cian Geraghty, narrowing the deficit to 3-2. The momentum shifted further in Enfield's favour as they continued to press for an equaliser.
As the match progressed, Ethan Mcloughlin was cautioned with a yellow card for persistent infringements in the 69th minute, but Enfield Celtic remained undeterred. In the 73rd minute, Dylan Mcdonagh found the back of the net with a close-range effort, assisted by Conor Geraghty, bringing the score to 3-3 and sending the home fans into raptures.
With the match finely poised, Enfield Celtic faced a series of injury concerns that forced them to make substitutions late in the game. Evan Geraghty was replaced by Jack Campion in the 83rd minute due to injury, followed by Alex Curtis coming on for Conor Geraghty in the 89th minute. Just moments later, Remi Kareem replaced Cian Geraghty, as Enfield sought to maintain their momentum.
The match entered extra time, and in the 96th minute, Paul Burdett was introduced for Jake McCreddin, with David Borda coming on for Tadhg Connolly in the 100th minute. The home side's resilience paid off when they scored the decisive goal, clinching a thrilling 4-3 victory and securing their place in the next round of the cup.
Sean O'Shea's commanding performance in defence earned him the accolade of Player of the Match, as he played a pivotal role in keeping Ardee Celtic at bay during crucial moments of the game. The match showcased the fighting spirit of Enfield Celtic, who, despite a rocky start, demonstrated their ability to rally and emerge victorious in a high-stakes cup encounter.
