In a gripping encounter at Flomax Park on 8th June 2025, Enfield Celtic faced Longwood AFC in a cup match that ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, with Longwood emerging victorious in the penalty shootout, 4-3. The match kicked off at 11:30 am, setting the stage for a thrilling contest between the two sides.
Enfield Celtic adopted a 4-3-3 formation, which saw Sean Coyle stationed in goal. The backline consisted of Jack Campion and Sean McKeon as the right and left defenders, respectively, while Nathan Kearney and Sean O'Shea formed the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Dan Carolan operated on the right, with Evan Geraghty and Davey Morgan occupying central and left midfield roles. Up front, Ethan McLoughlin played as the right forward, Phil Conolly took the central striking position, and Tadhg Connolly was deployed as the left forward. The formation aimed to provide a balanced attack while maintaining defensive solidity.
The substitutes for Enfield Celtic included Sam Jordan, Cian Geraghty, and Shane Molloy, who would be called upon later in the match as the game unfolded.
The first half saw Enfield Celtic take control, and their efforts bore fruit in the 33rd minute when Phil Conolly found the back of the net. Conolly's goal came from a well-placed short pass by Evan Geraghty, allowing him to strike with his left foot from inside the box, sending the home crowd into raptures.
As the teams headed into the break, Enfield Celtic held a 1-0 lead, but the second half brought a swift change in fortunes. Just five minutes after the restart, Longwood AFC equalised in a rather fortuitous manner. A fluke goal from close range, scored with the right foot, caught the Enfield defence off guard, bringing the score to 1-1.
The match took a turn for the worse for Enfield Celtic shortly after the equaliser, as Evan Geraghty had to be substituted due to injury in the 51st minute, with Sam Jordan coming on to replace him. The game became increasingly physical, leading to a series of yellow cards for the Enfield players. Dan Carolan was cautioned in the 62nd minute for persistent infringements, followed by Sean O'Shea receiving a yellow card just three minutes later for similar reasons.
Ethan McLoughlin also found himself in the referee's book in the 71st minute, further compounding Enfield's disciplinary woes. As the match progressed, Enfield Celtic made tactical changes, with Tadhg Connolly making way for Cian Geraghty in the 78th minute due to injury, and Sean O'Shea being substituted for Shane Molloy in the 80th minute.
The final minutes of regular time saw Davey Morgan receive a yellow card in the 85th minute, as Enfield Celtic struggled to maintain their composure amidst the mounting pressure. With the score still level at 1-1, the match proceeded to extra time, where neither side could find a decisive goal, leading to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Longwood AFC proved to be the more clinical side, converting four penalties to Enfield's three, thus sealing their progression in the cup. Despite the disappointment of the penalty shootout, Ethan McLoughlin's performance stood out, earning him the accolade of Player of the Match for his contributions throughout the contest.
