‘I’m absolutely gutted’ - Castlebar Celtic seek to put FAI Junior Cup defeat behind them

“ALL is not gone.” So said Castlebar Celtic’s assistant manager, Declan Flynn, casting his mind away from the almost surreal scenes of desolation that rarely follow a Castlebar Celtic game, and towards Sunday’s Connacht Cup clash with St John’s Athletic. 

But not before reflecting on where Celtic had come in recent years - from Super League underachievers to back-to-back top-table champions to the top table in Irish junior soccer. 

“Let’s not kid ourselves, from where we came from to where we are now is absolutely night and day. It’s the players that deserve the credit for that,” a humble Flynn told reporters. “Anything that’s been asked of them, to a man, they just get on with it. It’s them I’m disappointed for because I know the work they put in. But we go again next Sunday.”

One of his troops, Johnny Cocozza, summed up the mood in the Castlebar Celtic camp. 

“I’m absolutely gutted, to be fair,” the jovial midfielder told The Mayo News. “I thought we were in there in the first half. The first ten minutes went to them alright, but then we got into the game and in the second half, when we were running at them I think we were the better team. It’s absolutely gutting the way we conceded in extra time. They defended well; to be fair to them, they were more experienced. But I’m just deflated, I won’t lie.”

There must be a few regrets?

“Maybe have a bit more courage on the ball, get the ball down and play it,” said Cocozza. “I think we went too long, too quick, whereas if we kept the ball down, when we actually ran through the middle, we caused them a lot of problems.”

Emlyn Long, Salthill Devon manager, felt the vanquished “had kind of played more of a containment game when we had possession and tried to counter-attack, which was very effective with the players and pace they have in their team.” 

Declan Flynn’s parting message to the crestfallen Celtic supporters?

“Come out again next Sunday,” smiled Flynn. “They are brilliant, they are absolutely fantastic. I think, along with this current group of players, they have brought a lot of smiles to faces.”

The journey continues.