Title holders Newmarket Celtic A continued their drive to retain the Premier Division title with victory over Lifford on Sunday.
This latest win has moved them four points clear of their nearest challengers Avenue United A who have a game in hand on the champions. The Ennis side surprisingly dropped points when they were held to a draw on Sporting Ennistymon, a result that may well have a big part to play in the destination of this year’s title.
A draw that may prove costly for Avenue
Avenue United A 1
Sporting Ennistymon 1
Venue: Roslevan
Avenue United A suffered a setback in their challenge for the premier league title when they were held to a draw by Sporting Ennistymon on Sunday.
The popular view is that the destination of the title rests between Avenue and the holders Newmarket Celtic and while it is possible for Avenue to win the title, another slip up could prove very costly.
Playing with the aid of the breeze, Avenue took the lead when Mark Roche found the net from the penalty spot.
Sporting Ennistsymon came close to equalising but Sean McConigley’s header struck the post. Soon afterwards McConigley had the sides level when he finished following a header from Nna Nneji. The visitors continued to cause problems for the home side and came close to taking the lead on a few occasions.
Soon after the break the North Clare outfit failed to capitalise on a great opportunity but Nna Nneji saw his effort cleared off the goal line by Cullen McCabe. At the other end Eoghan Thynne failed the hit the target from close range.
The visitors were reduced to ten men when Jamesy McConigley was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The game was deep in injury time when the home side was presented with a golden opportunity to take all three points when they were awarded a second penalty, a decision that clearly annoyed the visitors. However Mark Roche failed to hit the target and a share of the spoils was the outcome.
Avenue United A: James Tierney; Cullen McCabe, Conor Hehir, Dylan Casey, Shane Browne; Stephen Jordan, Mickey Dinan, Alan Roche, Mark Roche; Elias Kunz, Tomas Hehir.
Subs: Eoghan Thynne for Dinan, Philip Talty for Jordan, Dylan Barry for Browne.
Sporting Ennistymon: Jared Gutherless; Joe Gallagher, Ciaran Monaghan, Jamesy McConigley, Jack O’Dea; Darren McNamara, Cathal McConigley, Nna Nneji, Michael Leigh, Shane Kearney; Sean McConigley.
Subs: Thierry Boutan for Gallagher, Mattie Crowe for C McConigley.
Champions go marching on
Lifford 0
Newmarket Celtic A 3
Venue: Cassidy Park, Drumcliffe
A galeforce wind caused problems for the teams in this tie played at Cassidy Park on Sunday. Newmarket played against it in the opening half but managed to take the lead just before the half time whistle through David McCarthy.
After the break the visitors piled on the pressure and kept the home side on their line and they eventually conceded with McCarthy scoring his and Newmarket’s second of the day.
Goalkeeper Shane Cusack got on the scoresheet when his long range free kick dipped over Rhys Phillips in the Lifford goal.
Newmarket Celtic A: Shane Cusack; David O’Gready Darren Cullinan; Paddy Purcell, Stephen Kelly; Alan Kelly, David McCarthy, Conor McDaid, Daithi O’Connell, Eoin Hayes, Ronan McCoemack;
Subs; Ciaran McCoy for S. Kelly; Eoin Kelly for McCormack, Gearoid O’Brien for McCarthy.
Lifford: Rhys Phillips; Dan Daly, Keith Shea, Ethan Cronin, Darragh Kerins Nathan Rezende, John Keogh, Eoin Monaghan, Guillermo, Paul Martin, Eddie Killeen;
Subs: Mattie Davenport for Keogh; Jean Ganda for Cronin; Gary McNaboe for Guillermo; Zack Guilfoyle for Rezende; Darragh Madigan for Killeen
Missed chances costly for Ennis Town
Ennis Town 0
Shannon Olympic 1
Midfielder Rachid Alallah scored the decisive goal as Shannon Olympic accounted for Ennis Town in this Premier Division tie on Sunday
Ennis created the greater number of scoring chances but failed to convert.
Shannon Olympic: Zsolt Lagos; Benjamin Cantillon, Rob Clair, Dan Clair, Pa Madden; Piotr Kaluzza, Sean McDonald, Ciaran Keane. Ryan Kelly, Ray Quigley, Declan McDonald;
Subs; Rachid Amallah for Quigley;
Ennis Town: Aidan Jordan; Sean Perril, Declan Ensko, Jason Cussen, Emmanuel Ikiebui; Jashar Aliu, Lee Clohessy, Peter O’Brien, Joe Campbell, Dean Coughlan, Robbie Gormley;
Subs; Paddy Bugler for O’Brien; Graham Callinan for Ensko; Mikey Mongans for Gormley
Shannon Town on top in local derby
Shannon Hibs A 1
Shannon Town A 3
Venue: Riverside Park, Shannon
Shannon Town A won this local derby premier league tie in Shannon on Sunday with goals from Jack Ryan and two own goals, both deflected off Stephen Tuohy.
The winners were 1-0 in front at half time. Billy Connors was the goalscorer for Shannon Hibs.
Shannon Hibs: Damian Casey; Ciaran McKee, Bobby O’Connell, Stephen Tuohy Julian Woods; Darragh McDade, Pa Devanney, Jack Hannah, Stephen McInerney, Gary Leahy, Billy Connors;
Subs: Adam Ryan for McKee; Mikey Wall for McInerney; Thomas McDade for Woods; Zygge Wall for Hannah
Shannon Town A; Darren Whelan; Cody Waller, Darren Griffin, Colum Treacy, Fionn McInerney; Brian Monaghan, Jack Kelly, Gary O’Connell, Kieran Hackett, Jack Ryan, Colin Scanlan;
Subs; Ben O’Neill for Hackett; Liam Boland for O’Connell; Aaron Kelly for Waller; Christopher Dunning for Scanlan.
Cup action
There are three games down for decision on Wednesday evening next, April 20th, in the race for the Banner Flooring & Carpets Clare Cup title.
The prize for the winners of the Mountshannon v Ennis Town game is a quarter final date with Avenue United A and Ennis Town will carry the favourites tag to advance to a meeting with their Ennis neighbours.
Kilkishen Celtic and Sporting Ennistymon meet with cup holders Newmarket Celtic A awaiting the winners in the last eight. The North Clare side are fancied to make it through to face the champions.
Bridge United A carry the favourites tag when they travel to play Shannon Town B with Shannon Hibs awaiting the winners.
