*Ronan Kerin and Jack Kelly in action. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
NEWMARKET CELTIC, Bridge Utd and Fair Green Celtic completed the line-up for the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup semi-finals.
Following their victory over Inch Crusaders on Sunday last, Tulla Utd were the first side through to the penultimate stage and the final four was decided after the three remaining quarter-finals took place on Sunday.
Bridge Utd as expected proved too strong for Moher Celtic, Fair Green Celtic accounted for Premier Division side Shannon Olympic and Avenue Utd’s bid to win four Clare Cup titles in a row for the first time was ended by their rivals Newmarket Celtic.
Newmarket end Avenue’s reign as Clare Cup champions
Newmarket Celtic 1
Avenue Utd 0
Venue: McDonough Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
It was a scrappy contest but Dean Hegarty’s superbly taken finish in the opening half proved the difference as Newmarket Celtic overcome Avenue for the second time this month.
Though it was scrappy, it thankfully stayed civil between both sets of teams and supporters, even though there was some flash points throughout the course of ninety minutes with four yellow cards and no reds dished out.
Steven McGann’s absence with a knee injury was a huge hindrance to Avenue who really missed the attacking flair and creativity he brings to their side. Newmarket Celtic were not at full strength either with former FAI Junior International of the Year, Eoin Hayes missing out through injury.
Early chances fell the way of Ronan Kerin and Jack Dunleavy, the first didn’t trouble Shane Cusack while Dunleavy’s took a deflection and resulted in a corner which Conor Mullen headed over on nineteen minutes. Mullen was fortunate not to pick up a yellow for a challenge on Tadhg Noonan prior to this but found himself in the referee’s book later in the tie for an off the ball incident with Cian McDonough.
Approaching the half hour mark, Newmarket Celtic were beginning to exert some more pressure, first Harvey Cullinan headed a delivery from his cousin Cathal narrowly wide while a dangerous shot from Noonan went over on thirty three minutes.
After an attempt from Nnabuike Nneji missed the target, Shane Cusack’s resulting kickout was touched down by Tadhg Noonan, controlled and laid off by Cian McDonough to Dean Hegarty who produced a tremendous finish which rippled the net and sent Newmarket Celtic supporters jumping in the air on thirty six minutes.
Glorious chances to double their lead in the second half from Noonan and Hegarty were coughed up on and had a risk of proving costly for Celtic as Avenue attempted to force an equaliser. Their best effort fell to Jamie Roche on fifty eight minutes and Nneji on seventy five minutes.
Fresh legs were needed to provide some energy for the leaders and it prompted Eoin O’Brien and his management to introduce both Kieran Hackett and Brian O’Connor and the Shannon duo provided exactly that, both coming close with efforts in the final ten minutes, at which stage Avenue had a new goalkeeper as injury forced off Luke Woodrow, in his place came Jakub Ruminowicz.
Last sixteen exits in both the FAI and Munster Junior Cups saw Avenue’s hopes of a breakthrough season dashed and matters have not improved for them since then with league defeats to Kilrush and Newmarket putting them to the pin of their collars in trying to retain the Premier Division title. Their Cup quarter-final exit is the latest in their series of setbacks in what has been a rapid fall from grace as they appear to be an outfit reaching a fork in the road. For David Russell’s side, Dylan Casey, Nnabuike Nneji, Conor Mullen and Cullen McCabe stood tall.
Victorious on the day, Newmarket Celtic didn’t set the world alight but held out. They didn’t create an abundance of chances and failed to take some guilt-edged opportunities, errors that they may not get away with on bigger days. With Shane Cusack as their goalkeeper, they have a very solid anchor while Ian Collins impressed at right-full with Cathal Cullinan becoming more prominent at left-back as the game progressed, others to impress included Harvey Cullinan, Dean Hegarty and Tadhg Noonan.
Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack, Ian Collins, Anthony Dabryntes, Harvey Cullinan, Cathal Cullinan; Jack Kelly, Conor McDaid; Aaron Rudd, Cian McDonough, Dean Hegarty, Tadhg Noonan.
Subs; Kieran Hackett for Noonan (75), Brian O’Connor for McDaid (75), Nathan Boaventura for Hegarty (85), Ronan McCormack for McDonough (90),
Avenue Utd: Luke Woodrow; Cullen McCabe, Conor Mullen, Dylan Casey, Conor Hehir; Nnabuike Nneji, Jamie Roche, Jack Dunleavy, Philip Talty; Ronan Kerin, Jack Ryan.
Subs: Mark Roche for Talty (60), Jakub Ruminowicz for Woodrow (68), Dylan Barry for J Roche (75), Owen Hadden for Hehir (82),
Referee: Mark Reilis
Bridge back in semi-finals
Bridge Utd 4
Moher Celtic 0
Venue: Lahinch
A twelve minute blitz in the opening half saw Bridge Utd effectively seal their place in the semi-finals of the Clare Cup at a windy Lahinch.
Moher Celtic had been holding up well against favourites but their optimism vanished following the concession of Scott Kirkland’s first goal on twenty five minutes. This was akin to the dam bursting as the waves near the majestic Lahinch beach came crashing in on the hosts with further goals from Filip Mostowy (34) and Liam Buckley (38).
Kirkland managed to put some spin on his free which curled from the wall and spilled from the grasp of young Liam Marrinan between the posts.
Moher contested the awarding of Buckley’s goal after he headed Brian Monaghan’s corner off the crossbar and over the line, the North Clare side argued it was not over the line but referee Paudie Hayes was in a strong position to adjudicate.
There was no real forward plan from the underdogs who only had one real chance of note during the game when Liam Buckley gifted possession to Ruairi Crimmins but his shot was saved by Bridge captain John Mulready.
A second bookable offence for Michael O’Dwyer saw Moher finish with ten men as the First Division side exited the Cup.
For Bridge Utd, they firmly remain in contention for not along Cup glory but league honours also.
Bridge Utd: John Mulready; Luc Fitzpatrick, Scott Kirkland, Liam Buckley, Lee Mulready; Eric Carr, Mikey Guerin, Jack O’Halloran, Brian Monaghan, Filip Mostowy, Ger Myles.
Subs: Kyle Kirby for Fitzpatrick (64), A Moloney for O’Halloran (64), Brian Corry for Myles (75), Dominic Griffin for Buckley (75), D White for Mulready (80),
Moher Celtic: Liam Marrinan; Niall Rose, Michael O’Dwyer, Michael Davenport, Niall Canavan; Jean Christophe Thierry Bouton, Jack O’Regan, Tom Hanrahan, Cathal Finucane, Ruairí Crimmins, Ryan Barry.
Subs: Bonito Francesco for O’Regan (53), Brian Considine for Bouton (53), Cobhan Phillipson for Barry (85), David Commane for Rose (83), Barry Rynne for Crimmins (86).
Referee: Paudie Hayes
Four goals see Fair Green qualify for semi-finals
Fair Green Celtic 4
Shannon Olympic 0
Venue: Lees Rd
A second-ever Clare Cup semi-final appearance is the reward for Fair Green Celtic after they proved superior to Shannon Olympic on Sunday afternoon.
Halfway through the opening half, Fair Green led 2-0 with Bruce Piggot and Eddie Shaw hitting the target.
Dean Coughlan converted a penalty on eighty one minutes, the awarding of which prompted Olympic goalkeeper Kyle Callaghan to push referee Michael Rock.
Colin Smyth wrapped up the win for the Ennis club when scoring in additional time to seal a deserved win for Declan Ryan’s charges.
Fair Green Celtic: Liam Deasy; Jack Walsh, Shane Browne, Dario Fernandez, Hubert Kantecki, William Bello, Pa Sherlock, Eddie Shaw, Bruce Piggott, Dean Coughlan, Sean Perrill.
Subs: Ethan Coote for Walsh (63), Colin Smyth for Pigott (63), Sean Corry for Sherlock (70), Ruairi Norrby for Browne (73), Tomasz Zajas for Fernandez (85)
Referee: Michael Rock
