Tulla Utd’s Ayoub Aguerran. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SEMI-FINAL action in the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup takes place this weekend with Bridge Utd, Fair Green Celtic, Newmarket Celtic and Tulla Utd all vying to qualify for the final.
Frank Healy Park hosts both games this weekend with Newmarket Celtic versus Fair Green Celtic kicking off at 7pm on Friday while Bridge Utd vs Tulla Utd has a 4pm start on Saturday.
The domestic soccer season is rapidly drawing to a close and come this Saturday evening the way will be clear for the Clare cup final.
Three of the sides involved, Newmarket Celtic, Tulla United and Bridge United are still in the running for league honours also while Fair Green Celtic, the newest of the clubs involved, have already secured promotion to the Premier Division for next season.
At the time of writing Fair Green Celltic had one training session remaining before finalising plans for Friday’s clash with Newmarket.
David Smyth and Ross McCarthy are currently on the injured list while there are major doubts about the availability of very experienced Colin Smyth due to work commitments. Should he be unavailable for the clash with his former club it would represent a massive loss for the Ennis club who are captained by Jack Walsh and managed by Richie O’Grady.
New players, Hubert Kantecki and Dario Fernandes who joined the club this year have been making a strong impression as has Sean Perrill who is in his second season, he formerly lined out with Ennis Town FC and Newmarket.
Lads that have been with the team since the start such as Pa Sherlock, Dean Coughlin, Eddie Shaw, Sean Corry, Bruce Piggott, Lee Clohessy, Shane Browne, Ethan Coote and Ruiari Norrby have improved each year. New signings this season that have strengthened the squad include Tomasz Zajas, Garry Higgins and goalkeeper Liam Deasy.
According to assistant manager Thomas Leahy, “to win on Friday and get to the final would be a dream come true against such an iconic team as Newmarket Celtic, their history speaks for itself and they are one of the best teams in the country”.
Leahy told The Clare Echo, “after gaining three promotions in three seasons and to be a Premier team next season after winning two league titles and three league cups along the way we won’t be there to make up the numbers and we will be looking to go one better than our semi-final appearance in our first season against Avenue”.
Arguably Newmarket Celtic are the most experienced of the four clubs still in the hunt for cup honours. Managed this year by former player Eoin O’Brien, he is not taking anything for granted. “Fair Green are a formidable outfit, with experienced players who played with Avenue, Newmarket and Ennis Town. They have won three successive promotions and will be in the Premier Division next season”, he said.
Newmarket Celtic, who are also in the running for the Premier Division title, will be without Kevin Harnett and Ethan Fitzgerald for Friday’s semi-final due to injury. Celtic are captained by former Sheffield United player, Harvey Cullinan and their side also includes the vastly experienced Eoin Hayes who has struggled with injury this season, goalkeeper Shane Cusack, the hard-working Jack Kelly and winger Dean Hegarty. “We are up against a strong side and we certainly won’t be taking anything for granted”, O’Brien said.
It’s already been a great season for Tulla United but all involved with the club want to make it an even more successful one. Youths cup title holders, they are back in this season’s final at that level while they recently captured the youths league. Their ladies have already won their league title, getting to the Clare Cup final would represent another step forward for the East Clare club.
Their team for Saturday’s semi-final tilt with Bridge United won’t be finalised until after their training session on Friday evening. “We have a few lads doing exams throughout this week while Jack McSweeney is doubtful due to injury and we will have to assess this on Friday”, team manager Mike Moloney said this week.
Tulla United are captained by Dara Ryan and their side includes Daragh Corry, an Oscar Traynor winner with Clare and one of the team’s most experienced members. Shane Fogarty is involved with the coaching of the team as is Eoin Kilker and Aaron Curtin. “The majority of our squad has come through the club’s youths section and we are trying to make a bit of history and follow on the success of the youths and ladies teams”, Moloney stated.
Bridge United must plan for their semi-final clash with Tulla United on Saturday without the injured Kyle Kirby while doubts remain about the fitness of Liam Flynn who has been out through injury for the past six weeks.
Currently in the driving seat for Premier Division honours, each game has huge significance for the Sixmilebridge club, manager Mark Culbert outlined. “The more big games the better at the end of the season. We have six league games left and every game is massively important. Lads can’t wait for Saturday, we had a great training session tonight after a disappointing loss to Avenue in the league at the weekend. We have been so close and lads want to get over the line.
“Last year we were a couple of minutes away from a place in the final but we went out in somewhat controversial circumstances. We were 1-0 up and we were awarded a penalty but we were penalised for offside, lost the penalty and they went down and got a penalty to level and then they scored in the next attack. We hope to use that as motivation and go one further this year. It’s been a long time since we were in a cup final and nearly 40 years since we won, Tulla will be a massive test, they are a really good team, well organised and well driven”.
