*Jack Kelly leads the celebrations for Newmarket Celtic. Photograph: Joe Buckley.
NEWMARKET CELTIC have been crowned winners of the Maloney Hardware Premier Division for the first time since 2023.
Newmarket Celtic 2
Bridge Utd 1
Venue: Bridge Utd Grounds, Sixmilebridge
A historic campaign whereby they have gone unbeaten in Clare has deservedly led to Newmarket Celtic reclaiming their title as league champions for the seventh time in eleven seasons.
Bridge Utd fell out of the title race a fortnight ago when failing to defeat Avenue Utd in Sixmilebridge, a result which led to Newmarket reclaiming the title from Avenue who had been bidding for a three-in-a-row.
In truth it was long before that game and well before Friday evening when Newmarket showed that they were the best side in the Premier Division this season. The trophy may have been late in arriving to Sixmilebridge but Newmarket had since the turn of the year seemed the most likely destination on where the silverware would be residing for the next twelve months.
Alan Gough’s charges have been the most consistent outfit in the season and had the strongest squad in the county which is essential for any title tilt.
They’re not done yet and will face off with Bridge Utd again in a fortnight’s time in the semi-finals of the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup. The other clash in the penultimate clash pits Avenue Utd against Sporting Ennistymon.
With the outcome known before kick-off, there was a definite lack of bite to proceedings in Sixmilebridge and both teams were holding back ahead of the looming semi-final.
On the stroke of half-time, Bridge Utd took the lead. Kyle Kirby was fouled by Darragh Leahy as Newmarket Celtic failed to clear their lines from a corner, referee Brian Punch awarded a penalty which Jack O’Halloran calmly slotted to the net.
Fifteen year old Kelvin Mulqueen got Newmarket off to the best possible start as the second half commenced. The teenager rattled the net with a brilliant finish as Celtic broke from one end of the field to the next, right winger Nathan Boaventura placing the ball in his direction to leave Mulqueen do the rest.
Substitute Éanna Crimmins pounced to get their second goal on sixty two minutes, less than five minutes after he entered the fold. The defender showed quick reactions to head home from the back post in what his second goal of the season, the first coming against Newmarket Celtic B in the Clare Cup.
For the winners, Harvey Cullinan, Nathan Boaventura and Conor McDaid were most impressive in their latest victory.
Bridge Utd were definitely missing a spark and seemed to be holding back for their upcoming duel with the neighbours. Kyle Kirby, Liam Buckley and Adam Fitzpatrick were the standout players for Mark Culbert’s men.
CDSL Chairman, Donal Magee presented the league trophy to victorious captain Jack Kelly following the final whistle. Magee paid tribute to Newmarket Celtic for their exploits all season and singled out their veterans of David McCarthy, Eoin Hayes and referenced captain Kelly’s first Premier Division success which was with Shannon Town in 2017 when Magee was manager.
Kelly in his speech paid tribute to Alan Gough and said the manager stated after arriving in Newmarket-on-Fergus that he was only interesting in winning silverware and not making friends, “well you’ve done both,” the midfielder commented. He lauded the backing of their supporters all season for helping to make unforgettable memories and commended Bridge Utd for another battling campaign.
Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack; Liam O’Connor, Tadhg Noonan, Harvey Cullinan, Cathal Cullinan; Jack Kelly, Conor McDaid; Nathan Boaventura, Kelvin Mulqueen, Kieran Mahony; Darragh Leahy.
Subs: Éanna Crimmins for O’Connor (58), David McCarthy for Mulqueen (58), Cian McDonough for Noonan (60), Dean Hegarty for C Cullinan (67), Gary Leahy for Leahy (72),
Bridge Utd: John Mulready; Darragh Whyte, Liam Buckley, Liam Flynn, Luc Fitzpatrick, Josh Brack; Dean Neary, Kyle Kirby, Jack O’Halloran, Caleb Lategan, Conor Henry.
Subs: Aidan Moloney for Whyte (HT), Adam Fitzpatrick for Brack (HT), Scott Kirkland for Lategan (64), Johnson Mununkum for Flynn (69), William Bello for O’Halloran (88)
Referee: Brian Punch
