*Lifford’s Jean Ganda in action against Shannon Hibb’s Mickey Wall, Photograph: Natasha Barton
Soccer fixtures were disrupted last weekend as all pitches in Shannon were waterlogged and thus unplayable which led to the cancellation of the games set for those venues.
Avenue United A continued their impressive early season form with a comfortable win over Mountshannon Celtic while Lifford proved too strong for Shannon Hibs.
Another win for Lifford
Lifford 3
Shannon Hibs 1
Venue: Tom Steele Park, Ennis
Lifford continued their move up the ladder with a deserved win over Shannon Hibs.
Goals from Lunga Balmann, Nathan Bonaventura and Ethan Harper steered the winners to this latest success.
Lifford went into an early two goal lead but Hibs hit back with a goal from a free kick from Mikey Wall. Substitute Ethan Harper sealed victory for the Adrian Walsh managed Lifford with the side’s third goal.
Lifford: Rhys Phillips; Jean Ganda, Dan Daly, John Maher, Eddie Killeen, Gary McNaboe, Matthew Kearney, Josh Ryan, Mattie Davenport, Nathan Bonaventura, Lunga Balman.
Subs: Josh Brack for Kearney; Ethan Harper for Balman; Michael Junaid for Ganda; Ruairi Norrby for Naathan Bonaventura; Nani for Ryan.
Shannon Hibs: Scott Whelan; Bobby O’Connell, Julian Woods, Pa Devanney, Ciaran McKee, Liam Delaney, Darragh McDade, Mikey Wall, Jack Hannah, Billy Connors, Conor O’Callaghan
Subs; Aidan Ryan for L, Delaney; Stephen McInerney for M. Wall; Zygge Wall for Hannah; Lee Wall for C. McKee
Kerin’s hat trick keep Avenue on winning track
Avenue United A 4
Mountshannon Celtic 1
Venue: Roslevan
Avenue continued their good form with a convincing 4-1 win over Mountshannon.
This win increases their lead at top of table to seven points, but they have two more games played than title holders, Newmarket Celtic.
Ronan Kerin scored a hat trick for the winners, finding the net in the 55th, 66th and 86th minutes. Stephen Jordan was their other goalscorer, his goal coming in the final minute. Michael Barrett scored for the East Clare outfit.
Avenue United A; Paul Roche; Cullen McCabe, Simon Cuddy, Dylan Casey, Conor Hehir; Mark Roche, Mikey Dinan, Alan Roche, Shane Brown, Ronan Kerin, Eliaz Kunz.
Subs: Jamie Roche for Cuddy; Dylan Barry for Dinan; Stephen Jordan for Brown; Conor Mullen for McCabe; Gary Roche for Kunz;
Mountshannon Celtic; Andy O’Dwyer; Will Kavanath, Oran Scanlan, Niall Dear, Shane Kavanagh;Michael Barrett, Martin cunningham, Harry Gaffey, John Scanlan, Paddy Fitzgerald. William Glass.
Subs: Stephen Hayes for Gaffey; Tiarnan Njis for W. Kavanagh;
Big win for Kilrush
In the first division Kilrush Rangers had an excellent home win beating Turnpike 5-1. The Kilrush scorers were Jamie Griffin (3) and Fellip Rzymek (2).
Rhine Rovers won the East Clare derby clash with Kilkishen 3-0 with goals from Gary Hogan, James Ivors and Paddy Tiernan. Rhine now look to be strong contenders for promotion.
Coole FC continued their good run with a home win over Bridge Utd B in Gort, Bridge scored early to take the lead but Coole were soon back level when Kieran Burke scored from a free kick. At half time, the game was tied at 1-1. In the second half Coole dominated and a goal each from Adriano Olivers and Adam Minogue ensured that their promotion hopes stayed on track.
FAI Junior Cup
Six Clare league sides will be in action in round two of the FAI junior cup on this Sunday with all ties kicking off at 2pm.
Avenue United will have home advantage against Kildimo while Bridge United will also be at home when they will take on Ballingarry. Newmarket Celtic travel to play Abbeyfeale while Coole FC will be away to Rathkeale.
Sporting Ennistymon will also be on the road as they travel to play Killarney while Ennis Town will make the journey to Clarina in Limerick to take on Breska Rovers.
In the Premier Divison, Shannon Town will travel to Scariff to take on Mountshannon Celtic while Lifford will have home advantage against Shannon Olympic.
