Sunday marks the start of the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) season with anticipation high among competing clubs as action resumes following a missed season due to COVID-19.
The Clare Echo’s Páraic McMahon and Seamus Hayes take a look at all clubs competing in the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division. Newmarket Celtic will be looking to regain their hold on the League title with Avenue Utd keen to maintain their showings in the League Cup as the action gets underway.
Avenue Utd A:
Management: David Russell (manager), Eamonn Reilly, David O’Grady
Captain: TBC
Key Player: Alan Roche
One to Watch: Cullen McCabe:
Fresh Blood: Cian O’Dea, Elias Kunz, Stephen Jordan, Conor Hehir, Tomás Hehir, Cullen McCabe, Dylan Barry, Jack Joyce, Eoghan Thynne, Darren O’Neill, Mark McInerney.
Departures Gate: None.
First Five Fixtures: Ennis Town FC (A), Shannon Olympic (H), Sporting Ennistymon (A), Shannon Town Utd A (H), Newmarket Celtic A (A).
Bridge Utd A:
Management: Mark Culbert (manager), Albert Finnin, Trevor Noonan, Sean Fitzgerald.
Captain: Storm Devanney
Key Player: John Mulready
One to Watch: Leon Kelly
Fresh Blood: Leon Daly
Departure Gate: Liam Buckley, Adam Fitzpatrick, Scott Kirkland
First Five Fixtures: Newmarket Celtic (A), Ennis Town (H) Mountshannon Celtic (A), Shannon Olympic (H) Lifford (H)
Ennis Town FC:
Management: Tony Downey (manager), Declan Cassidy
Captain: Eoin Keenan
Key Player: Davy Keenan
One to Watch: Chibby Okoye
Fresh Blood: Jashar Aliu, Dean Hegarty
Departures Gate: Elias Kunz
First Five Fixtures: Avenue Utd A (H), Bridge Utd A (A), Shannon Olympic (A), Sporting Ennistymon (H), Shannon Town A (A).
Lifford A
Management: Anton Mannering (manager), Adrian Walsh (asst manager)
Captain: John Meagher
Key Player:; Godsway Kuffour
One to Watch: Nathan Boaventura
Fresh Blood: Michael Junaid
Departure Gate: None
First Five Fixtures: Sporting Ennistymon (A); Shannon Town ((A); Newmarket Celtic (A), Mountshannon Celtic (H) Bridge United (A)
Mountshannon Celtic
Management: Gary Dear/Colm Kavanagh
Captain: TBC
Key Player: Andrew O’Dwyer
One to Watch: Luke Sugrue
Fresh Blood: Harry Gaffney
Departure Gate: None
First Five Fixtures: Shannon Town (H) Newmarket (H), Bridge Utd(H), Lifford (A) and Shannon Hibs (H)
Newmarket Celtic A:
Management: Mark O’Malley (manager), Donal Magee, Johnny Ryan (goalkeeper coach), Owen McCarthy (kitman), John Cooney
Captain: Paddy Purcell
Vice Captain: Eoin O’Brien
Key Player: David McCarthy
One to Watch: Tadhg Noonan
Fresh Blood: Conor McDaid, Pa McDaid, Eoin Kelly, Tadhg Noonan, Jamie Egan,
Departures Gate: Callum McNamara, Kieran Mahony
First Five Fixtures: Bridge Utd A (H), Mountshannon Celtic (A), Lifford FC (H), Shannon Hibs (A), Avenue Utd A (H).
Shannon Hibs:
Management: Aaron Leahy (manager), Tommy McDaid
Captain: Gary Leahy
Key Player: Alex Cole
One to Watch: Ziggy Wall
Fresh Blood: Bobby O’Connell, Stephen McInerney, Adam Ryan, Julian Woods, Trevor O’Donnell, Billy Connors, Ziggy Wall
Departures Gate: Jack Kelly, Jamie Egan, Nathan Walsh, Jamie O’Shea, Damien Casey.
First Five Fixtures: Shannon Olympic (A), Sporting Ennistymon (H), Shannon Town Utd A (A), Newmarket Celtic A (H), Mountshannon Celtic A (H).
Shannon Olympic
Management: Dave Flaherty (manager), Tony Hanrahan (selector)
Captain: Ray Quigley
Key Player: Ray Quigley, Declan McDonald
One to Watch: Dan Clair
Fresh Blood: None
Departure Gate: None
First Five Fixtures: Shannon Hibs (H), Avenue Utd A (A) Ennis Town (H), Bridge Utd (A) Sporting Ennistymon (A).
Shannon Town:
Management: Derek Byrne (manager), Ger Kelly, Seamus Wallace
Captain: Steve Carroll
Key Player: Gary O’Connell
One to Watch: Ben O’Neill
Fresh Blood: Jack Kelly, TJ O’Dwyer, Colum Treacy
Departures Gate: Evan Glynn, Jack Ryan, Fergal McCarthy
First Five Fixtures: Mountshannon Celtic (A), Lifford FC (H), Shannon Hibs (H), Avenue Utd (A), Ennis Town FC (H).
Sporting Ennistymon
Management: Eddie Crowe/Liam Marum
Captain: TBC
Key Player: Sean McConigley
One to Watch: Darren McNamara
Fresh Blood: Ciaran McMahon
Departure Gate: Michael O’Dwyer;
First Five Fixtures: Lifford (H), Shannon HIbs (A), Avenue Utd (H), Ennis Town (A), Shannon Olympic (H)
