*Ronan Kerin scored a hat-trick for Avenue Utd. Photograph: Joe Buckley
AVENUE UTD set up a Clare Cup final showdown with fierce rivals Newmarket Celtic.
Avenue Utd 8
Sporting Ennistymon 1
Venue: Frank Healy Park, Doora
It was all one way traffic for Adrian Walsh’s side as he managed an outfit to reach the Clare Cup final for the second time in four seasons, following on from his 2023 run with Lifford FC.
That season marked Sporting Ennistymon’s first back in the second tier after their controversial relegation from the top flight in 2022 but they have a further division since.
Since their foundation in 2008, Sporting have shown an ability to go up and down. In four years, they climbed from the Second Division all the way to the Premier Division while there has been a role reversal over the past five seasons.
This season has been more good than bad for Eddie Crowe’s side, they were the last team outside of the Premier Division standing in the Clare Cup while they came up just short in a bid to return to the First Division.
Setbacks of missing out on promotion and exiting the Cup arrived within a matter of four days. Their 2-1 loss to Connolly Celtic in the relegation/promotion play off was compounded by their thumping to Avenue Utd as the North Clare side found no luck when it came to trips to Frank Healy Park.
Raging hot favourites Avenue Utd had two goals within the opening twenty minutes, Jack Ryan and Jamie Roche hitting the target.
Jamesy McConigley in his first season back with Sporting Ennistymon helped to pull a goal back for the challengers after the half hour mark and they remained just one goal adrift at the half-time whistle.
Heavy downpours were followed by the appearance of the sun in the County Grounds but Avenue commenced their rout in the second half, firing six goals beyond Joseph Gallagher.
Ronan Kerin raided for a second half hat-trick, Jack Ryan collecting his second goal, providing two assists while also missing a penalty with Seán O’Callaghan, substitute Conor Finnucane.
A chance to win a fourteenth Clare Cup is now on the line for Avenue Utd along with the opportunity to dethrone Newmarket Celtic who they defeated on penalties when last lifting the Cup in 2024. They will have the slight concern that they are coming in cold to this tie but they won’t be short of motivation.
Gallery of photographs by Joe Buckley.
Avenue Utd: Luke Woodrow, Jamie Roche, Jack Joyce, Conor Hehir, Seán O’Callaghan, Cullen McCabe, Eoghan Thynne, Ronan Kerin, Nnabuike Nneji, Jack Ryan, Owen Hadden.
Subs: Ethan Cronin for Hadden (62), Conor Finnucane for O’Callaghan (63), Chuks Obadeyi for Nneji (69), Ger Myles for Joyce (69), Joseph Chukuwuemka for McCabe (85).
Sporting Ennistymon: Joseph Gallagher, Peter Collins, Cian McMahon, Jamesy McConigley, Evan McNamara, Conor Kearns, John O’Brien, Darren McNamara, Seán McConigley, Cathal McConigley, Joe Stack.
Subs: Aaron McNulty for Collins (HT), Michael Leigh for McMahon (62), Eoin Marrinan for Kearns (75), Matthew Crowe for McNamara (80).
Referee: Darius Mostowy
