*Photograph: Natasha Barton
NEWMARKET CELTIC MAINTAINED their unbeaten start to the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division while important wins were also collected by Avenue Utd and Tulla Utd.
Alterations have been visible in the top flight as a result of the weekend results. Avenue Utd jump to third spot with Bridge Utd falling out of the top three, the holders have a game in hand which could see them overtake Lifford to move to second.
Huge value will be placed on Tulla Utd earning their second win of the season, they’ve now jumped ahead of Shannon Town and will look to try put a decent string of results together.
By maintaining their winning run, Newmarket Celtic continue to hold a two point advantage at the top of the table.
Leahy’s strike keeps Celtic on winning streak
Newmarket Celtic 1
Bridge Utd 0
Venue: McDonagh Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
In a close competitive affair, Darragh Leahy’s goal ended up as the difference between the neighbours.
With sixty minutes on the clock, captain Eoin Hayes dispossessed Brian Corry from a quick free, he found David McCarthy who played an excellent cross-field ball to Leahy and this was matched by a superb first touch which put him through on goal with the Shannon man making no mistake to hit the target.
Luke Woodrow impressed throughout the tie between the posts for the visitors. Ultimately they failed to threaten his counterpart Shane Cusack despite having their fair share of possession throughout.
For Newmarket, it wasn’t as impressive as the previous week’s Munster Junior Cup victory over Avenue Utd but the main thing for Paddy Purcell’s charges is they have maintain their position at the top of the table. McCarthy, Leahy and Conor McDaid did well for the winners.
It’s two defeats in a row for Bridge Utd who now fall out of the top three. Leon Daly caused problems and won frees but overall Mark Culbert’s outfit will know they didn’t hit the heights they are capable of reaching.
Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack; James Fahy, Harvey Cullinan, David O’Grady; Jack Kelly, Aaron Rudd, David McCarthy, Conor McDaid; Eoin Hayes, Dean Hegarty, Darragh Leahy.
Subs: Ronan McCormack for Leahy, Alan Kelly for McDaid, Kevin Harnett for Hegarty, Martin McCarthy for D McCarthy.
Bridge Utd: Luke Woodrow; Jay Whyte, Storm Devanney, Alan Mulready, Liam Buckley; Conor Deasy; Adam Fitzpatrick, Eoin Keenan, Brian Corry; Leon Daly, Paul Corry.
Subs: Leon Kelly for Whyte, Michael Carr for Buckley, Jordan Downes for B.Corry, Kieran Quinlan for Daly, Ronan Tuohy for P.Corry
Referee: Michael Rock
Avenue divert back to winning ways
Avenue Utd 7
Shannon Town Utd 1
Venue: Roslevan
Originally scheduled to take place in Lynch Park, wet underfoot conditions prompted a change of venue and this had no impact on league champions Avenue who produced a convincing display to easily see off their Shannon counterparts.
Eoghan Thynne put Avenue in front inside the first minute after getting on the end of a well delivered cross from Mark Roche. Eliaz Kunz headed home on 21 minutes after getting on the end of a cross from Cullen McCabe.
Kunz made it 3-0 on 36 minutes after getting put through by Roche and finishing well.
Ronan Kerin hit the post for Avenue on 51 minutes, this allowed Shannon Town break from the back and substitute Jack Ryan finished well to make it 3-1.
Kerin restored the 3 goal advantage for Avenue on 58 minutes with a well placed header from a Roche cross.
Kunz turned provider on 62 minutes after a good passing move from Avenue finished with Thynne scoring his second.
Vincent Onouha scored with his first touch on 67 minutes after getting on the end of another well delivered cross from McCabe.Nneji Nnabuike finished off the scoring for Avenue on 90 minutes after finishing a cross from Calum Barrett.
Avenue Utd: Tom O’Brien, Conor Hehir, Cullen McCabe, Kaylan O’Loughlin, Dylan Casey, Eoghan Thynne, Mark Roche, Nneji Nnabuike, Ronan Kerin, Tomas Hehir, Eliaz Kunz
Subs: Jamie Roche for O’Loughlin, Dylan Barry for Thynne, Vincent Onouha for Kunz, Calum Barrett for Roche, Gary Roche for Kerin
Shannon Town Utd: Shane Russell; Cody Waller, Fionn McInerney, Natty Nyakujara; Charlie Morrison, Colin Curran, TJ O’Dwyer, Liam Boland, Ben O’Neill; Rory Hayes, Kieran Hackett
Subs: Gavin Carrigg, Eoghan Gough, Jack Ryan, Aaron Kelly, Craig Riodran
Vital three points for Tulla
Tulla Utd 8
Mountshannon Celtic 2
Venue: The Cragg, Tulla
Tulla Utd recorded an important win to bypass Shannon Town Utd and go into sixth place in the table.
Dan Withycombe netted a hat-trick as they came up trumps in the East Clare derby. Liam McInerney, Sean Withycombe, Daragh Corry, Eoin Hassett and an own goal completed the scoring for Mike Moroney’s side in what is their second win of the League.
Tulla Utd: Eanna Culloo, Fionn Ryan, Adam McNamara, Daragh Corry, Dara Ryan, Jack McSweeney, Emmet Lynch, Liam McInerney, Craig McNamara, Dan Withycombe.
Subs: Sean Withycombe, Ray Bane, David O’Donnell, Eoin Hassett, Fiachra Hale, Ian MacNamara, James Wallace, Darragh Murphy (inj).
Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division:
Newmarket Celtic A 1-0 Bridge United A
Avenue United A 7-1 Shannon Town A
Tulla United A 8-2 Mountshannon Celtic
Coole FC 1-1 Lifford
Brian Pyne Tiles Second Division:
Avenue United B 4-1 Kildysert Celtic
Brownie’s Barbershop Third Division:
Fairgreen Celtic 2-1 Bridge Celtic
Manus Celtic 2-0 Shannon Town C
