*Photograph: Natasha Barton
BRIDGE UTD obliterated Mountshannon Celtic to move to top spot of the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division while Lifford FC also kept their unbeaten run intact.
The two clubs along with Newmarket Celtic have prevailed in all their encounters to date, Celtic had no game over the weekend and instead hit the fairways with the club holding their annual golf classic in Gort.
Lifford’s winning run continues
Lifford AFC 3
Tulla Utd 2
Venue: Tom Steele Park, Ennis
In a competitive affair, Lifford held off the challenge of Tulla to go joint top of the Premier Division with Bridge Utd.
Darragh Kerins plus substitutes Eddie Killeen and Gary McNaboe struck the all-important goals for Lifford to maintain their impressive start to the season.
Adrian Walsh’s side have three wins from as many outings and only for scoring difference would hold the number one spot at the top of the Premier Division.
Tulla who have yet been unable to field their full-strength side are adapting well to life in the top flight. Mike Moloney welcomed back Ian MacNamara and the Withycombe brothers Sean and Dan back into the fold for their first appearances of the year.
Sean Withycombe was among their scorers with defender Raymond Bane also hitting the net. The East Clare side came from behind twice to draw level with the Ennis club but were left disappointed when McNaboe claimed the winner.
Lifford: Rhys Phillips, Fiachra Roche, John Maher, Darragh Kerins, Eoin Monaghan, Seun Olanrewju, Nathan Rezende, Ethan Cronin, Keith Shea, Kayo Fernando, Robbie Gormley.
Subs: Chibby Okoye for Kerins, Michael Junaid for Monaghan, Eddie Killeen for Gormley, Gary McNaboe for Fernando, Jean Ganda for Shea.
Tulla Utd: Eanna Culloo, Fionn Ryan, Adam McNamara, Ray Bane, Daragh Corry, Jack McSweeney, Fiachra Hale, Liam McInerney, Ian MacNamara, Eoin Hassett, Sean Withycombe.
Subs: James Wallace for Hale, Dan Withycombe for Sean Withycombe, Darragh Murphy for McSweeney, David O’Donnell for McInerney, Diarmuid Molloy for Bane.
Goals: Ray Bane, Sean Withycombe
Bridge pile the pain on Mountshannon
Bridge Utd 14
Mountshannon Celtic 0
Venue: Shannon Rd, Sixmilebridge
Bridge Utd made an almighty statement on Saturday evening when recording the biggest win of the season.
Their 14-0 win puts them to the top of the table on scoring difference and could prove invaluable as the season draws on. The result also roots Mountshannon Celtic to the bottom of the table.
Such an outcome has prompted concern for the East Clare side’s future in the top flight, the loss of key players such as William Glass has hurt their cause greatly. Though they have only two games played, a massive turnaround is needed if they are to remain in the Premier Division.
Paul Corry scored a hatrick, Leon Daly x 2 and Alex Collins x 2 were amoung the scorers
Bridge Utd: Luke Woodrow, Jason Whyte, Steve Steward, Eoin Keenan, Alan Mulready, Brandon O’Halloran, Jordan Downes, Conor Deasy, Paul Corry, Leon Daly, Alex Collins
Subs: Brian Corry for Keenan, Ronan Tuohy for Collins, Conor Maxwell for Deasy, Jack O’Halloran for Downes, Darragh Hayes for P Corry.
Mountshannon Celtic: Rhys McNamara, Seán Browne, Michael Barrett, Oran Scanlan, Niall Dear, Ben Harrington, Tiernan Slattery, Martin Cunningham, Ronan Dooley, Harry Gaffey, Paddy Fitzgerald. Subs: Seanie Doyle for Harrington, Dylan Bebbington for Gaffey, Cathal Doyle for Slattery, Oisin Hayes for Browne.
Shannon Town get off the mark
Shannon Town Utd AFC 3
Coole FC 0
Venue: Lynch Park, Shannon
Shannon Town Utd picked up their first win of the season when overcoming the challenge of Coole FC on Saturday.
Steo Dolan welcomed back Steven Carroll and Brian Monaghan to his lineup. Full-back Carroll had been considering retirement while Monaghan had been tipped to put pen to paper on a deal with Newmarket Celtic.
Their return has aided the Shannon side, offering experience to a youthful outfit in transition.
Substitute Eoghan Casey hit the net as did Monaghan and Colin Curran to move Shannon Town to fifth spot in the Premier Division.
Coole played some decent football over the hour but lacked a goal threat.
Shannon Town Utd: Shane Russell; Steven Carroll, Fionn McInerney, Natty Nyakujara; Cody Waller, Aaron Kelly, TJ O’Dwyer, Brian Monaghan, Colin Curran; Kieran Hackett, Ben O’Neill.
Subs: Liam Boland, Eoghan Casey, Gavin Carrig, Craig Riordan
Avenue lose out in Munster League Champions Trophy
Killarney Celtic 2
Avenue Utd 1
Avenue Utd lost out to Killarney Celtic in the Munster League Champions Trophy with a great strike from Trpimir Vrlijack in injury time sending the Kerry Champions through to a quarter-final meeting with Killavilla from Tipperary.
Avenue played well throughout the contest and went in front on eight minutes when a good passing move from the back saw Jamie Roche finish well after a shot from Ronan Kerin was blocked. Kerin had a well struck shot from outside the box saved by Roy Kelleher on twelve minutes.
Killarney drew level on 14 minutes when a free kick from Lee Downing was finished well by Cathal O’Shea. Killarney went close to going in front on 19 minutes when a well delivered corner from Stephen McCarthy was cleared off the line by Stephen Talty.
Great play from Nneji Nnabuike on twenty six minutes put Kerin through on goal but he was denied by a brilliant save from Kelleher. It remained 1-1 at the break.
McCarthy had a long range effort from outside the box on 59 minutes saved by James Tierney.
Avenue had a good chance to go back in front on 67 minutes after a well worked passing move from Jamie Roche and Callum Barrett put Eliaz Kunz through on goal but he was denied by a great save at his near post by Kelleher. More good play from Avenue on 72 minutes saw Barrett and Mark Roche link up well to put Ronan Kerin through on goal but Kerin’s well struck effort narrowly went the wrong side of the post.
Avenue were now on top in the contest and a well delivered corner from Jamie Roche on 75 minutes was met by Nnabuike but again Kelleher was well positioned to make the save. There was a long delay on 80 minutes when Jamie Roche who had been excellent throughout, suffered a bad injury on the astro turf and had to be replaced by Conor Hehir.
With the game in injury time Avenue were pushing for a winning goal but lost possession in the Killarney half. Lee Downing played a great ball through to Trpimir Vrlijack who fired an unstoppable shot to the roof of the Avenue net. Avenue tried hard to the end to score an equaliser but Killarney held on for the victory.
Killarney Celtic: Roy Kelleher, John McDonagh, Kevin O’Sullivan, Liam Spillane, Jamie Spillane, Cathal O’Shea, Wayne Sparling, Lee Downing, Stephen McCarthy, Trpimir Vrlijack, Matej Vrlijack
Avenue Utd: James Tierney, Cullen McCabe, Jamie Roche, Conor Mullen, Dylan Casey, Nneji Nnabuike, Mark Roche, Stephen Talty, Eliaz Kunz, Ronan Kerin, Callum Barrett
Subs: Dylan Barry for Talty, Tomas Hehir for Kunz, Conor Hehir for Jamie Roche (inj), Stephen Jordan for Barrett, Gary Roche for Mark Roche
1st Division League
Shannon Town B 4-2 Moher Celtic
1st Division League Cup
Group A
Shannon Hibs A 4-1 Bridge Utd B
Shannon Olympic 3-3 Kilkishen Celtic
2nd Division League
Bunratty Cratloe 4-2 Kildysert Celtic
Inch Crusaders 1-1 Ennis Dons
