*Newmarket Celtic goalkeeper, Shane Cusack. Photograph: Oliver Fitzpatrick
CLARE CLUBS, Avenue Utd and Newmarket Celtic have discovered their opponents for their respective last 16 ties in the FAI Junior Cup.
Fresh from an impressive 8-0 fifth round win over Cork side St Mary’s AFC, Avenue Utd will be heading in the opposite direction of the M18 facing Galway club Colga FC. A late Ben Lalor goal saw Colga FC eliminate North End Utd at the weekend, the Wexford club defeated Avenue at the quarter-final stage of last year’s competition following a penalty shootout.
Ronan Kerin and Mossy Hehir both scored on the double for David Russell’s side with Mark Roche, Callum Barrett, Nneji Nnabuike and Elias Kunz also hitting the net.
There will be considerate county interest in the meeting of Newmarket Celtic vs Regional Utd. Celtic who dispatched of Raheny Utd on a scoreline of 3-1 on Sunday. The loss of goalkeeper Shane Cusack during the tie to injury will have caused some headaches for Paddy Purcell and his management. Goals from Darragh Leahy, Harvey Cullinan and Aaron Rudd saw them advance to the sixth round against the Dublin side.
Of all the Limerick clubs, Regional Utd have one of the largest Clare representations which includes Newmarket-on-Fergus native Rob Shier who will line out between the posts while Shannon duo Brian O’Connor and Eoin Duff have proved to be outstanding signings for Regional in their first season with the club.
FAI Junior Cup – Sixth Round Draw
Buncrana Hearts v Salthill Devon FC
Regional United v Newmarket Celtic FC
Old County FC v Ballynanty Rovers AFC
Tallaght United v Killarney Celtic
Gorey Rangers AFC v Fairview Rangers FC
Colga FC v Avenue United
Crumlin United v Sandyhill Shangan FC
St Michael’s AFC v Hibernian FC
