*Newmarket Celtic captain Eoin Hayes and manager Paddy Purcell. Photograph: Natasha Barton
NEWMARKET CELTIC AND AVENUE UTD will be both on the road again for their next outing in the FAI Junior Cup.
For the second round in a row the two Clare clubs were drawn away from home and will need to return to the county victorious in order to progress to the last sixteen.
David Russell’s Avenue Utd will face St Mary’s AFC in Kilcully Park. Ronan Kerin’s double was key to Avenue overcoming Tuam Celtic in the last round while the Cork side had a 1-0 win over Wilderness FC of Tipperary with Tiernan Daly scoring the goal in the opening minutes while netminder Eric Goggin was excellent in goals.
While Newmarket Celtic do not yet know who they will meet, they are guaranteed an away fixture. Paddy Purcell’s men produced a fine second half display to leave Wexford on a high with a 4-1 victory over Shelburne Utd on Sunday. During the Christmas break, their attention will be fixed towards taking down either Raheny Utd of Dublin or Offaly club Clara Town.
Clare’s interest in the competition doesn’t end just there. Regional Utd who line out in the Limerick League are represented by Shannon duo Eoin Duff and Brian O’Connor plus Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Rob Shier, they’ll also be on the road but are headed in the direction of Sligo to face Strand FC.
Ennis defender Sean O’Callaghan will be part of the Athenry FC squad trying to take down reigning FAI Junior Cup champions, Fairview Rangers, the former club of Duff.
Fifth round ties are to be held on January 23rd.
FAI Junior Cup Fifth Round:
St Marys FC (Cork) v Avenue Utd
Raheny Utd or Clara Town v Newmarket Celtic
Buncrana Hearts v MP FC or Valley Park
Hibernian (Waterford) v Castlebar Celtic
Rush Ath or Wayside Celtic or Shangan v Douglas Hall B or Trim Celtic
Athenry FC v Fairview Rangers
Strand FC (Sligo) v Regional Utd
Crosshaven FC v Tallagh Utd or Tolka Rovers
Ballynanty Rovers v Castlefin Celtic
Crumlin Utd v Bridge Utd (Kilkenny)
Clane Utd or Clonmullin FC v Tallagh Town or Salthill Devon
Peake Villa (Tipp) v Killarney Celtic
Tramore FC v Gorey Rangers
Carrick or North End Utd v Colga FC
Howth Celtic v St Michaels or Portlaw Utd
Evergreen FC v Old County FC or Collinstown
