*Harvey Cullinan puts the ball in the back of the net for Newmarket Celtic. Photograph: Joe Buckley
NEWMARKET CELTIC and Kilrush Rangers advanced to the second round of the Munster Junior Cup while Avenue Utd recorded a thumping 14-0 win at the expense of Coole FC.
Last season’s beaten provincial finalists Newmarket Celtic took the first steps in their Munster Junior Cup journey with a comfortable victory to send Shannon Town out of the competition while Kilrush Rangers ensured the trip to East Clare didn’t bother them as they accounted for Mountshannon Celtic.
In the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division, Avenue Utd recorded one of the biggest wins for some time in the top flight as they put fourteen goals past Coole FC.
Celtic see off Shannon Town
Newmarket Celtic 2
Shannon Town Utd 0
Venue: Lynch Park, Shannon
Wearing the captain’s armband, Harvey Cullinan led by example to head home the opening goal of this first round Munster Junior Cup tie.
Cullinan is this year’s vice captain and led the side as management opted to start captain Eoin Hayes on the bench following his return to the squad in the aftermath of Newmarket-on-Fergus’ exit from the Clare SHC.
Hayes made his mark when introduced from the bench to double Celtic’s advantage and send last season’s finalists as expected into the second round.
Both goals were manned by first cousins with Shane and Gary Cusack at opposite ends, of the two Shane kept the clean sheet while Gary was the busier of the duo with Newmarket threatening the most of the two sides.
Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack, Davy Lennon, Ethan Fitzgerald, Harvey Cullinan, Eoin Kelly, Jack Kelly, Aaron Rudd, Cian Foley, Tadhg Noonan, Nathan Boaventura, Ronan McCormack.
Subs: Eoin Hayes, David McCarthy, David O’Grady, Evan Kelly, Billy McNamara, Keith Shea.
Shannon Town: Gary Cusack, Steven Carroll, Cody Waller, Daithí Lohan, James Fahy, Colin Curran, Charlie Morrison, TJ O’Dwyer, Jack Ryan, Kieran Hackett, Brian Monaghan.
Subs: Eoghan Gough, Fionn McInerney, Cian Johnston, Ben O’Neill, Darragh Callaghan, Jamie Doyle, Zyge Wall, Nathan Nyakayara.
Kilrush step up
Kilrush Rangers 3
Mountshannon Celtic 1
Venue: Mountshannon
Goals from Dean Neary, Robbie Byrnes and Jamie Griffin sent Kilrush into the second round of the provincial competition.
An improved performance from recent league displays was needed from Kilrush and against worse opposition it arrived. Now, the task for the West Clare is to put a string of solid outings together in the Premier Division following a disappointing start to their second campaign back in the top tier.
Neary and Griffin have been two of their better players in games to date while Byrnes is one of the young guns joining the squad for the first time.
All too easy for Avenue
Avenue Utd 14
Coole FC 0
Venue: St Colman’s Park, Gort
Last season’s league runners up Avenue Utd recorded one of the most comprehensive and facile wins in the Premier Division in recent seasons.
They put a whopping fourteen goals past Coole FC in a tie that was certainly demoralising for the Gort club.
Strikers Elias Kunz and Ronan Kerin both netted a hat-trick while Vincent Onouha, Witness Odirile and Stephen Jordan all scored two goals each with substitutes Paddy O’Malley and Gary Roche both bagging a goal each.
It is now four wins from four for David Russell’s side, they sit at top of the table but they are the only club in the top flight to have played four games.
Avenue Utd: Luke Woodrow, Cullen McCabe, Conor Mullen, Jamie Roche, Conor Hehir, Dylan Casey, Stephen Jordan, Witness Odirile, Vincent Onouha, Elias Kunz, Ronan Kerin.
