*Darragh Leahy heads the ball to the back of the net. Photograph: Joe Buckley
NEWMARKET CELTIC’s strong run of form continued as they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Munster Junior Cup.
Celtic proved much too strong for neighbours Shannon Town Utd in the last sixteen of the provincial competition while Avenue Utd moved to top spot of the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division.
Munster quarter-final awaits Newmarket
Shannon Town A 1
Newmarket Celtic A 5
Venue: Lynch Park, Shannon
Already through to the quarter-finals of the FAI Junior Cup, Newmarket Celtic deservedly advanced to the same stage of the Munster Junior Cup with a comprehensive 5-1 victory against Shannon Town.
Within two minutes, Newmarket raided for their first goal when a David McCarthy free kick from twenty yards was fumbled into the net by Shannon custodian Shane Russell. They doubled their advantage through danger man Darragh Leahy ten minutes later when he got his head onto a cross from McCarthy.
Shannon Town pulled a goal back from Brian Monaghan on twenty minutes but that would be as close as it got for Steo Dolan’s side.
Leahy headed home from another cross on forty minutes, this time Eoin Hayes was the provider and it gave them a 3-1 cushion at the interval.
Further goals from McCarthy and substitute James Fahy sealed a deserved win for Paddy Purcell’s charges.
Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack, David O’Grady, Davy Lennon, Harvey Cullinan, Ethan Fitzgerald, Jack Kelly, Aaron Rudd, Conor McDaid, Darragh Leahy, Eoin Hayes, David McCarthy.
Subs: Dean Hegarty for O’Grady, Sean Perrill for Lennon, Cathal Hayes for Rudd, Martin McCarthy for E Hayes, James Fahy for D McCarthy.
Kunz double puts Avenue on top
Tulla United A 2
Avenue United A 3
Venue: The Cragg
Elias Kunz scored twice in a hard-fought win for Avenue Utd against Tulla Utd on Sunday morning.
Nnabuike Nneji also scored for David Russell’s side who are top of the table on scoring difference, this gap could be closed if Newmarket Celtic prevail in their two extra games.
Avenue held off the challenge of Tulla despite being without the experienced pair of Conor Mullen and Mark Roche, both of whom missed out through injury.
Avenue Utd: Tom O’Brien, Michael Dinan, Conor Hehir, Jamie Roche, Dylan Casey, Eoghan Thynne, Stephen Jordan, Dylan Barry, Nnabuike Nneji, Tomas Hehir, Eliaz Kunz
Subs: Philip Talty for Conor Hehir, Ben McDonough for Barry, Vincent Onouha for Kunz, Kaden Herlihy for Dinan
Kilrush Rangers 0-2 Lifford
Mountshannon Celtic 0-2 Coole Fc A
First Division
Connolly Celtic 3-3 Shannon Hibs A
Shannon Town B 5-0 Rhine Rovers
Moher Celtic 0-4 Kilkishen Celtic
Shannon Olympic 1-0 Sporting Ennistymon
Bridge United B 1-2 Newmarket Celtic B
Second Division League
Shannon Hibs B 0-1 Bunratty Cratloe
Corofin Harps 1-2 Ennis Dons
Fern Celtic 0-1 Avenue United B
Third Division League
Coole Fc B 0-6 Manus Celtic
