*Lifford players celebrate winning the Hugh Kelly Cup final. Photograph: Natasha Barton
FRESH FROM winning the Hugh Kelly Cup final, Lifford FC will be hopeful of advancing to another final but the same aspirations will be shared by all four teams left standing in the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup.
Avenue Utd put their title as Cup champions on the line this Saturday against the newly formed Fair Green Celtic.
Pa Gleeson will take charge of the Ennis derby which kicks off at 5:30pm on Saturday evening as David Russell’s side will carry the favourites tag against Fair Green who have former Avenue players such as Eddie Shaw and Ross McCarthy forming key roles in their side.
Experienced defender Conor Mullen continues to be out of action for Avenue who are likely to stick with a central pairing of captain Dylan Casey and Dylan Barry. The strength of players such as Nnabuike Nneji, Elias Kunz, Mark Roche and Eoghan Thynne will see them wear the favourites tag.
Fair Green will hold no fear going into this game and have only lost one game this season, that to Newmarket Celtic in the Munster Junior Cup in October.
Lifford FC who had a 2-1 win over Shannon Town Utd in the Hugh Kelly Cup final last Friday will look to see off the challenge of Tulla Utd on Sunday morning. Paudie Hayes will be the man in the middle for the second semi-final which has an 11am start.
Adrian Walsh’s side reached the penultimate stage of the competition last season and almost shocked Newmarket Celtic but were defeated in extra time when Stephen Kelly headed home from a corner.
Tulla Utd under Mike Moloney’s watch have put together a strong Cup run and eliminated East Clare rivals, Kilkishen Celtic in the quarter-finals. They have consolidated their Premier Division status for next season and will be looking to the likes of Daragh Corry, Dara Ryan and the Withycombe brothers to set the way this weekend.
Both games take place at Frank Healy Park.
