*Shannon Town Utd captain Charlie Morrison. Photograph: Joe Buckley PUNCHING BELOW their weight in terms of results in recent seasons, Shannon Town Utd are setting out with the stall of surviving in the top flight while also trying to close the gap with the top teams in the county.
*Tulla Utd’s Daragh Corry. Photograph: Natasha Barton In the only tie to take place in the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division last weekend, there was no separating Tulla Utd and Shannon Town.
*Fionn McInerney will be among the young players expected to deliver for Shannon Town. Photograph: Joe Buckley SHANNON TOWN UTD have no choice but to rely on their successful Youths side of last season to step up for their first team.
*Brian Monaghan got on the scoresheet for Shannon Town Utd. Photograph: Oliver Fitzpatrick After more than a year without competition, the Clare soccer league swung back into action at the weekend with first round games in the various league cup competitions.
Avenue’s slim chances of taking the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division will all come down to a ninety minute showdown with league leaders Newmarket Celtic.
*Aidan Kennedy was the star man for Connolly Celtic. Photograph: Oliver Fitzpatrick Connolly Celtic staged a dramatic comeback to send last year’s beaten Clare Cup finalists Newmarket Celtic B out of the competition.