*Ronan Kerin in action for Avenue Utd. Photograph: Natasha Barton ALTHOUGH HE PLAYED A PART in the initial phase of their double success last season, Ronan Kerin is determined to have a valuable contribution in the business end for Avenue Utd as they bid to retain both League and Cup titles.
NEWMARKET CELTIC’s Eoin Hayes has been included in the twenty man Republic of Ireland squad to compete in the Regions Cup in Galicia next month.
*Darragh Leahy holds onto possession under pressure. Photograph: Joe Buckley TWO WEEKS on from creating history winning the FAI Junior Cup following a penalty shootout, it was heartbreak for Newmarket Celtic who experienced the opposite side of the coin as Regional Utd claimed their first Munster Junior Cup in very similar circumstances.
*Brian O’Connor of Regional Utd. Photograph: Joe Buckley WHATEVER THE OUTCOME of Saturday’s Munster Junior Cup final, there will be provincial medals heading back to Co Clare.
*Darragh Leahy with his son Darius and the FAI Junior Cup. Photograph: Joe Buckley ARGUABLY one of Newmarket Celtic’s greatest signings has been the addition of Darragh Leahy to their attack.
*Stephen Austin embraces Darragh Leahy. Photograph: Joe Buckley NEWMARKET CELTIC cannot be content with just winning an FAI Junior Cup, their coach has stressed.
*The Purcell family with the FAI Junior Cup. Photograph: Joe Buckley NO CLARE CLUB had won the FAI Junior Cup since the first final was held in 1924 until Saturday in Jackman Park when Newmarket Celtic claimed the spoils against three-time champions St Michael’s AFC.
*Eoin Hayes leads the celebrations at Newmarket Celtic’s homecoming in the village of Newmarket-on-Fergus. Photograph: Joe Buckley CAPTAIN AND MAN OF THE MATCH for the first club from Clare to win the FAI Junior Cup, Eoin Hayes almost had to pinch himself when trying to absorb the magnitude of Newmarket Celtic’s greatest day.
*Jack Kelly surrounded by family with the FAI Junior Cup. Photograph: Joe Buckley JACK KELLY may have had doubts about joining Newmarket Celtic but he admitted making the move across the border from Shannon to Newmarket-on-Fergus was “the best decision I’ve ever made” while the occasion of their FAI Junior Cup success was tinged with …
*Paddy Purcell and Stephen Kelly celebrate. Photograph: Joe Buckley COMETH THE HOUR, cometh the man or so said Stephen Kelly as he stepped up with the winning penalty to see Newmarket Celtic crowned FAI Junior Cup champions for the first time in their history.