*Action from the Premier Division meeting between Newmarket Celtic and Bridge Utd in December. Photograph: Joe Buckley
NEIGHBOURS Newmarket Celtic and Bridge Utd clash this weekend in the FAI Junior Cup with one of the county’s biggest sides set to fall in the third round of the national competition.
Fresh from the disappointment of a first defeat this season, Newmarket Celtic will be looking to bounce back from their Munster Junior Cup semi-final loss to Aisling Annacotty.
Bridge Utd come into the tie on a bounce having overcome Shannon Hibs 4-0 on Sunday in the second round of the FAI Junior Cup.
Sunday’s game kicks off at 10:30 in McDonough Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Both sides are leading the charge for honours in the Maloney Hardware Premier Division. Newmarket Celtic sit top on 32 points with Bridge Utd behind them in second on 30 points.
Mark Culbert’s Bridge come into this weekend as the slightly fresher of the two teams as they make their way to McDonough Memorial Park. They were able to rest Filip Mostowy over the weekend with Brian Corry and Lee Mulready among the first-choice starters also not lining out last weekend.
Eoin Hayes’ involvement in the tie is unlikely after he was forced off with four minutes played in Saturday’s Munster semi-final defeat. The experienced striker was a huge loss for Alan Gough’s outfit after a hamstring injury ended his involvement in the Annacotty game. Tadhg Noonan who was suspended last weekend is expected to rejoin Harvey Cullinan in the heart of the Celtic defence with further changes expected to their first eleven such as the return of Nathan Boaventura.
Avenue Utd are also in FAI action and they welcome Dromore Utd to Roslevan on Sunday afternoon. Dromore defeated Creeves Celtic 6-0 on Sunday morning but Adrian Walsh’s men are expected to be too strong for the Pallaskenry men.
Storm Dave ensured Avenue were off last weekend. They had been due to face Fair Green Celtic in the Premier Division but the tie was one of eleven soccer games in the county postponed.
Anything other than an Avenue win would be a big shock but it serves as another chance for the reigning league champions to build further momemtum approaching the business end of the season.
