*Tulla Utd’s Éanna Culloo. Photograph: Joe Buckley
TULLA UTD have claimed the first of the semi-final places in the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup while the remaining quarter-final ties are down for decision this Sunday.
Mike Moloney’s charges ran out 2-1 winners against fellow Premier Division outfit Inch Crusaders at Lees Rd on Sunday afternoon.
At half-time, the sides were deadlocked, Tulla had the greater share of possession. Midway through the second half, they went ahead. An interchange of passes involving Ayoub Aguerram, Daniel Withycombe and Éanna Culloo put the experienced Daragh Corry through on goal, he was brought down and the resulting penalty was dispatched to the net by Éanna Culloo.
Indiscipline cost Inch again for the second goal. Culloo was fouled on the left wing, Jashar Aliu swung the free into the near post with Ayoub flicking the header to the back of the net beyond Tommy Barry on seventy six minutes.
It was the first time that Inch contested the quarter-finals and they pulled a late goal back on eighty nine minutes, despite seeing out the game with ten men. Tulla advance to the last four for the second time in three seasons.
Who joins them in the semi-finals will be known by Sunday evening.
A big crowd is expected at McDonough Memorial Park in Newmarket-on-Fergus on Sunday (11am) for the meeting of keen rivals Newmarket Celtic and Avenue Utd. The sides met in Roslevan earlier this month where Celtic had a 4-2 win but Avenue will come all guns blazing in a bid to retain their title.
Bridge Utd will carry the favourites tag when they make the trip to Lahinch on Sunday morning to meet Moher Celtic, the game kicks off at 11am with the Sixmilebridge club expected to seal their place in the semi-finals.
Fair Green Celtic and Shannon Olympic square off at 2pm in Lees Rd on Sunday. Fair Green will be tipped to reach a second semi-final in their history even though they face Premier Division opposition.
