Shannon Olympic, Newmarket Celtic and Shannon Town all collected three points in Sunday’s Premier League action while Turnpike Rovers picked up their first piece of silverware for the season.
First Division League Cup Final
Kilrush Rangers 1-6 Turnpike Rovers
Turnpike Rovers won the First Division League Cup Final after an excellent performance to defeat Kilrush Rangers at the County Grounds on Saturday night. Turnpike went in front on 6 minutes with a great finish from Niall McMahon after getting on the end of a cross from Ciaran Russell.
Kilrush were back on level terms on 15 minutes with a good finish from Sean Haugh. Turnpike regained the lead within a minute when another great ball into the box by Ciaran Russell was finished by captain David McMahon. It was 3-1 on 38 minutes when a ball into the box was spilled by the Kilrush keeper and Ciaran Russell pounced to finish the opening. Kilrush started the second half well and Gearoid O’Brien had a great chance on 51 minutes but his shot went narrowly wide.
It was game over on 56 minutes when the ball broke in the Kilrush box and David McMahon made no mistake to score his second. Kilrush lost Gearoid O’Brien to a red card and Turnpike made it 5-1 on 73 minutes with a great piece of individual skill from Patrick Sherlock as he got onto a through ball and chipped over the advancing keeper before finishing into the empty net. Turnpike wrapped up the victory in injury time when substitute Jason Hayes scored their sixth goal of the match. After the game Clare League Treasurer Frank Gormley presented the Cup to Turnpike captain David McMahon.
Turnpike Rovers: Liam Deasy, Ethan Considine, Niall McMahon, Danny Russell, Jason Whyte, David Smyth, David McMahon, Aaron Fitzgerald, Sean Corry, Ciaran Russell, Patrick Sherlock. Subs: Dermot Gannon for Niall McMahon, Tony Greene for Corry, Eoghan Moore for Considine, Jason Hayes for Sherlock, Sean McNamara for David McMahon
Kilrush Rangers: Kevin Hedigan, John Kelliher, Eoin Fitzgerald, Rory Norrby, Jim Young, Graham Copley, Mathew Moloney, Sean Haugh, Gearoid O’Brien, Trevor Clancy, Tommy Lillis. Subs: Jamie Gilligan for Norrby, Liam Madigan for Kelliher, Thomas McInerney for Copley, Paddy Coleman for Lillis, Cathal Carrigh for Madigan
Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division
Sporting Ennistymon A 2-6 Shannon Town A
Shannon Town remain top of the Premier Division after making it eight wins from eight games with a victory over Sporting Ennistymon at Lahinch on Sunday. Colin Scanlan scored a hat-trick for the Shannon side while Jack Kelly, Kieran Hackett and Andy Russell also got in on the scoring.
Bridge Utd A 1-5 Newmarket Celtic A
Newmarket showed their intent with a comprehensive win over near neighbours Bridge Utd on Sunday morning. The first 10 minutes was scrappy but the Bridge had the best chance when the ball was clipped to Kieran Quinlan who had his shot excellently saved by Robert Shier. Newmarket raced into a two goal lead after this, first with Brian Monaghan sweeping home a brilliant right foot volley after 20 minutes and 3 minutes later Tino Nzvaura headed home an Eoin Hayes corner.
The Bridge should have pulled one back when Quinlan went round Shier but hit the post with an open goal. Shier made another brilliant save to deny Johnny Okoro before the break to leave it 2-0 at half-time.
Their third goal arrived from Colin Ryan after great work down the left saw Hayes square to Ryan at the back post where he slotted low across the keeper to put Newmarket in real control of the game. Bridge pulled one back soon after when Derek Fahy cut in from the left wing and slotted into the bottom corner.
The fourth goal for Newmarket came 10 minutes later when Darren Cullinan clipped a lovely weighted ball down the channel for Hayes to run onto and go round the last defender before scoring at the second attempt after his initial shot was blocked. The fifth goal was a brilliant team goal scored by the very impressive Brian Monaghan when after a well worked move he cut inside and buried his finish to the bottom corner.
An all round accomplished display for Newmarket who will be looking to build on this performance for the rest of the season as they keep the pressure on Shannon Town at the top of the table.
Newmarket Celtic: Robert Shier, Steven Carroll, Darren Cullinan, Seamus Lawlor, Paddy Purcell, Ian Collins, Colin Ryan, Tino Nzvaura, Brian Monaghan, Cathal Hayes, Eoin Hayes. Subs: Ronan McCormack, Colm Treacy
Bridge Utd A: Paul Touhy, Jay Whyte, Eoin Guinan, Darren Murphy, Kevin Kelly, Kieran Quinlan, Gavin Whyte, Darragh Fitzgerald, Shane Golden, Eoghan Pewter, Jon Okoro. Subs: Jonathan Downes, Christy Griffin, Brian O’Connor, Trevor Maxwell, Derek Fahy
Shannon Olympic A 1-0 Bridge Celtic
Shannon Olympic continued their recent run of good form by winning their third consecutive game in all competitions. From the kick off both teams went on the attack with Olympic having the first real chance inside the first four minutes with Patrick Aherne making a great save from a Sean Burke shot.
As the half wore on the game became more open with Olympic having the better chances and Aherne the busier of the two keepers. Neither side was able to break the deadlock and the teams went in 0-0 at the break.
The second half started as the first ended full of intensity. Olympic made a change on 52 minutes with Stephen Dolan making way for Wayne Ryan. Olympic were playing good football and Ray Quigley had chances go narrowly wide on 64 minutes and another saved well by Aherne on 71 minutes.
Dean Courtney replaced Terry O’Donnell for Olympic and played really well for them in the closing stages. The deadlock was broken on 88 minutes when a great ball across the box found David O’Flaherty in an advanced position from the previous set piece and he made no mistake with a thunderous volley into the Bridge net. Bridge pushed on for an equaliser but in doing so left the back line exposed and Olympic could have capitalised with Burke denied by a great save from Aherne in injury time.
It’s an important first league win for Olympic as they look forward to a trip to Limerick next week to take on Ballinagary in the third round of the FAI Junior Cup.
Shannon Olympic A: Jason Carmody, BJ Cantillon, Terry O’Donnell, David O’Flaherty, Dean Power, Derek Maxwell, Ryan Kelly, Adrian Carew, Ray Quigley, Stephen Dolan, Sean Burke. Subs: Wayne Ryan for Dolan, Dean Courtney for O’Donnell
Bridge Celtic: Patrick Aherne, Alan Lyons, Noel Howard, Diarmuid Aherne, Trevor Howard, Donie Whelan, Ollie Phillips, Paul McEvoy, Ben Hynes, Ian Mooney, Diarmuid Whelan. Sub: Shane Moloney for Diarmuid Whelan
First Division League
Hermitage 2-0 Avenue Utd B
Goals from Johnny Ferns and Sean McGee helped Hermitage to a good victory over Avenue Utd B at the Fairgreen on Sunday.
Suttons Lighting Third Division
Moher Celtic B 1-3 Shannon Town B
Goals from Ryan Hodge (2) and Eoghan Maxwell gave Shannon Town B a good away win in Liscannor on Sunday.
Munster Junior Cup Round 1
Coole FC 5-1 Bridge United B
Goals from Darragh Reilly (2), Noelie Glynn (2) and Jonathan Cosgrove sealed Coole’s place in Round 2 of the Munster Junior Cup.