Newmarket Celtic and Avenue United B will meet in the Prego Menswear Clare Cup Final following their semi-final victories this weekend.
Newmarket Celtic A 1-0 Tulla Utd A
Newmarket Celtic’s five in a row dreams are still alive after getting the better of Tulla Utd in a well contested semi-final at the County Grounds on Sunday. This was a very open game throughout with both sides creating lots of chances and the result was in doubt to the final whistle as Tulla pushed the champions all the way to the finish.
Tulla started well and Sebastiao da Silva had a good chance to open the scoring on 5 minutes but his low struck shot was saved by Niall Quinn. Ian Collins had a good chance for Newmarket on 10 minutes but was denied by a great save from Barry Ryan. Paul Dullaghan was next to go close for Tulla on 15 minutes with a well stuck effort that grazed the outside of the Newmarket post.
A well delivered free kick from David McCarthy on 22 minutes was met by a powerful header by Stephen Kelly but again Ryan denied Newmarket with a fine save. Gearoid O’Doherty had an effort go wide of the target for Tulla on 30 minutes. The final chance of the half fell to Ian Collins again when he got some space on the edge of the box but yet again Collins was denied by a good save from Ryan as the sides went in level at the break.
Newmarket started the second half well and the introduction of Eoin Hayes who had played a starring role for Munster Connacht in their victory over Leinster Ulster the previous day helped them up the tempo in the second half. A good run from Hayes on 51 minutes created a chance for Seamus Lawlor but his effort went over the crossbar. Another good run from Hayes on 54 minutes was cut out by a fine tackle in the box from Eoin Whelan.
Sunny Jay had a good chance for Tulla on the break on 58 minutes but his shot lacked power with Quinn to beat and was easily saved. Tulla introduced Colin Nelson and he had a well struck effort from the edge of the box go narrowly wide on 62 minutes. The deadlock was broken on 67 minutes and it was Hayes who opened the scoring for Newmarket after getting some space inside the box and firing low to the corner with a well struck effort.
Daragh Corry brought a good save out of Niall Quinn from a free kick on the edge of the box on 73 minutes. Hayes was denied by a great save from Ryan on 76 minutes and again by an even better save on 82 minutes as Tulla pushed forward in search of an equalizer and Newmarket were catching them on the break.
Da Silva went close with an effort from the edge of the box on 88 minutes that Quinn did well to save as it was on target for the top right corner. Tommy McKeown had the final chance of the game for Tulla in injury time but again his effort was saved by Quinn. One last attack for Newmarket saw a header from Stephen Kelly go narrowly wide from a Michael Crosby cross as referee Mark Rellis then blew the full time whistle and Newmarket’s great run in the competition keeps going.
Newmarket Celtic A: Niall Quinn, David O’Grady, Darren Cullinan, Mark Donlon, Paddy Purcell, Eoin O’Brien, Seamus Lawlor, Stephen Kelly, Brian Monaghan, David McCarthy, Ian Collins. Subs: Eoin Hayes for O’Brien, Ronan McCormack for Collins, Michael Crosby for Monaghan, Alan Kelly for McCarthy
Tulla Utd A: Barry Ryan, Paul Dullaghan, Eoin Whelan, Gearoid O’Doherty, Tommy McKeown, Davy O’Brien, Sunny Jay, Daragh Corry, Sebastiao Da Silva, Johnny O’Brien, Tom Vaughan. Subs: Colin Nelson for Vaughan, Daire Hannon for Jay
Avenue Utd B 2-1 Lifford
Avenue Utd B qualified for the Clare Cup Final for the third time in their history with victory over Lifford in an entertaining semi-final at the County Grounds on Sunday.
Avenue started well and Killian O’Daly put them in front on 16 minutes. Dylan Ryan equalized for Lifford on 33 minutes and it remained 1-1 at the break. The game was decided by a moment of magic from Jack Arra on 55 minutes who made a great run and finished well past David Phillips in the Lifford goal.
Lifford pushed hard in the closing stages but could find no way past Killian Culligan in the Avenue goal as Avenue earned a deserved place in the final for the first time since 2012 in what will be a repeat meeting with Newmarket Celtic A that took extra time to decide on that occasion.
Avenue Utd B: Killian Culligan, Dean D’Auria, Shane Brown, Tadhg Murphy, Brian Callinan, Shaun O’Flanagan, Jack Arra, Barry Cusack, Sean Corry, Kieran Thynne, Killian O’Daly. Subs: Kingsley Makombe, Sean Doherty
Lifford: David Phillips, John Allan, Sean Griffin, Michael Sullivan, Hamed Kuku, TJ Ajisomo, Kieran Mahony, Ethan McNevin, Dylan Ryan, Anton Mannering, Jack Devitt. Subs: Ray Maher, Fergus Lyons, Lunga Balman, Niall McNevin.
Treacys West County Hotel Clare & District Soccer League Fixtures
Friday 3rd June 2016
Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division
Roslevan: Avenue Utd A v Bridge Utd A 7pm Shane Hayes
Saturday 4th June 2016
Prego Menswear Clare Cup Final
County Grounds, Doora 6:30pm
Avenue Utd B v Newmarket Celtic A
Pa Gleeson(Ref), James Ferns, Shane Hayes, Terry Kennedy(4th offical)
Note: In event of a draw 10 mins e/w extra time & replay on 8th June if necessary
Tuesday 7th June 2016
Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division
McDonagh Pk: Newmarket Celtic A v Sporting Ennistymon A 7pm John Grier
Wednesday 8th June 2016
Prego Menswear Clare Cup Final (Provisional)
County Grounds, Doora 7pm
Avenue Utd B v Newmarket Celtic A
Pa Gleeson(Ref), James Ferns, Shane Hayes, Terry Kennedy(4th offical)
Note: In event of a draw 10 mins e/w extra time & penalties if necessary
Friday 10th June 2016
Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division
Roslevan: Avenue Utd A v Newmarket Celtic A 7pm Martin O’Brien
Note: All results to be with Donal Kirby on 085-1765828 immediately after games otherwise a €40 fine will be incurred.