Avenue clinch Premier title

AVENUE United regained their premier title in emphatic fashion last Sunday with a big win over an under-strength Mountshannon Celtic outfit at the Ennis side’s newly appointed Roslevan grounds.
A week earlier, the champagne had to be put on ice when Lifford spoiled the party with a surprise win. This week Avenue made no mistake and sealed the title with a runaway win.
The early nerves were settled when David McCarthy scored after 14 minutes with a deft left-footed shot and they extended that lead before half-time when Mickey Mahoney showed great composure to score from close range. He added a third to leave his side 3-0 ahead at the break.
The second half was all one-way traffic with the champions scoring another five times. Mahoney completed his hat trick, McCarthy got his second, while Nicky Twumasi, Barry Nugent and Alan Roche got in on the act with a goal apiece.
Following the final whistle, CDSL chairman Donie Garrihy presented the Premier League Cup to captain Mattie Nugent amid great celebrations.
The team was managed by John O’Malley, Noel Purtill and Coley Smith.
Avenue United: John Healy; David Herlihy, David Russell, Mattie Nugent, Eamonn O’Reilly; Colin Smith, Alan Roche, Mikey Mahoney, Mark Roche; Barry Nugent, Dave McCarthy.
Subs: Pa Wilson for M Roche, Paddy O’Malley for Russell, Nicky Twumasi for McCarthy and Scott Hennessy.
Elsewhere, defending champions Newmarket Celtic suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Hermitage. Connolly Celtic scored late in their tussle with Burren United to win 2-1, while Lifford rounded off a good finish to their league campaign with a 4-0 victory against Rhine Rovers. The final game in the top division saw Tulla United getting the points on a 2 -1 scoreline away to Ennis Town Rock.