The race for the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup is down to four teams as Avenue United, Fair Green Celtic, Lifford AFC and Tulla United battle to progress to this year’s decider.
Reigning champions Avenue Utd take on Fairgreen Celtic on Saturday (May 6th) with Pa Gleeson the man in the middle. Lifford AFC clash with Tulla United on Sunday (May 7th) with Paudie Hayes taking charge of that contest.
Frank Healy Park will host both semi-finals. Saturday’s tie kicks off at 5:30pm while the Sunday showdown will start at 11am.
Avenue are favourites to retain the Cup but they come up against a Fair Green Celtic side who have defeated Premier Division opposition in the quarter-finals and at the Last 16 stage.
Fair Green Celtic operate in the Brownies Barbershop Third Division as they claimed league glory in what is their first season competing. They performed a memorable comeback from 3-1 down against Shannon Town to bring the game to penalties.
A Dean Coughlan brace alongside an effort from Lee Clohessy saw them take the game to spot kicks before Sean Corry, Ross McCarthy, Clohessy and Coughlan all found the net from 12 yards. They defeated Coole FC 3-1 in the Third Round as they came from behind with Graham O’Connor, Sean Corry and Lee Clohessy all on target in the win.
Meanwhile, Avenue United have managed to book a return to the semi-final stage. In the Third Round they overcame arch-rivals Newmarket Celtic 3-1. Mossy Hehir opened the scoring from the penalty spot for the winners after Luke Woodrow denied Harvey Cullinan from 12 yards at the other end.
Nnabuike Nneji doubled Avenue’s lead before Hehir secured the win despite Eoin Hayes pulling one back for last year’s finalists. Avenue then defeated Newmarket Celtic B 3-0 at the quarter-final stage as Hehir opened the scoring before an Elias Kunz brace saw the Ennis side move just one win away from another Clare Cup decider.
On the other side of the draw, Lifford AFC’s progressive campaign has snuck under the radar. They were crowned Hugh Kelly League Cup champions last weekend as they defeated Shannon Town 2-1.
A possible Cup double is on the cards for Adrian Walsh’s men after coming through their quarter-final clash with Shannon Town B 3-2. Paul Martin, Keith Shea and Eddie Killeen found the target for the winners as they were forced to hold on after a late Shannon Town fightback.
They face a Tulla United outfit who have qualified for the semi-final stage of the Clare Cup for only the fifth time in the 53-year history of the club. They ended the memorable run of Kilkishen Celtic when coming through 4-1. A Darragh Corry brace alongside a Jack McSweeney effort and an own goal saw Tulla United through.