Electric Avenue dethrone Cup kingpins Newmarket

“Avenue are back,” exclaimed captain Dylan Casey as he held aloft the Clare Cup after a 2-1 victory over Newmarket Celtic broke the latter’s decade-long stranglehold in Frank Healy Park, Doora.

First quarter goals through influential attacking duo Elias Kunz and Eoghan Thynne set the tone for a merited first cup crown for the storied Ennis club since 2011.

Their composure and assurance throughout belied their relative inexperience albeit that the guile and inspiration of Avenue’s centre half partnership of captain Casey and Conor Mullen provided the rock-like foundation of their win.

Newmarket did grab a spectacular goal from a curling Eoin Hayes free kick in the 95th minute but it was to be the last real act of an absorbing heavyweight contest.

There had been some anxious moments and fightback too in Newmarket’s historic nine in a row (COVID accounting for the absence of a 2020 competition) but in truth, outside of that last gasp consolation goal, there wouldn’t be the desired kick or innovation that one would expect of such a battlehardened unit.

However, it’s only the first leg of the season finale deciders as inevitably these great rivals clash once more in Roslevan on Wednesday evening (7pm) to decide the Premier Division honours.

Along with momentum from their cup triumph, Avenue Utd also hold a two point advantage in the table heading into this perfect crescendo which means that a draw will suffice for David Russell’s side to complete the double.

However, it’s win-or-bust for their opponents and with revenge in their nostrils, a scorned Newmarket will throw everything in their armoury at their hosts in what should be an unmissable ultimate showdown.

Avenue Utd: James Tierney, Cullen McCabe, Conor Hehir, Conor Mullen, Dylan Casey, Alan Roche, Mark Roche (Jamie Roche, 78 Inj), Eoghan Thynne, Philip Talty (Mikey Dinan, 92), Elias Kunz (Gary Roche, 89), Steve Jordan (Callum Barrett, 86)

Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack, David O’Grady, Darren Cullinan, Stephen Kelly, Paddy Purcell (Eoin Kelly, 44 inj), Conor McDaid (Kevin Harnett, 59), Colin Smyth (Daithi O’Connell, 59), David McCarthy, Gearoid O’Brien (Cathal Hayes, 70), Eoin Hayes, Ronan McCormack

Referee: Mark Rellis