Ennis teams eke out a draw at Lees Road

Avenue United A  3
Ennis Town Rock  3

A DRAW was a fair result when Avenue United and Ennis Town Rock clashed in this Premier Division League Cup section A tie at Lees Road on Sunday.

Avenue had, arguably, the better of the play in the opening half and would not have been flattered if they were in front at the break. In the second half, Ennis Town  Rock did better and will be disappointed not to have availed of a couple of great opportunities in the closing minutes.
Avenue had a dream start with a goal straight from the kick-off from Dave McCarthy.
Avenue piled on the pressure and felt they should have been awarded a penalty shortly after taking the lead.
Despite the early setback, the new Ennis Town Rock amalgamation hit back impressively and they levelled through Daryl Eade after good work by Eoin Glynn whose effort was dropped by Avenue goalie John Healy.
Within a couple of minutes, Avenue were back in front when teenager Dylan Casey scored. Less than 10 minutes later, they were level again after Dean Gardiner scored a fine goal for Ennis Town Rock and this left the teams tied at 2-2 at half-time.
Ennis Town Rock went ahead after the break when Daryl Eade converted from the penalty spot. Early in the final quarter, Avenue were awarded a penalty but Dave McCarthy’s effort was saved by Sean Kennedy. Fifteen minutes from time, they got through for the equaliser when Mikey Mahoney scored after good work by Sean Corry.
Both teams had chances in the final 15 minutes but neither managed to avail of any of these.
Avenue Utd: John Healy; Shane Brown, Alex, Mattie Nugent, Simon Cuddihy; Gary Flynn, Pa Wilson, Dave McCarthy, Dylan Casey, Sean Corry, Mikey Mahoney.
Subs: Alan Roche and David Russell for Flynn and Brown.
Ennis Town Rock: Sean Kennedy; Barry Woods, Jason White, Shane Daniels, Ronan Judge, Ethan Considine, Francis Daniels, Ciaran Russell, Daryl Eade, Eoin Glynn, Dean Gardiner.
Subs: Ritchie Neylon for Judge; Adrian Walsh for Considine.

Lifford  4
Shannon Olympic A  2

THREE goals in the closing 10 minutes helped Lifford to victory over Shannon Olympic A in this Premier Division, group B league cup tie on Sunday.
Despite failing to score from a Ray Quigley penalty, the Shannon side led at the break thanks to a Ritchie Hanley goal.
Lifford equalised through TJ Ajisomo early in the second half but their joy was shortlived as Olympic hit back and Quigley atoned for his penalty miss when he put them back in front.
The game was inside the last 10 minutes when Lunga Balman hit the leveller for the Ennis side. A couple of minutes later, Ruairi Norrby put Lifford into the lead and any hopes of Olympic getting something from this tie were wiped away when Ryan Boyle converted from the penalty spot in the final minute.
Lifford: Jan Da Silva; Joe Lynch, Paul Cantillon, Michael J Sullivan, Darren O’Neill, Ryan Boyle, Ruairi Norrby, Pat Mannion Pat Darcy, TJ Ajisomo Lunga Balman.
Subs: Hamad Kuku, Dylan Blake.
Shannon Olympic A: Gary McGettrick; Ian Hogan, Kieran Keane, Karl Fogarty, Pat Fahy, Ray Quigley, Declan McDonald, Jason O’Regan, Eamonn O’Neill, Ritchie Hanley, John Keogh.
Subs: Rory Kerins, Kieran Lake, James Fitzgerald.

Tulla Utd A  1
Newmarket Celtic A  3

NEW signing Daithí O’Connell scored two as Newmarket Celtic defeated Tulla United at the Cragg on Sunday in this Premier League Cup tie. The Shannon man’s goals had the winners 2-0 in front at half-time.
Tulla pulled one back through Seosamh O’Loughlin and they had a chance to level shortly before the finish but Paudge Vaughan saw his effort rebound off the crossbar. In the final minute, Newmarket sealed victory with a Gary Collins goal.
Newmarket Celtic: Trevor O’Donnell; David O’Grady, Liam Harkin, Eoin O’Brien, Colin Ryan; Stephen Kelly, Eoin Kelly, Seamus Considine, Eoin Hayes, Daithi O’Connell, Kieran Devitt.
Subs: Seamus Lawlor, Gary Collins, Neil Ryan Glen Murray.
Tulla United A: Darragh Kelly; Tommy McKeown, Brian McInerney, Denis Murphy, Paraic O’Malley; Niall Whelan, Shane Mason, Brian Hehir, Sunny Jay, Noel Collins, Seosamh O’Loughlin.
Subs: Ricky Collins, Cillian Bane, Alan Brigdale, Paudge Vaughan, Colin Nelson.