First-half hat-trick secures victory for Shannon Olympic

Lifford A                        1
Shannon Olympic A    3
SHANNON Olympic A travelled to Cassidy Park and did their relegation worries a power of good when they accounted for the home side, whose title hopes will have taken a setback because of this result.

Lifford had the better of the opening half hour’s play but failed to capitalise. Olympic then got a grip on the game and dominated the final quarter scoring three times before the half-time whistle.
The goals came from Ian Hogan, Ray Quigley and Jay Regan from the penalty spot. The penalty was a double blow for Lifford who had Joe Lynch sent off for handball.
Lifford’s goal came in the closing minutes from a Killian Malone penalty.
Lifford A: Jan Da Silva; Eoin Murphy, Michael J Sullivan, Joe Lynch, Paul Cantillon; Lunga Ballman, TJ Ajisomo, Pat Darcy, Ruairi Norrby; Ryan Boyle, Killian Malone.
Sub: Liam Keane for Boyle.
Shannon Olympic A: Gary McGettrick, Dave Collins, Pa Fahy, Karl Fogarty, Ian Hogan, Ray Quigley, David Dunne, Declan McDonald, Kieran Lake, Jay Regan, Kieran Keane.
Subs: Darren Duggan for Lake; Donnacda Kelly for Regan.

Avenue United A 2
Burren United      1
AVENUE United A kept the pressure on league leaders Newmarket Celtic when they defeated Burren United at Lees Road. The home side had the better of the early exchanges but failed to convert this dominance into scores. Burren then got on top and Avenue have goalie John Healy to thank for denying the visitors on a few occasions.
Ten minutes from the break, the winners went in front when David Russell reacted quickest to score after David McCarthy’s free was parried by John McDonagh.
Just before the break, Evan Talty tested Healy, who had to make a fine double save to keep his side in front. The home side added a second midway through the second half. Alan Roche crossed and David McCarthy was on hand to score from close range.
Avenue had to endure a very anxious last five minutes when the Burren side scored through Chris Mrocek after great work by Martin McDonagh.
Avenue United A: John Healy; Mattie Nugent, Simon Cuddy, David Russell, Con Collins; Alan Roche, Colin Smith, David Smith, David Herlihy; Dave McCarthy, Barry Nugent.
Subs: Pa Wilson for M Nugent; Alex Zmusko for Collins; Colm Mullen for McCarthy.
Burren United: John McDonagh; Barry O’Grady, Daniel Carey, Enda Coughlan, Mikey Keating, Alex Garcia, Evan Talty, Pat Nagle, Stephen Moloney, Martin McDonagh, Chris Mrocek.
Subs: Ghiat Marine for Nagle.

Hermitage A                  0
Newmarket Celtic A     3
LEAGUE leaders Newmarket kept up their challenge for the title with a comfortable win over Hermitage at the Fairgreen.
Stephen Kelly gave the winners the lead inside the first five minutes after a corner by Darren Cullinan. The winners went close to extending their lead through a Daithí O’Connell header and a well-struck left-footed effort from Eoin O’Brien, which was deflected wide.
Hermitage’s cause was not helped when their defender, John Maher, received a straight red card. Ten minutes into the second half, Newmarket killed off any resistance from the home side when another Cullinan corner caused problems in the area and Gary Collins was quickest to react firing his side into a 2-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Ronan McCormack added a third goal when Phillips in the Hermitage goal failed to hold onto a good cross from the right. Hermitage, to their credit, competed well for the remainder of the game but had keeper Phillips to thank on a few occasions.
Hermitage A: David Phillips; John Meagher, Neil Mills, Rhys Phillips, Tola Crowe; Eoghan Ryan, Ger Dullaghan, Ritchie Fitzgerald, Liam Meaney, Paul Dullaghan, Thiago Santana.
Subs: Robert Dunne for Santana; Seanie McGee for Mills.
Newmarket Celtic A: Jason Casey, David O’Grady, Eoin O’Brien, Enda Kelly, Darren Cullinan; Paudie Hayes, Stephen Kelly, Alan Kelly, Ronan McCormack; Daithi O’Connell, Gary Collins.
Subs: Seamus Considine for McCormack; Colm Treacy for E Kelly; Kieran Devitt for Collins.