League leaders drop points

The race for the first division title intensified at the weekend when three of the leading contenders all dropped points.
Leaders Rhine Rovers went under to Turnpike Rovers, while both Corofin Harps and Connolly Celtic were held to draws, all of which adds to the excitement as the league edges closer to concluding.

Bridge United A 1   Corofin Harps 1

Darragh Shannon put Corofin Harps into the lead midway through the first half of this tie at Sixmilebridge
Corofin held the lead until the mid-point of the second period when Tom White scored an equaliser for the home side. His goal came just after Brian Halpin had been sent off.

Bridge United A: John Mulready; Donald Devanney, Jonathon Downes, Dominick Murphy Johnnie Hayes; Tom White, Damian Murray, Christy Griffin, Darragh Fitzgerald Jamie O’Gorman, Gavin Downes.
Subs: Kieran Quinlan for O’Gorman; Brendan Murphy for D Murphy.
Corofin Harps: Niall O’Connor Brendan Neylon John Keane, Brendan Keane, Stephen Quinn, Jason Tierney, Ian Hassett, Ronnie Meere, Fergal Neylon, Darragh Shannon Brian Halpin.
Subs: Luke O’Loughlin Stephen Keane.

Connolly Celtic 4   Bridge Celtic 4

Title chasing Connolly Celtic were held to a draw by Bridge Celtic at Kilmaley on Sunday. The hero of the day was Alan Markham, who scored the equaliser in the final minute, earning them what could yet prove to be a very valuable point.
The visitors had the better of the opening half and led 4-2 at half time. They took the lead through Trevor Howard but Connolly hit back with goals from Bernard Field and Yan Feck to take the lead. Dean Sinnott levelled for the O’Briensbridge outfit and further goals from Howard and Sinnott left them two goals clear at the break.
Bernard Field struck for his second and his side’s third soon after the break and they snatched the leveller from Markham just before the full time whistle.
When Connolly had Brendan Dillon sent off early in the second half Bridge Celtic looked to be in control but it was the home side who dominated the exchanges in the remaining period.

Connolly Celtic: Niall Quinn; Alan Markham, Brian Connellan, Keith O’Looney, Barry Lynch, Bernard Field, John Kelly, John P Healy, Brendan Dillon; Yan Feck, Desi Mollohan.
Subs: Kenneth Kennedy for O’Looney; Lobi Beta for Healy; Kieran Dillon for Kelly.
Bridge Celtic: Paul O’Connell; Diarmuid Ahern, Pat Conway, Stephen Howard, Fergal Lyons; Trevor Howard, Daniel Ahern, Paul McEvoy, Dean Sinnott; Alan Conway, Kevin McEvoy.
Sub: Seamus Gleeson.

Turnpike Rovers 1   Rhine Rovers 0

Turnpike Rovers put a dent in Rhine Rovers title hopes with this win on Sunday.
The all-important goal came at the start of the second half from Jason Hayes and after the score they found themselves under severe pressure for the remainder of the game.
Despite this, however, the visitors failed to breach the Pike defence.

Turnpike Rovers: Ian Mounsey; Donnacda Hassett, Shane Moroney, Sean Dobbins, Darren Daly, James Keane, Dermot Gannon, Mark Woods, Brendan Dobbins, Jason Hayes, Eric Hayes.
Subs: David Flynn for B Dobbins, John Ferns for Woods; William O’Keeffe for Daly.
Rhine Rovers: Aidan O’Connor; Jamie Fahy, Martin McInerney, Paul Johnston, Cillian Duggan, Mark Hanrahan, Ivor White, Davy O’Brien, Johnnie O’Brien, Stephen Monaghan, Chris O’Brien.
Subs: Kevin Johnson for Hanrahan; Gary Hogan for Monaghan.

Bunratty/Cratloe A 5   Avenue United B 4

Bunratty-Cratloe A came from behind four times in this tie at Woulfe Park before striking for the winner in injury time to keep their drive for promotion alive.
Michael Hayes, Paul Butler, Ally McMillan and Ronan Hayes (2) were the scorers for the winners while Avenue’s replies came from Jack Walsh, Dara Kerin, Neil Slattery (penalty) and Eamonn O’Reilly.

Bunratty-Cratloe A: Pierce DeLoughrey; Philip Counihan, Gearóid O’Connell, Brian McMillan, Sean Hynan, Sean McDonald, Ronan Hayes, Mickey Madden, Ally McMillan, Michael Hayes, Paul Butler.
Subs: Michael Hawes, Wes De Loughrey.
Avenue United B: Killian Culligan; Shane Browne, Eamonn O’Reilly, Cian Darcy, Pa Sherlock, Neil Slattery, Mick Shiel, Conor O’Brien, Eoin O’Loughlin, Jack Walsh, Dara Kerin.
Subs: Josh Lynch for C O’Brien (inj); Simon McDonagh for O’Loughlin.