Lifford comeback shares the spoils

 

Lifford A 2   Avenue United A 2

ENNIS rivals Lifford and Avenue United A provided lots of entertainment in this premier league tie played at a windy and cold Cassidy Park on Sunday morning.

A strong wind blew directly down the pitch, towards the goal at the changing room end of the grounds. Avenue played with the aid of this in the first half and they built up a 2-0 half-time lead.

Lifford have reason to be disappointed with this scoreline as they contributed to the concession of the goals. The first came when a Dave McCarthy free deflected off Lifford’s Darren O’Neill and flew into the net for the lead score.

Just after the half-hour mark, Avenue doubled their advantage at a time when there didn’t appear to be any danger. However, they lost possession and Mikey Mahoney passed to Dave McCarthy who found the net.

Lifford piled on the pressure on the resumption but such was the strength of the wind that clearances from their defence were often too long and fell to Avenue goalie John Healy or, on some occasions, went out of play.

The home side had wasted a number of opportunities before they managed to pull one back with just over half an hour played. Ruairí Norrby floated a left-footed free towards the Avenue goal and Hamad Kuku applied the finish.

This score boosted the home side and they continued to pile on pressure in search of an equaliser despite being reduced to 10 men when Sean McDonald was dismissed early in the final quarter.

The all-important equaliser came with seven minutes remaining when Lifford put together a fine move, which ended with Pat Darcy applying the finish, low to the corner of the net.

Lifford came close to snatching a winner but substitute Rachman Zequiri was unable to get any power in his effort and John Healy in the Avenue goal collected and cleared the danger.

Lifford: Pat Hickey: TJ Ajisomo, John Allen, Hamad Kuku, Michael J Sullivan; Anthony White, Pat Darcy, Thomas Mullen, Darren O’Neill, Sean McDonald, Ruairí Norrby.
Subs: Roberto Pinto for Sullivan; Lunga Balmann for Mullen; Rachman Zequiri for Norrby.
Avenue United A: John Healy; David Herlihy, Dean D’Auria, Pat Wilson, Eamonn O’Reilly; Colin Smith, Alan Roche, David McCarthy, Dara Kerin, Barry Nugent, Mikey Mahoney.
Subs: Nicki Twumasai for Nugent; Mark Roche for Kerin.

Newmarket Celtic A 3   Ennis Town Rock A 2

A LAST-minute penalty, converted by Michael Crosby, gave title holders Newmarket Celtic A victory over Ennis Town Rock A in this premier league tie played at McDonogh Park on Sunday.

The visitors took the lead through Dean Gardiner but the home side fought back and scored twice before the break when they led by 2-1. Diarmuid Nash hit the leveller for Newmarket before Alan Brigdale put them in front.

In the second half, Niall McNevin levelled for the visitors and a draw looked the likely outcome until Crosby’s penalty, awarded for a foul on Eoin Hayes, sealed victory.

Newmarket Celtic A: Jan Da Silva; Alan Kelly, Eoin O’Brien, Mark Donlon, Darren Cullinan; Alan Brigdale, Mike Devitt, Eoin Hayes, Michael Crosby, Diarmuid Nash, Ronan McCormack.
Subs: Daithi O’Connell for Nash; Neil Ryan for McCormack.
Ennis Town Rock A: Sean Kennedy; Adrian Walsh, Ronan Judge, Shane Daniels, Jason White, Daryl Eade, Francis Daniels, Dean Gardiner, Joe Collins, Steven Hickey, Ritchie Neylon.
Subs: Gary Collins, Niall McNevin, Mikey Dinan.

Tulla United A 3   Rhine Rovers 3

A SHARE of the spoils resulted when neighbours Tulla United A and Rhine Rovers clashed in thepremier league on Sunday.

The visitors took the lead three times but on each occasion, the home team hit back to level.
Rhine took the lead after five minutes through Johnnie O’Brien but Tulla hit back and Sunny Jay scored after Colin Nelson had headed the ball on.

Rhine went back in front when Hamid Mahmodi latched onto a loose ball after a corner but Tulla were back on terms before the half time whistle when Donnacda MacNamara sent the ball to Colin Nelson in the area and he found the net.

Ten minutes into the second half, Johnnie O’Brien, with a good strike from outside the box, gave Rhine Rovers the lead again but Tulla equalised almost immediately when John Brigdale and Darragh Corry combined to put Tommy McKeown through and he scored.

They had a chance to win when Colin Nelson was put through but Aidan O’Connor in the Rhine Rovers goals made a good save.

Tulla United A: Dara Kelly; Shane Mason, Padraic O’Malley, Denis Murphy, Niall Whelan, Tommy McKeown, Donnacda McNamara, Killian Bane, Trevor Corbett, Colin Nelson, Sunny Jay.
Subs: John Brigdale for Corbett; Dara Corry for Bane; Mark McInerney for Jay.
Rhine Rovers: Aiden O’Connor, Enda Malone, Kevin Johnston, Martin McInerney, Gary Hogan; Conor Hanrahan, Paul Johnson, Mark Hanrahan, Hamid Mahmodi; Christy O’Brien, Johnny O’Brien.
Subs: Shane O Grady, Brendan Quinn, Jamie Ivers.