The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Clare Premier Division
Newmarket Celtic have all but secured this season’s league title after two crucial games over the past week.
Bridge United A 0-4 Newmarket Celtic A
After victory in the shortest game in Clare soccer history, Newmarket followed this up with a comfortable victory over near neighbours Bridge United to move another step closer to defending their title.
It was a routine win in the end for Mark O’Malley’s charges with the hugely experienced David McCarthy getting on the scoresheet twice. Kieran Mahony was also on target while Clare senior footballer Kevin Harnett rounded off the scoring to maintain Newmarket’s unbeaten league run.
Shannon Hibs A 0-8 Newmarket Celtic A
A dominant showing from the champions elect saw them rout Shannon Hibs to move eight points clear at the top of the table with just four games left in the season.
Kieran Mahony followed up his goal against Bridge United by registering a hat-trick, while David McCarthy added his third goal in two games.
Aaron Rudd, Alan Kelly, Alex Collins and Eoin Hayes were also on target for the winners, who are now within touching distance of more silverware.
Lifford A 4-2 Avenue Utd A
Avenue United dropped crucial points in the race for the league title as they lost out to Ennis rivals Lifford with the defeat likely to see their pursuit of Newmarket Celtic come up short.
Having gone unbeaten until the infamous six minute game, Avenue suffered their second loss in five days.
The Lifford goals came from Kaylan O’Loughlin, Gary McNobe, Ruairi Norbett and Matty Davenport. Gary Roche and Philip Talty were on target for Avenue.
Shannon Olympic 1-5 Avenue Utd A
Avenue kept their fading title hopes alive with a routine win over Shannon Olympic.
Mark Roche was the hero of the evening with a hat-trick, while Sean O’Callaghan and Rory Brennan also got in on the goalscoring act. Dean Power was the sole scorer for the home side.
The result means that the Ennis outfit are eight points behind Newmarket Celtic with four games left to play in the season, meaning Avenue must win the clash between the top two at Roslevan in order to keep the season alive.
Lifford A 1-5 Shannon Town A
Shannon Town assumed control in the battle to finish third in the table as they leapfrogged Lifford with this win.
The highlight of the evening was a brilliant haul of four goals for Brian O’Connor while Kai Khetan rounded off the scoring. Matty Davenport got on the board for the Ennis men.
It sees Shannon Town move a point ahead of Lifford in the standings, and they also have three games in hand.
Bridge Utd A 3-0 Sporting Ennistymon
Bridge United closed the gap between themselves and Sporting at the wrong end of the table with a good win in Sixmilebridge.
A brace of goals from Adam Fitz along with one from Darren Murphy saw them come out on top.
The Bridge are still one point adrift of the North Clare outfit in the relegation playoff zone, but crucially they also have two games in hand on their nearest rivals.
First Division League
Avenue United B look on course to claim the First Division title after two impressive wins over the last week while Newmarket Celtic B dropped points in the race for honours.
The Ennis men have been in fine goalscoring form in recent games, racking up 13 goals in their last two fixtures.
Eight of those game in their Ennis derby against Hermitage as they recorded an 8-2 win, with Manus Doherty netting a hat-trick. Nathan Bonaventure helped himself to two, while Tomas Hehir, Conor McDaid, Ross McCarthy and Lee Clohessey were also on target. Joe Burke and Peter Molloy scored for the Hermitage men.
Avenue B also had a routine 5-0 win over Tulla United, with four for Tomas Hehir and one for Doherty completing their scoring.
Newmarket Celtic B slipped up as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Tulla United at the Cragg, with Enda Murphy scoring for the home side. Callum Hussey was the goalscorer for Newmarket who now find themselves four points adrift of the leaders with just two games left to play.
Elsewhere Mountshannon Celtic moved into prime position for promotion as they beat Ennis Town 6-1 to take outright third spot. Paddy Fitzgerald hit a hat-trick with a brace for John Scanlan and one from Niall Minogue doing the damage. Celtic are now ahead of Town in the standings on goal difference with a game in hand.
In the Third Division, Connolly Celtic have secured promotion after clinching top spot.
