Newmarket Celtic sit at the summit

Newmarket Celtic 3 Tulla United A 1

MORE than just the three league points were on offer in this Premier League clash at McDonough Park on Sunday. Also with the victory came the assurance of top spot in the league table.
It was Newmarket Celtic who were left sitting at the summit thanks to their ability to press home the territorial advantage which they enjoyed throughout the opening half.
During that period, Newmarket were very much on the offensive and such was their stranglehold on proceedings that it was only a matter of time before they made the breakthrough.
The opening goal duly arrived but not from an expected source. With just 10 minutes gone, Tulla left-full, Niall Whelan, had the misfortune of putting through his own net as he attempted to clear a Paudie Hayes cross.
Shortly afterwards, Paudie Hayes was the creator once more. He skipped down the wing and when he delivered a dangerous ball into the goalmouth, Davy Wall was on hand to steer the ball into the roof of the net.
The Newmarket pressure was unrelenting and Tulla just couldn’t buy some breathing space, giving the ball away cheaply in the middle third of the field. Not unsurprisingly, they added a third, this time from the penalty spot.
Trevor Corbett was harshly deemed to have fouled in the area and up stepped Martin O’Neill to coolly slot home the spot kick. With that goal, Celtic looked to have put the seal on the victory.
To their credit, though, Tulla came out and really made a game of it on the changeover.
Throwing caution to the wind, they pressed and probed and created several decent chances before Keith Lenihan eventually found the target midway through the half.
Lack of opportunity wasn’t Tulla’s undoing, rather their inability to make their chances count.

Newmarket Celtic A: Marty Whelan, Mark O’Malley, Darren Cullinan, Colin Ryan, Michael Devitt, Paudie Hayes, Michael Crosby, Seamus Lawlor, Martin O’Neill, Davy Wall, Kieran Devitt.
Subs: Dave O’Grady, Simon Malone, Mike O’Malley.
Tulla United A: Shane Collins, Tom Byrnes, Gearóid O’Doherty, Denis Murphy, Niall Whelan, Brian Hehir, Trevor Corbett, Shane Mason, Darragh Corry, Alan Brigdale, Keith Lenihan. Subs: Colin Nelson for Hehir, John Brigdale for Mason and Mike McDermott for Corry.

Lifford 3 Bridge Celtic 0

WHAT a difference a week makes.
Smarting from a heavy defeat the previous week at the hands of Newmarket, it was visitors, Bridge Celtic, who were left to feel the backlash as the Ennis side bounced with some style at Cassidy Park.
Lifford showed serious intent in the early stages as they endeavoured to get their league challenge back on track. They dictated the play, kept Celtic hemmed in their own half and it was only a matter of time before that early onslaught was rewarded with a goal.
Striker, Lunga Balman was on target when he broke clear of the defence to place the ball wide of Celtic keeper, Adrian Duhig – a delightful finish from a player in form.
Celtic’s woes were compounded shortly afterwards when Gary McNaboe scored direct from a free kick. Lifford were in cruise control and Celtic’s frustration became all too apparent, resulting in the dismissal of Shane Byrnes.
Ten against 11, Celtic’s task looked insurmountable. It became nigh impossible when Balman added a third before the break.
From a competitive perspective, the second half petered out. It was a case of Lifford going through the motions, secure in the knowledge that they had the points in the bad.
They did find the Celtic net twice more but both goals were disallowed. On this day, they weren’t too perturbed.

Lifford AFC: Jean de Silva, Dylan Blake, Kieran Connelly, Hamed Kuku, Mickey Joe O’Sullivan, Rory Norrby, Gary Browne, Gary McNaboe, TJ Atisomo, Kieran Neenan, Lunga Balman. Subs: Jamie Fahy for Norrby, Francie Neylon for McNaboe, Keith Dormer for Blake.
Bridge Celtic: Adrian Duhig, Trevor Howard, Fergal Lyons, William Slattery, Rob Seymour, Ger O’Connell, Paul McEvoy, Shane Byrnes, Cathal O’Connell, Shane Moloney, Conor Hynes.
Subs: Luke Turner, Ollie Phillips, Paul O’Connell.