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THE only two competitive soccer games played in Clare on Sunday didn’t bring any joy to followers of the game in the Banner County.
THE only two competitive soccer games played in Clare on Sunday didn’t bring any joy to followers of the game in the Banner County.
Both Bridge United and Connolly Celtic bowed out of the Munster Junior Cup, going down to Cork and Limerick opposition, respectively.
Bridge United will be particularly disappointed as they looked to be heading for Round 5, only to go down in extra-time but Connolly Celtic can have few complaints as they were comprehensively beaten by a much superior Pike Rovers.
Connolly Celtic 0 Pike Rovers Limerick 8
LAST week’s inclement weather conditions resulted in this tie being switched from Connolly’s home venue at Kilmaley to the County Grounds which, despite the recent inclement weather, was in excellent condition. From an early stage, it was obvious that Pike Rovers would be difficult to beat and Connolly were always struggling against their hotly fancied opponents.
The winners took the lead midway through the opening half when Keith Hartnett provided the finish and they followed with goals by Pat Mullins, a second from Hartnett and one from Alan Barry, who troubled the home side’s defence throughout, to lead 4-0 at the break.
Connolly, who never troubled the visitors’ defence, were fortunate not to have conceded more in that opening period.
The second half was less than five minutes old when the winners took up where they had left off and Martin Deady cracked a 30m free to the net via the upright.
Five minutes later, the home side’s defence was stretched again and conceded a penalty, which John Tierney put away, to give the visitors a 6-0 advantage.
Connolly, to their credit, continued to battle on and Kenneth Kennedy came close to finding the net in the 12th minute. His first shot was well stopped by Pike goalie, Gary Neville, before his snap shot from the rebound was wide of the target.
Midway through the half, Pike made three changes, while Connolly introduced the experienced Mickey Byrnes and Jan Feick in place of Brendan Dillon and Greg Howard. Just inside the final quarter, they should have scored but John Paul Healy shot straight at the Pike goalie from the penalty spot after Kenneth Kennedy had been taken down in the area.
Minutes later, the winners struck again when Alan Barry provided the pass from which David Ryan hit their seventh and they rounded off an easy win shortly after this when Barry scored his second.
Connolly Celtic: Niall Quinn; Ronnie Meere, Greg Howard, Ian Hassett, Kieran Dillon; Brian Connellan, Alan Markham, John Paul Healy, Brendan Dillon, Kenneth Kennedy, John Kelly.
Subs: Mickey Byrnes for B Dillon; Jan Feick for Howard.
Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Wayne Corbett, Ed O’Donovan, Pat Mullins, Colm Enright; Martin Deady, Keith Hartnett, John Tierney, David Ryan, Alan Barry, Paul Doona.
Subs: Gavin O’Shea for Corbett; Jake Melody for Enright; Conor Mulligan for Mullins.
Referee: Pat Gleeson; assistant referees: Michael Rock and Martin Monaghan.
Bridge United 2 Douglas Hall, Cork 3
LEADING 2-1 as the end of normal time approached, Bridge United supporters were thinking about Round 5 of the Munster Junior Cup when they played Douglas Hall from Cork at McDonogh Park, Newmarket, on Sunday.
The game was switched to the excellent Newmarket venue as the Bridge club’s venue wasn’t playable.
Three minutes from the end, the visitors got through for an equalising goal, which led to extra-time, where they scored what proved to be the winner midway through the first period.
Midway through the opening half, the home side took the lead when Eric Carr scored. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Sean Moynihan headed an equaliser for the visitors when he got on the end of a well-struck corner.
Bridge goalkeeper John Mulready had made a couple of excellent saves in that first period.
Early in the second half, Christy Griffin’s header put the Bridge back in front and with just three minutes remaining, they still led by this goal when Kieran Ollif levelled for the visitors.
Midway through the first period of extra-time, Declan O’Connell got through for the lead goal for the Cork side and this score proved decisive.
Bridge United: John Mulready; Jonathon Downes, Jason White, Darren Murphy, Christy Griffin; Darragh Fitzgerald, Adrian White, Eric Carr, Mike McNamara; Kieran Quinlan, Jonathon Hayes.
Subs: Stephen Stewart for Fitzgerald; Damian Murray for Carr; Jamie O’Gorman for Hayes.
Referee: Martin O`Brien; assistant referees: Terry Kennedy and Dave McCarthy.
