Schoolboys/girls in final battles

FIVE cup finals in the Clare Schoolboys/Girls’ League were decided at the county grounds in Doora at the weekend.

The games produced a high standard of play and there were some great goals for the good size attendances on both days.
Avenue United continued their dominance in schoolboy soccer when they added the U-11, U-13 and U-15 titles to the U-16 crown they won a week earlier.
This Saturday, they will be hoping to win the U-14 title when they take on St Pat’s at the county grounds at 11am.

 

Four-goal Tanya shines

Mountshannon Celtic 4
Newmarket Celtic 0

MOUNTSHANNON Celtic captured the girls’ U-12 title when they proved too strong for Newmarket Celtic
An outstanding performance from Tanya Azara was the highlight of this game. She scored four of her side’s goals and, not surprisingly, won the player-of-the-match award.
Sabrina McCarthy from Newmarket came close with an early effort before an Amy Barrett free kick went all the way to the net in the 15th minute for the opening goal of the game.
Newmarket’s Aoife Crimmins was denied by Niamh Deer before the sides went to the break with the East Clare side ahead on a 1-0 scoreline.
Ten minutes into the second half, Azara had her first. She struck again with an effort from just outside the area after 22 minutes and she completed the scoring with goals in the 28th and 29th minutes to seal a great victory for Mountshannon.
Mountshannon Celtic: Amy Barrett; Aisling Corry, Amy Solon, Cait Keenan, Caoimhe Grace, Deirdre Corry, Fiona Hayes, Jasmine O’Donoghue, Jessica Azara, Katie Minogue, Lucis Cairns, Niamh Dear, Niamh Quirke, Rachel Minogue, Róisín Minogue, Rebecca Bourke, Róisn Bent, Sorcha O’Donnell, Tania Azara.
Newmarket Celtic: Sabrina McCarthy, Lauren Reynolds, Alice Sheedy, Orla Walsh, Emer White, Aoife Crimmins, Rebecca Murray, Mary Enright, Ciara McCarthy, Ciara Hayes, Claire McMahon, Aideen McLoughlin, Doinne Cullinan, Chantal Carigg, Jessica Keane, Hayleigh Keane, Una Fitzgerald, Hannah Kennedy.

Lifford take U-14 crown

Lifford 6
Newmarket Celtic 2

IN the U-14 girls’ final, Newmarket Celtic got off to a dream start with a Doireann Murphy goal in the opening minute.
The lead was shortlived as Lifford levelled five minutes later through Aishling Meaney before taking the lead in the 14th minute when Gráinne Nolan’s effort from a free went all the way to the net.
Ten minutes later, they went two goals clear with Aoife Keane on target. A Rachel Sheedy own goal saw the winners go further ahead and they were 5-1 up by half-time after another Gráinne Nolan strike.
The Lifford defence did well in the early stages of the second half before the winners regained control. Sadbh Malone, later named as the player of the game, saw her effort rebound off the bar before Sabrina McCarthy pulled one back for Newmarket. However, Malone sealed victory for the Ennis side with a header.
After the game, league chairman Ronnie Pyne presented the trophy to the winning captain Orla O’Reilly.

Avenue on top from the start

Avenue 7
Coole 0

FOUR first-half goals paved the way for Avenue United’s victory over Coole FC in the U-15 Cup final on a day when Eimhin Courtney scored four and also picked up the player of the game award.
Avenue could have scored as early as the first minute but they had to wait until the sixth for the opening score, which came from an Evan McNamara header.
Courtney had the first in his opening half hat-trick in the 12th minute and then Brian Guilfoyle struck for the first of his brace. Avenue also hit the post during their spell of dominance.
Jack Cummins and Aidan Helbert came close for the Gort-based outfit.
The cup was presented to the winning captain Evan McNamara.
Avenue United: Lee O’Callaghan, Niall Keane, Evan McNamara, Ciarán O’Halloran, Michael Maloney, Bryan Colleran, Killian Normoyle, Shane O’Connell, Sean Twomey, Cian Crimmins, James Woods, Conor McInerney, Sultan Kasali, Conor O’Brien, Ross McCarthy, Brian Guilfoyle, Eimhinn Courtney, Barry Guilfoyle, Rory Brennan, Willie Twumasai, Cameron Whyte.
Coole FC: Darren O’Donoghue, Stephen McCarty, Jack Cummins, Declan Fahy, Peter Killea, Aidan Helebert, Gavin Cahill, Eric O’Sullivan, Seamus Simmons, Emmanual Nuggia, Eric Malmla, Cameron Fennessy, Finn Kearns, Aaron Kilcreast, Calvin Finn, Isac Da Costa, Shane Moran, Simon O’Sullivan, Jack Beakey.

 

Second half performance seals win

Avenue 2
Moher Celtic 0

AFTER a scoreless first half, Avenue broke the deadlock and went on to win the boys’ U-13 title after a well-contested tie with Moher Celtic.
The winner’s best chance in the first half fell to Thomas Hehir but Anthony Lacey in the Moher Celtic goal made an excellent save.
Maurice Nugent, named as the player of the game, was excellent at centre back throughout for the winners.
In the 14th minute of the second half, the deadlock was broken when Thomas Hehir scored with a volley. Six minutes later, they doubled their advantage when Mark McAuliffe goaled after a Nugent cross. Moher goalie Lacey made an impressive double save but the ball broke to McAuliffe who found the target. As Moher tried to get back into contention, Avenue’s Paddy Honan made a fine save from Kieran Buckley.
Avenue United: Paddy Honan, Darren Meehan, Tadhg Connellan, James Crotty, Luke Downey, Nzube Okoye, Marc McAuliffe, Patrick McDaid, Maurice Nugent, Tomas Hehir Killian O’Daly, Graham Glynn, Michael Junaid, Kevin Hartigan, Vincent Quinlan, David Roche.
Moher Celtic: Anthony Lacey, Aidan McMahon, Brian Leyden, Duncan McCormack, Stephen Roche, Eoin Frawley, Cathal O’Gorman, Brian Considine, Ciaran Buckley, Corey Ben O’Connor, James Vaughan, Timmy McGlennon, Caelan Benn, Oisin Leyden, Robert Nagle.

Dream start for Avenue

Avenue 4
Corofin Harps 1

IN this U-11 Cup final, Avenue United got off to a dream start going into a two-goal lead after five minutes.
Ronan Lanigan opened the scoring in the second minute with a strike from outside the box and Philip Talty had their second in the fifth minute when his effort found the net via the cross bar.
Corofin came close in the 15th minute when Robin Mounsey made a great run before being stopped on the edge of the area. Three minutes later, Gearóid Cahill saw his effort stopped by Avenue keeper Brian Haren.
Avenue came close to extending their lead a few minutes later but Eoin Thynne’s effort was stopped. Corofin had calls for a penalty turned down before half-time.
Five minutes into the second half, Tom O’Brien saw his shot rebound off the post before Eoin Fitzgerald in the Corofin goal saved from Philip Talty.
Corofin were awarded a penalty in the 46th minute following a foul on Robin Mounsey and Kevin Keane scored.
Avenue’s two-goal advantage was restored when Tom O’Brien scored and they sealed victory when substitute Shane Brennan had their fourth.
Ronan Lanigan was named player of the game and the cup was presented to captain Ben O’Donnell.
Avenue United: Brian Haren; Ciaran Tuohy, Donal Devane, Conor Devane, Cullen McCabe, Tom O’Brien, Ben O’Donnell, Darren O’Brien, Patrick Murphy, Joseph Connaughton, Frank Roche, Philip Talty, Conor Hehir, Shane Brennan, Eoghan Thynne, Jake Ryan, Conor McDaid, Conal Kelleher, Ronan Lanigan.
Corofin Harps: Eoin Fitzgerald, Killian McGroary, Killian O’Connor, Kevin Keane, Gearoid Cahill, Callum Smythe, Josh Ryan, Jason Brown, Conor Leen, Cathal Saunders, Robin Mounsey, Oisín Keene, Ethan Neylon, Jonathon Barry, Fionn Reidy, Alfie Kent, James Collins, Enda Collins.