Tag Archives: Avenue United

Clare Cup Final Avenue United V Newmarket Celtic Frank Healy Park, Ennis Saturday, May 25 at 5.30pm Be under no illusions this is Clare soccer’s biggest rivalry. Any time these teams meet it’s the equivalent of Liverpool against Manchester United or Barcelona versus Real Madrid. Geographically both have nearer neighbours but in truth neither have more fierce rivals. That of course is due to the fact that they are two of the most successful teams in Clare soccer. Each know that to win domestic silverware they will have to beat each other. It’s David Russell’s fifth year in charge of Avenue United and they’re aiming for three cups in a row which will complete a double double (league and cup winners 2022). Newmarket under Paddy Purcell have had massive success with a historic FAI cup to go with the Presidents Cup and Munster Champions trophy. With rivalry like that are the managers rivals similar to Ferguson and Wenger or Klopp …

For Eoin Hayes, the hunger never goes and that’s why the most garlanded player in the history of the game in Clare thanks to his exploits for club, county and country is taking this Clare Cup final as seriously as he did his first over a decade ago. “One thing people might say is that you take things for granted when you win, but when you win nine cups in a row I don’t think you’re taking anything for granted,” says Hayes. “I might be going for my tenth title but there are a few who haven’t won any and want their first. On a personal level I am 34 years of age and who knows when it will end. “I know that there are lots of people, for one reason or another and usually it’s injury, step away in their 30s. Thankfully I am still playing at a good level and still have speed and power. Those things are …

Manager David Russell has mentioned the class of 1986 to ’88 in passing because it’s a reference point for his team as they bid to go where they did in putting three Clare Cup titles, or the Haughey Cup as it was called then and The Avenue have possession of, back-to-back. The team of John ‘The Man’ O’Connor, Ray Casey, Brian ‘Charlie’ Donnellan, Gearóid Mannion, Johnny Purtill et al – the team that helped make The Avenue the club they are today and became the benchmark for the teams that followed. And when it comes to taking on the baton and driving things forward this team that Ronan Kerin captains has made considerable strides, firstly by bringing Avenue back to the top in Clare – that translates into chasing down Newmarket Celtic that dominated for a decade and more. The first big breakthrough was the Clare Cup final win against them two years ago, while they retained it the following …

Avenue United 5 – Togher Celtic 2 A twenty year wait to reach the semi-final of the Munster Junior Cup has been ended by a scintillating away day performance from the Ennis based club. David Russell’s charges were simply put- a class above their West Cork opponents and inspired by a player of the match performance from Steven McGann they ran out convincing winners. Starting on the front foot with a massive determination it only took the current premier league leaders seven minutes to draw first blood with midfielder McGann creating the opening for centre forward Ronan Kerin with a delightful delivery to the back post. The number 10 rose highest and powered a header past the helpless Ciaran Murray in the Togher goal. Buoyed by this positive start Avenue kept up the pressure and an Elias Kunz effort from outside the box went narrowly wide moments later. McGann was instrumental throughout, pulling the strings in the centre and another …

Premier Division Avenue United 3 2 Newmarket Celtic A 17th game will be required this Saturday to finally decide the destination of the Premier Division after holders Avenue United secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over leaders Newmarket Celtic in resplendent sunshine in Roslevan on Wednesday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. With the FAI Junior Cup champions leading by three points in the table ahead of this final round showdown, nothing but an Avenue victory was sufficient to extend the title race. And that seemed a mere formality as the home side stormed into the contest with a sixth minute solo goal from Nnabuike Nneji bolstered by a further brace from the excellent Elias Kunz to soar 3-0 clear by the 33rd minute. With a depleted Newmarket appearing ragged and warweary, Avenue might have capitalised further while down the other end a glorious back post opportunity for Jack Kelly cleared the crossbar while an injury-time Stephen Kelly scrambled effort managed to ricochet …

The race for the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup is down to four teams as Avenue United, Fair Green Celtic, Lifford AFC and Tulla United battle to progress to this year’s decider. Reigning champions Avenue Utd take on Fairgreen Celtic on Saturday (May 6th) with Pa Gleeson the man in the middle. Lifford AFC clash with Tulla United on Sunday (May 7th) with Paudie Hayes taking charge of that contest. Frank Healy Park will host both semi-finals. Saturday’s tie kicks off at 5:30pm while the Sunday showdown will start at 11am. Avenue are favourites to retain the Cup but they come up against a Fair Green Celtic side who have defeated Premier Division opposition in the quarter-finals and at the Last 16 stage. Fair Green Celtic operate in the Brownies Barbershop Third Division as they claimed league glory in what is their first season competing. They performed a memorable comeback from 3-1 down against Shannon Town to bring the game to …

A huge weekend of soccer action saw four sides book their spots in the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup semi-final. Meanwhile, Kilrush Rangers picked up a precious three points in their battle to avoid the drop in the Maloney Hardware Premier Division. Kilrush Rangers jumped to sixth in the Maloney Hardware Premier Division as they secured a vital win over fellow relegation battlers Coole FC. Both these sides are battling to avoid finishing second from bottom, which would mean they would have to face the team that finishes third in the First Division to secure their status. This was Kilrush Rangers’ most important win of the season. They beat Coole FC 3-1 despite only being able to call upon 12 first team players on the day. Jamie Griffin opened the scoring when he cut through the Coole defence while they doubled their lead after 30 minutes when Jack Cleary reacted quickest to an early ball in to the box. Coole did …

Derek Dormer reports as Avenue United sweep Cork side St Mary’s aside on an 8-0 scoreline Travelling away in Ireland’s most prestigious cup competition is never easy especially to Cork opposition but Avenue made little of this as they swept aside the challenge of St. Mary’s to book their place in round six of the FAI Junior Cup. Only five minutes in and David Russell’s charges had the dream start when centre-forward Ronan Kerin rose highest to head home a well-taken Jamie Roche corner. This early goal rattled the home side and Avenue, dominating possession, were unfortunate not to increase their lead when hitting the crossbar on 17 minutes from a super Roche effort. On 30 minutes a magnificent 30-yard rocket from Dylan Casey rattled the post and one began to wonder was it going to be one of those days. This fear was put to bed two minutes later when a lovely team move which included superb link play …