Tag Archives: Avenue United

Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) PRO Jim Madden is looking forward to an exciting season ahead as Junior soccer returns this weekend. With the nine team Maloney Hardware Premier Division commencing this Saturday, all eyes will be firmly fixed on whether Avenue United can defend their crown or will the wounded animal that is Newmarket Celtic find a way to strike back? On Saturday evening, David Russell’s side face Lifford AFC with Bridge United hosting Kilrush Rangers, Shannon Town travelling to newly promoted Tulla United and Newmarket Celtic facing Coole FC. All games start at 6.30pm. Madden believes Avenue United will face stiff competition from Newmarket Celtic, Shannon Town and Bridge United but he believes David Russell’s side are firm favourites to regain league glory. “I think they (Avenue) have got stronger. David Russell is a very ambitious coach and he will be keen to back up last year’s success. I believe they will focus on making deep runs in …

Avenue United manager David Russell has lauded his charges for securing the club’s first League and Clare Cup double since 2010. The Clarecastle native credited his side’s commitment and appetite to improve for helping them end Newmarket Celtic’s stranglehold on both competitions. “It’s great. It’s our first double in about 10 years. To do it against Newmarket who’ve dominated Clare soccer for so long makes it better. It’s a great achievement by a great bunch of players there. They put their shoulder to the wheel for the whole season and they got what they deserved.” In what was a demanding campaign for Avenue with runs to the Last 16 of the FAI and Munster Junior Cups, a final appearance in the League Cup and victories in the Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup and Moloney Hardware Premier Division, Russell insists himself nor the players ever felt that any part of the season was a slog. “The lads never baulked at …

Premier Division Avenue Utd 1-1 Newmarket Celtic THE changing of the guard was completed this evening (Wednesday) when captain Dylan Casey’s dramatic 77th minute equaliser clinched a famous league and cup double from the grasp of holders Newmarket Celtic on home soil, writes Eoin Brennan. In what was a great advertisement for Clare soccer, four days on from Avenue’s 2-1 Cup Final victory over Celtic, a large crowd were in attendance once more to witness the ultimate Premier Division showdown. Tension was commonplace, especially for the home side after being dealt an early hammerblow when Newmarket stalwart Stephen Kelly headed home a David McCarthy corner only three minutes into the tie. With nothing but a victory sufficient for Newmarket to retain their crown, it took time and more significantly patience for the hosts to eventually turn the tide and ultimately wear down their experienced opponents. Needing a response to Saturday’s lacklustre final display, Newmarket came out firing and following Kelly’s …

“Avenue are back,” exclaimed captain Dylan Casey as he held aloft the Clare Cup after a 2-1 victory over Newmarket Celtic broke the latter’s decade-long stranglehold in Frank Healy Park, Doora. First quarter goals through influential attacking duo Elias Kunz and Eoghan Thynne set the tone for a merited first cup crown for the storied Ennis club since 2011. Their composure and assurance throughout belied their relative inexperience albeit that the guile and inspiration of Avenue’s centre half partnership of captain Casey and Conor Mullen provided the rock-like foundation of their win. Newmarket did grab a spectacular goal from a curling Eoin Hayes free kick in the 95th minute but it was to be the last real act of an absorbing heavyweight contest. There had been some anxious moments and fightback too in Newmarket’s historic nine in a row (COVID accounting for the absence of a 2020 competition) but in truth, outside of that last gasp consolation goal, there wouldn’t …

Avenue United captain Dylan Casey is expecting fireworks when his side come up against Newmarket Celtic in the Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup final this evening in Frank Healy Park (kick off 5pm). The two traditional heavyweights of Clare soccer go head to head in what a game which has the potential to see sparks fly. With Newmarket Celtic going for a scarcely believable 10th Clare Cup title in a row, Casey is aware that his side face a huge task to dethrone the roll of honour leaders. The centre back knows the challenge ahead is a tough one but he wants his side to focus on their own performance. “We just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing. Just because it’s Newmarket doesn’t mean we should be changing our approach to the game. There’s always a bit of bite in these games. It’s going to be a cracker.” There’s nothing unusual about a member of the Casey …

Paddy Purcell has been there and seen it all. The experienced Newmarket Celtic centre half maintains the same level of hunger that he showed during his 10 year spell with Limerick FC and his subsequent time with the kingpins of Clare soccer. With Newmarket Celtic trying to claim 10 Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cups in a row, Purcell insists this side’s drive to succeed is as strong as ever. “We are as hungry and motivated as ever. This is why you play football. We are in the Cup final and are involved in the business end of the League too so we want to win our next two games.” The Newmarket captain claims that completing the 10 in a row does not provide additional motivation for him or the team. “I don’t think the whole 10 in a row is extra motivation. I don’t think the number matters really. Personally, it’s not on my mind. Our sole focus is …

This is where Newmarket Celtic expect to be. In their eyes it’s where they belong. In contention for a fourth successive league and cup double, the reigning champions are keen to assume their place on top of the pile once more. By the time they arrive at Frank Healy Park for Saturday’s showdown Newmarket Celtic will have gone 4087 days without a defeat in the Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup. Their dominance of this competition has been nothing short of remarkable with the goal of hitting the magic 10-in-a-row and showing that they are in fact far from finished ruling Clare soccer is motivating them according to manager Mark O’Malley. “The lads have done this nine years in a row. I’ve been involved in the club all my life and our cup form has always been good. This batch of players have set their stall out. Ten is a nice number. Ten is better than nine. Avenue are a …

Avenue United manager David Russell doesn’t mince his words. He wants silverware, preferably both the Premier Division and Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup. With his side coming up against Newmarket Celtic in an eagerly awaited Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup final tomorrow, the possibility of a domestic double looms large for both these outfits. Avenue United lie two points clear of Newmarket Celtic in the Premier Division. The sides meet in the final game of the season next Wednesday with a draw enough to see Avenue crowned league champions. However, Newmarket Celtic are the current holders in both the league and cup as they will certainly be in no mood to give up either piece of silverware without a fight. Russell feels that his side need to win silverware if his current tenure in charge of the club is going to be regarded as a success. “I said I’d give it three years and see how things stand …