Tag Archives: CDSL

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 …

Plans are currently underway for Samaritans volunteers to visit soccer clubs across the county to emphasise the importance of looking after one’s mental fitness. Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) approached Samaritans of Ennis and Clare to team up with them and deliver pitch side talks to the management teams and players from approximately 35 teams over the coming months. More than 1,000 players of all genders and abilities from age 16 up play in the league. Margaret McMahon, a volunteer and director with Samaritans in Ennis, said looking after one’s mental health is as important as improving a person’s physical health. “Our aim is to attend as many training sessions as possible, but instead of speaking about match performance, we’ll be chatting about mental health. How we can be aware of it, how we can improve it, how we can nurture it, and, most importantly, what to do if all isn’t well.” “The idea behind it is to normalise the …

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 …

The CDSL season prepares to swing in to action once more with a revamped league format for the upcoming campaign. With Ennis Town unable to field a team next season, only nine clubs will play in the Moloney Hardware Premier Division ahead of the upcoming 2022/23 season. This means that 10 teams will compete in the Ann Romer Flowers First Division, nine sides in the Brian Pyne Tiles Second Division and seven clubs will be represented in the Brownies Barbershop Third Division. The Maloney Hardware Premier Division kicks off next weekend while clubs in the First, Second and Third divisions begin their season with the League Cup competitions. CDSL officials are hopeful of playing more games on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season, once both clubs are able to field on the day in question. With the GAA Club season having commenced, the CDSL are hoping this move allows clubs to field their best players. At the time of …

A meeting to try to resolve the issues surrounding the number of teams competing in the Premier Division next season is set to take place Thursday night. Ennis Town notified the league that they could be forced to withdraw from the Premier Division with concerns over a lack of numbers for the season ahead. A meeting was held last Friday to try to decide when the new season would kick off but no agreement was reached between the parties present with the start date set to be discussed tonight. The current situation raises the possibility that Sporting Ennistymon, who were relegated from the Premier Division last season, could be reinstated. The club were angered by a ruling over their use of a Ukrainian refugee as they were deducted points which meant they faced a play off against Kilrush Rangers to try and ensure their survival in the premier division of Clare soccer. Sporting Ennistymon subsequently did not field a team …

While there was plenty of debate and in-depth discussion over a 90 minute period centred around the 17 rule change motions brought to the recent Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) AGM, the only vote of the night was taken for Connolly Celtic’s proposal to amend Rule 47 (d) regarding the allocation of points for repeated walkovers. In essence, it was a reversion to the rule that had been in situ up to last year’s AGM where if a team fails to fulfil a fixture, the three points would automatically be given to the disappointed team, except when a team has played less than half its scheduled matches, then its record shall be deleted completely. Rhine Rovers were successful in their amendment to the 2021 convention that ‘if a club failed to fulfil a second fixture at any stage of the same season, it’s record for that season shall be expunged and all remaining teams in the division shall be awarded …

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 …

Sporting Ennistymon have spoken out on the controversy surrounding the registration of a Ukrainian refugee. The club have published a statement in which they outline their grievances with the process. The controversy arises over the need for the player in question to obtain an International Transfer Clearance (ITC) with the club believing they did not need to obtain one for the player to line out with them. However, they did and due to the confusion, Sporting were docked five points which subsequently meant they needed to play a Promotion/Relegation Play Off. Had they not received the penalty, the club would be guaranteed Premier Division football next season. In the club’s statement, they argue that a lack of information and clarity was provided by the FAI surrounding the rules with regards to registering a Ukrainian refugee. They also contend that the website used to register players, FAInet, is inadequate while also stating their belief that the FIFA rule in relation to …