United’s title ambitions dented
DIVISION 1
ST. PATRICK’S denied Arklow United’s chances of taking the Division 1 title with a 1-0 away success last Sunday. Carnew overcame Arklow Celtic 4-2, while Gorey Celtic drew 1-1 at home to Avonmore.
Declan Byrne got the all-important goa on the stroke of half-time.
This was a good all-round team performance from the ’Saints who had to withstand some very strong pressure from the home outfit.
Just to show that it was not Arklow’s day, they actually missed a penalty into the bargain. Patrick Roche, Joe Shelton, Bill Kealy and Barry Kavanagh did best for ’United who will play a lot worse and win matches.
Both goals came in the second half of this one, Denis fitzpatrick netting for the hosts and Bernie Byrne doing likewise for the opposition.
Fitzpatrick, Michael Murphy and Adrian Kennedy were all outstanding for Gorey, while Noel Murphy, John Gahan and Sean Kelly caught the eye for the opposition.
Trailing 2-0 with just 20 minutes left, the home side launched an amazing recovery to pull this game out of the fire.
Martin Doyle grabbed a match-winning hat-trick with Trevor Gilligan getting the other goal.
Gilligan and Doyle were outstanding in a great team effort. Sammy Roche was on the mark for ’Celtic who really let this one slip away.
DIVISION 2
Lens United and Shillelagh United drew 2-2 in the game of the day in Division 2. Rathnew A.F.C. and St. Kevin’s kept their title hopes alive with narrow wins over
Celtic Stars and Clone Rangers respectively.
Newtown United and Arklow Celtic also won.
Ciaran Byrne scored twice for the hosts who were leading 1-0 at half-time. Byrne, Stephen Dagge and Darren Kavanagh were their top performers on the day.
Larry Merriman and Alan Earls were on the mark for Lens who came from behind twice.
Stephen Kearney and Larry Merriman were in prime form for the Bray men.
Jason Quinn, Nigel Manley and Mark Doyle shared the goals for Rathnew who were 2-0 up at the break.
Edward and Joe Merrigan and Finbar Franey were key figures in this triumph.
David Jennings got both goals for the ’Stars who were well served by Tony Rossiter, Ger Byrne and
Chris Hennessy.
Patrick Bolton snatched an 80th minute winner for the Laragh men who were inspired by Liam Murtagh and Noel Cullen. Liam and Johnny Kavanagh and Larry Noctor did best for Clone.
All the goals came in the second half of this one. Jody Maher scored for the visitors who had fine players in Buddy Byrne, Fergus O’Neill and Michael Maher. Heffernan, Carthy and Kelly were all prominent for the winners.
Stephen Byrne scored a hattrick for Arklow whose other goals came from Mark O’Reilly and Conor O’Keeffe. Byrne, O’Reilly, Brendan Boden and John McElheron starred in a good team display from Celtic.
The home side were in total control in Carnew and ran out easy winners against a weak Aughrim/ Annacurra side.
Patrick Doyle was the top scorer with 1-2, Fergal Kinsella scored 1-1, Darragh Murphy 1-0, Keith Murphy who was man of the match 0-3, Garry Doran, Paddy Myers 0-1.
John Kennedy was the star in the good home defence.
Newtown were no match for the combined powers of Kilcooleand Éire Óg at Kilcoole when the heat was on in the second half.
It was 1-5 to 0-5 in favour of the home side at half-time but the second half was mostly one-sided.
Éire Óg/Kilcoole: Mark Wright 2-2, John Barry 0-5, Darra Gaskins and Mark Daly 0-2 each, David O’Neill 0-1.
Newtown: Simon Kelly 0-4, Vincent Kinsella 0-2, Ciaran Franey 0-1.