UNITED RESERVES WIN

EAST HAM are Leinster Senior League Division 3 Sunday champions having beaten Northside Blues 2-1 in Duleek.

There was no score at half time although both teams had served up some excellent fare. However, ten minutes into the second half, T. Kierans put East Ham one up with a great header from a cross by T. Brogan.

At this stage the eventual winners had gained control at midfield where A. Daly, Hannon and P. Lyons all had great success. It came as no surprise when D . Russell headed goal No. 2 after a corner by J. Hannon. However Blues were not finished and put in a storming finish to get a goal five minutes from time.

Best for the champions were B. Hanan, P. Lyons, D. Russell, T. Kierans, A. Daly and J. Hannan .

Team: E. Kearney, O. Murray, P. Owens, M. Reynolds, B. Hanan, P. Lyons, J. Hannan, A. Daly, J. Brogan, D. Russell, T. Kierans. Res., D. Kierans, K. Daly.

DROGHEDA UNITED RESERVES , 3 (J. Clarke, D. Murphy. J. Kennedy) SHAMROCK ROVERS RESERVES 1 (Spud Murphy).

Shamrock Rovers Reserves came to Lourdcs Stadium on Thursday evening of last week seeking two Combination League points that could make them the champions of the ‘B’ Division of the League of Ireland. Prior to the kick-off Rovers and Bohemians Reserves were joint leaders each with a game to play — the Dalymount Park club were meeting third place Shelbourne Reserves the same evening. Ninety minutes later Rovers were surprisingly beaten while Bohs and Shels drew to put the Dalymount representatives at the top — to await anxiously the outcome of Shels remaining couple of games.

United, hampered by first team injuries throughout the season — were languishing in the second last spot in the table and had little to fight for. But the challenge to lower the pacemakers’ aims was there and accepted by the homesters with the fans to enthuse over from a very entertaining game

Perhaps it was the inclusion of player-manager Willie Roche that paved the way for United’s success.

And to their credit the entire team, which also included the reserve team manager, Jerome Clarke, responded as if they were figuring for honours themselves. They even came from behind to take the two points as Rovers fielding all their youth internationals and such promising starlets as Pierce O’Leary.

Like the goals that followed it was also a fine effort on the part of “Spud “Murphy—their dashing ccntreforward despite a gallant effort