Cracking Cup final is in store
MERVILLE United booked their place in the Robert Cawley Memorial Cup after emerging winners by the odd goal in five at home to Carrick Town in Merville. This game had it all with both sides intent on attacking it was end to end from start to finish. Graham Irwin opened the account for Merville and Shane Fitzpatrick levelled matters for the Town. Graham Irwin once again fired Merville ahead for Alan Doherty to once again draw the Town level. Both sides were inseparable after ninety minutes but in extra time Man of the Match Graham Irwin stepped up to hammer home a glorious winner and fire this young Merville United side into their first final. A great game in which they had to be a winner for also full respect to the Town who in defeat still stood tall.
The second semi- final took place at Riverstown once again two exciting sides with little to separate them. MCR had the best of the first half and when Arrow Harps got through they found Tony Clarke in a rich vein of form in the MCR goals.
It was a tight game and Ciaran Harvey showing his silky skills drifted by a few defenders to put through Joe Cobbe one on one with the Harps Keeper. Cobbe kept his composure and hit the back on the net that insured them a crack at lifting the Cup.
The final will take place next Sunday KO 3pm at the Ray Mac Sharry Complex and what a day it promises to be both teams from inside the borough steeped in soccer history.
MCR the late Robert Cawley’s home club and indeed Merville who Robert would also have played for. A large crowd is expected to see this two fine sides in action both sides boast prolific goal scorers and league placings in Cup Finals count for little so what a final we have to start the Silverware season.
in The Great Southern Hotel Sligo, Super League Boyle Celtic keep up the pressure on Carbury with a fine six goals to three victory in the Bee Park Manorhamilton on Wednesday night. Niall Corrigan bagging a hat trick with a goal each from John Connolly and Michael Brennan with an unfortunate own goal from the hard- working Thomas Mc Donald. Manor Rangers hit back with two goals from Niall Walsh and a third from Seamus Ryder but on the night Boyle were the better side and now move within eleven points of Carbury with three games in hand.
These two sides will clash on Sunday the 14th May in a game that will have a massive bearing on where the title will go this season.
Carbury ensured this with a late show at home Ballisodare United in an enthralling game on Wednesday night Andrew Patton fired Ballisodare United into the lead, Gary Finan levelled the scores only for Kevin O’Hara to put Ballisodare once more in charge a lead they held till late in the proceedings when Christopher Kelly stepped up to equalise and at the death from the edge of the penalty area Dylan Edwards crashed home a glorious winner that wrapped up three priceless points for Carbury. Ballisodare a young side have only lost by small margins against the top guns and they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Calry Bohs travelled to the Bee Park on Sunday for a game vital to their Super League status and what a sting in the tail they had for Rangers who took the lead through Seamus Ryder.
Bohs were buzzing from the start of the second half and Colm Devaney posted their equaliser on fifty minutes and sixteen minutes from time Ciaran Stenson hit a glorious winner that will go a long way in keeping Calry Bohs up. Manor Rangers third place in the Super League will now be focused hard on the Cup Competitions and their efforts this season deserve silverware.
It’s coming down to the wire in the Andrew Mullen Sligo Pallets Premier League Ballygawley Celtic at home to North Sligo Kingpins had the opportunity of putting a lot of distance between themselves and the challengers but it was not to be, just yet. Cliffoney Celtic were back in full flight,
Christy Keaney opening their account and Ballygawley were level at half time courtesy of a Christy Markham strike. The visitors took the lead with a sublime effort from Stephen Clancy and things looked bleak for Ballygawley especially when losing their skipper Colm McTiernan with a suspected broken arm. But Amateur International kept Ballygawley hopes of Silverware alive with a superb equaliser so it’s still all up for grabs.
The league and all our affiliates wish Colm McTiernan and speedy and full recovery. Gurteen Celtic signalled their intent for honours with a blistering display away to a well marshalled Chaffpool United in the Cleary Landscape’s & Pitch Maintenance Division One.
Hero of the day was Fiachra Gorman who scored all three goals to puts Gurteen Celtic top of the leader board. In the FAI Cup Boyle Celtic went down by a goal to nil away to Killarney Celtic they can now concentrate on the games in hand in particular away to West United of Galway on Sunday next in the Semi Final of the T P Brennan Connacht Cup this is a title Boyle Celtic can win and after their exploits this season who could deny them that.