Saints battle back

Andy McEvoy Premier 1

St Peter’s FC battled against the odds to earn a share of the spoils against Carnew AFC in their Andy McEvoy Premier 1 game on Sunday.

The Bray side looked to be up against it when they trailed 2-1 and were down to nine men, but they showed remarkable resilience to take something from the game.

The saints started the game brightly and got their noses in front after just three minutes, when Noel Stephens broke forward and played a through ball to Chad Ryan, who finished with aplomb.

Carnew AFC were back on level terms on 12 minutes though, with Cillian Gilligan applying the finishing touch.

Matters got worse for the hosts when they were reduced to ten men and then to rub salt into the wounds Carnew went ahead, courtesy of own goal.

St Peter’s looked to be dead and buried when a second player was dismissed soon after the interval, but they rolled up their sleeves and got on with it and got their reward when Tony Harris converted a penalty three minutes into injury time.

Pat O’Toole Division 1B

Templeogue United remain in the shake-up for the Pat O’Toole Division 1B title after picking up three points against Ashford Rovers on Sunday.

The Dubliners ran out 3-1 winners.

Division 3

Shamrock Celtic grabbed a victory from the jaws of defeat to dent Arklow United’s Division 3 title ambitions.

United looked to be on course to collect the three points when Alan McBride fired them in front with a little over 20 minutes remaining.

However, Glen McCarthy found the net to draw Shamrock Celtic level with five minutes left on the clock, before Gary Doyle pounced for a dramatic winning goal deep into injury time.

A Kadir Arslan goal was enough to earn Avonmore FC the three points against Dearg Celtic, while Conary United proved much too good for Aughrim Rangers as they ran out 5-1 winners (see focus match).