Goals and more goals in thrilling weekend

IT RAINED goals last weekend in the Sligo-Leitrim and District Soccer League, with 73 goals produced by 13 games. Gurteen Celtic continue to lead the Sligo Southern Hotel Super League – last year’s second tier champions won 3-2 away to Manor Rangers for a ninth win in 11 games.

Eoghan Nerney bagged a hat-trick for the surprise title challengers on Sunday last as Gurteen reacted well to going a goal down when Cian Rock gave Manor Rangers a 14th minute lead.

Gurteen led 2-1 at the break thanks to a brace of first-half goals from Eoghan Nerney, who completed his hat-trick five minutes into the second-half.

Brian McDonald scored for Manor Rangers after 65 minutes but they ended up losing for an eighth time this season. Manor Rangers’ Aaron Hickey was red-carded.

Cartron United are also in the silverware race – they are currently second, two points behind the leaders. Cartron’s latest win was last Sunday’s 4-0 defeat of St John’s FC at MacSharry Park. It was scoreless at half-time. The outcome may have been different from a St John’s perspective but Conor Brennan missed from the spot in the opening five minutes.

Cartron’s control began when Donal Gallagher scored in the 49th minute – their other scorers were Enda McGowan, Clive Brennan and Stephen Keenan. The goals from Brennan and Keenan came in time added on.

St John’s finished with 10 players due to the dismissal of Killian Sweeney, who picked up two bookings.

Arrow Harps, who are third in the standings, won 3-1 at home against Calry Bohs. A Steven Willis hat-trick made the difference for the Riverstown outfit. Calry pulled a goal back through Eoin Stinchon in the closing stages.

Champions MCR FC are still fourth – only five points off Gurteen Celtic and with a game in hand. MCR beat their Sligo town rivals Glenview Stars 5-2 in a thriller at Sean Fallon Park.

The winners were 3-1 ahead at the break. Their first-half goals came from Donagh Crowne, Aliou Manoh Sesay and Jordan Harte, with David Lynch scoring for Glenview.

Substitute Conor Cox scored for Glenview to make it 3-2 after 69 minutes but MCR replied with two further goals – a second of the day from Donagh Crowne and a goal from Kyle Smith, who started on the bench.

Former champions Carbury maintained their recent form – a seventh win from 10 games sees them in fifth place, six points behind Gurteen Celtic. They were 2-0 winners away to Strand Celtic last Sunday. Carbury’s goals came from Malachy Spratt and

Mark McGoldrick.

UGHANAGH Celtic went goal crazy in the Sligo Pallets Premier League