Sligo-Leitrim and District Soccer League
ON THE ATTACK: Matt Henry in action for Gurteen Celtic in their Sligo Southern Hotel Super League fixture against Carbury FC at MacSharry Park last Sunday.
GURTEEN Celtic, current leaders of the Sligo Southern Hotel Super League, made a defiant statement on Sunday last when taking a point off fellow title challengers Carbury FC at MacSharry Park.
This 0-0 draw, with goalkeeper Jamie McCoy in good form for Gurteen, means that last season’s Premier League champions are six points clear of second-placed Carbury.
But former champions Carbury have four games in hand. If Gurteen were to win their remaining four games this would give them a final tally of 59 points. Carbury, however, have 24 points to play for and could end up with 65 points if they win all eight of the fixtures they have left.
Tonight, Thursday, Gurteen and Carbury will lock horns again – this fixture is a Frank Kennedy Memorial Cup semi-final that takes place in Gurteen (6.45pm).
Also last Sunday in the top flight, holders MCR FC lost 2-1 away to Ballymote Celtic. Oisin Brennan netted twice for Ballymote in the opening 20 minutes. Jordan Harte pulled a goal back for MCR in the 24th minute but it remained 2-1. This was a fourth loss in 17 games for MCR FC, who are fifth in the standings.
Calry Bohs and Manor Rangers shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw at Hazelwood. Manor Rangers, the away side, led 2-1 at the break thanks to Michael Mulholland’s first-half brace.
Eoin Stinchon halved the deficit with a goal for the hosts after 39 minutes. Calry equalised when Benedict Nwani scored in the 72nd minute.
Arrow Harps were 6-3 winners at home against second from bottom Real Tubber. This result and MCR’s loss means that Arrow Harps are up to fourth in the standings. It was 4-2 at half-time.
Arrow Harps’ first-half goals came from Ben Tuohy, Luke Flynn and Sam Tuohy as well as Joseph Moran’s own goal. Real Tubber scored twice in the first-half through James King and Aaron Perry. A second goal from Aaron Perry gave Real Tubber some hope with 25 minutes to go. But Arrow Harps wrapped up the result with goals from Patrick Kenny and David King.
This was an 18th loss for Real Tubber who have now conceded 100 goals in 22 games.
St John’s FC won 4-3 away to Strand Celtic. The home side went 2-0 ahead when Daniel Gray-Harrigan and Conor Burke scored. Conor Brennan’s converted penalty and then Leon Clancy’s goal brought St John’s level. It was 2-2 at half-time. The second-half was just as thrilling. Jayden Reynolds put St John’s 3-2 up after 88 minutes and then Strand levelled in stoppage time when Cormac Correia scored.
There was still time for Jayden Reynolds to net a late, late winner for St John’s – his goal came in the seventh minute of time added on.
Cartron United, who are third in the table, were 4-0 winners over Glenview Stars at MacSharry Park last Friday night. Ex-Glenview man Clive Brennan bagged a hat-trick for Cartron and Jason Devaney also scored.
THERE were two quarter-finals played in The Glasshouse Hotel Cup last Thursday. Merville United, runners-up in this season’s Sligo Pallets Premier League, were 8-2 winners at home over Dromahair FC.
The home side were 3-2 up at halftime. Tyler Stallard and Conor White scored, with the other goal coming from Shane Conlon’s own goal. Dromahair’s first-half goalscorers were Shaun Conlon and Cathal Kerrigan.
Merville scored five times in the second-half – Conor White scored again, with goals from Senan Sheehan, Tyler Stallard, Eamon Flynn and Ryan Gillen.
Aughanagh Celtic were 5-1 winners over Strand Celtic Reserves in the other quarter-final. This season’s Premier League champions were 3-0 ahead at the break.
The Aughanagh goalscorers were James Kiernan, who scored a hat-trick, and Seamus Hailstones, who netted a brace. Substitute Conor Mulligan scored for Strand Celtic Reserves after 62 minutes.
THREE games were played last Thursday in the Frank Kennedy Memorial Cup. Glenview Stars defeated Manor Rangers 4-2 on penalties in a first round tie that ended 5-5 after extra-time. It was 4-4 at full-time and the sides couldn’t be separated in extra-time, with each team scoring once more.
Glenview’s goals came from Cathal Davey, who bagged a hat-trick, Michael Ward and Stephen Hargadon. The Manor Rangers goalscorers were Brian McDonald, Michael Mulholland (2) and Rory McDermott (2).
In two of the competitions quarter-finals – played last Thursday – there were wins for Gurteen Celtic and MCR FC.
Gurteen were 2-1 winners at home against St John’s FC. Cillian Duggan’s goal gave Gurteen the lead after 61 minutes. Conor Brennan levelled for St John’s 10 minutes later. Conor Walsh scored what proved the winning goal with 13 minutes of normal left.
MCR defeated Calry Bohs 2-1 at Sean Fallon Park. Eoin Nicholson’s goal in the opening five minutes gave Calry Bohs the lead – this was later cancelled out by Gary Farren’s goal for MCR.
It stayed 1-1 until the closing stages, with extra-time looming. Keith Nibbs was the MCR hero when he converted an 89th minute penalty to make it 2-1.
Meanwhile, in Tuesday night’s quarter-final, Cartron United faced their Sligo town rivals Glenview Stars at MacSharry Park – four days after they met in the top flight, a game that was a 4-0 triumph for Cartron.
It got worse for Glenview as Cartron won 6-0.
The dominant winners, who were 4-0 ahead at half-time, scored through Clive Brennan, who netted twice, Josh Gilligan, Steven Patton, Dylan Monaghan and Jason Devaney. Cartron’s sixth goal, scored by Jason Devaney, came in second-half stoppage time.
The number of goals scored by Clive Brennan for Cartron in their defeat of Glenview last Friday.
RESULTS
Played on Thursday, April 25
FIRST ROUND: Glenview Stars 5, Manor Rangers 5 AET (Glenview Stars won 4-2 on penalties) QUARTER-FINALS: Gurteen Celtic 2, St John’s FC 1; MCR FC 2, Calry Bohs 1
QUARTER-FINALS: Aughanagh Celtic 5, Strand Celtic Reserves 1; Merville United 8, Dromahair FC 2
Played on Friday, April 26
ROUND 24: Cartron United 4, Glenview Stars 0
Played on Sunday, April 28
ROUND 24: Carbury FC 0, Gurteen Celtic 0; Calry Bohs 2, Manor Rangers 2; Ballymote Celtic 2, MCR FC 1; Arrow Harps 6, Real Tubber 3; Strand Celtic 3, St John’s FC 4
Played on Tuesday, April 30
Frank Kennedy Memorial Cup
QUARTER-FINAL: Cartron United 6, Glenview Stars 0
Played on Wednesday, May 1
SEMI-FINALS: Aughanagh Celtic L Coolaney L; Merville United L Ballisodare United L FIXTURES
Thursday, May 2
SEMI-FINAL: Gurteen Celtic v Carbury FC (6.45pm) (Owen McLoughlin)
Friday, May 3
ROUND 26: Cartron United v Manor Rangers (MacSharry Park, 7.45pm) (Paul Kilcoyne)
Sunday, May 5
Sligo Southern Hotel Super League
ROUND FOUR: MCR FC v Gurteen Celtic (11am) (Owen McLoughlin)
ROUND NINE: Calry Bohs v Glenview Stars (11am) (Philip McLoughlin)
ROUND 10: Strand Celtic v Real Tubber (11am) (Terry Butler)
ROUND 12: Arrow Harps v St John’s FC (11am) (Stephen Fallon)
ROUND 18: Ballymote Celtic v Carbury FC (11am) (Declan Basquille)
STANDINGS
Gurteen Celtic Carbury FC Cartron Utd Arrow Harps MCR FC Ballymote Celtic Calry Bohs Glenview Stars St John’s FC Strand Celtic Manor Rangers Real Tubber Cliffoney Celtic
P W D 20 15 2 16 13 2 19 13 2 19 10 5 17 11 2 20 10 3 20 9 3 21 9 1 21 7 3 18 7 2 19 6 4 22 3 1 24 0 0
L FA Diff 3 58 25 +33 1 60 17 +43 4 54 25 +29 4 53 29 +24 4 54 32 +22 7 45 39 +6 8 44 32 +12 11 47 67 -20 11 54 60 -6 9 52 35 +17 9 40 50 -10 18 22 100 -78 24 0 72 -72
Pts 47 41 41 35 35 33 30 28 24 23 22 10 0