Manor Rangers and St John’s will battle it out in quarter finals

THE North- West Hospice Cup saw Leitrim kingpins Manor Rangers book their home tie in the quarter finals thanks to an outstanding display from Niall Walsh who scored all five goals against Glenview Stars who scored once courtesy of the Big Man Gino O’Boyle.

Their opponents will be St Johns who demolished Strand Celtic by six goals to one, Malachy Spratt cracking home a hat trick with a goal each from Keith Lynch, Conor Brennan and Eddie Devaney booking their spot in the quarter finals. Daniel Lang scored the only goal for an out of touch Strand Celtic.

The North- West Hospice Shield had plenty of excitement with Ballygawley Celtic advancing with a fine win over visitors Merville United. Evergreen Keith Hennessey opened the scoring on ten minutes and Callum Irwin equalised for Merville United.

The second half saw Jamie Conlon give Ballygawley Celtic the lead after four minutes with further strikes from Paul Flanagan and Oisin Gilmartin putting the game out of reach for Merville who did score once more courtesy of Graham Irwin.

Ballygawley Celtic also welcomed back Ross McLoughlin who have a long layoff through injury came on for the second half and had an outstanding 45 minutes. Ballygawley Celtic will now meet their bogey team MCR in the quarter finals.

The North Sligo derby saw Cliffoney Celtic book their quarter final spot with a two goal win against Benbulben FC. Christy Keaney game Cliffoney a first half lead and twenty five minutes from time Alan Harrison with a one on one with Benbulben keeper Tony Davis slotted home the second to wrap matters up for Cliffoney.

Real Tubber hit Coolaney United for five,

Matthew Mulhern blasting home a hat trick with a goal each from Dylan Henry and Patrick Killian ensuring a mouth- watering quarter final at home to neighbours Chaffpool United.

Boyle Celtic hit the ground running at home to Ballisodare United in The Great Southern Hotel Sligo, Super League three goals up after twenty minutes. Gerard McDermottroe on seven minutes with a beautifully executed free kick, five minutes later Aaron Calpin made it two nil and Sean Purcell added the third on twenty minutes.

Ballisodare United hit back on twenty- five minutes when Kevin O’Hara slotted home a fine goal.

Ten minutes later and Dessie Carlos got his marching orders from referee Owen McLoughlin for a deliberate hand ball and Darragh Healy dispatched the penalty to bring Ballisodare within a goal of Boyle Celtic at the interval.

The second half was only minutes old when Luka Roddy restored order firing home Boyle Celtic’s fourth goal and Gerard Mc Dermottroe with yet another superb free kick notched the fifth on sixty- five minutes.

This was a brilliant display with ten men by Boyle Celtic and Ballisodare pushed them al the way Darragh Healy scoring his second on sixty five minutes and John Feicks netting a fourth ten minutes from time to insure a battle royal and an exciting climax to a great game.

Arrow Harps move into third place into third on the Andrew Mullen Sligo Pallets Premier League board after a fine win away to Carrick Town at the Showgrounds Carrick On Shannon.

Andy Flynn, Ciaran O’Connor with a goal each while Daniel Willis rocketed home two fine goals bringing his league tally to a phenomenal twenty- eight goals. The Town responded well with a double strike from the ever alert Conor Shanley.

In the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Sligo W B Yeats Cup, the league got off to an early start this week with two games played on Friday night.

The first of these was a semi Final in the Radisson Blu Sligo W B Yeats Cup where Carbury were Hosts to Yeats United.

Carbury were the convincing winners in this six goal thriller.

Dillion Edwards opened the scoring for Carbury early on but this was cancelled out ten minutes later when Sean Pender equalised for Yeats United.

Goals from Ibraham Savage, Keith Carty and Gary Finan put the game beyond the reach of Yeats. Despite going a man down and conceding a late goal through Cian Doyle, Carbury held on to put themselves into this year’s final.

In the Robert Cawley Memorial Cup, the quarter final between Cliffoney Celtic and Merville Utd had all the ingredients of Cup football.

Cliffoney got off to a great start with two Goals from Alan Harrison and led going in at half time.

In the second half Diarmuid Gallagher added a Third for the home side and it look like the game was slipping away from the visitors.

Merville however had different ideas and rallied a comeback with goals from Graham Irwin and Caolan Irwin reducing the deficit.

Eventually their efforts were rewarded and it was Conor Cox who equalised for Merville.

Despite getting a man sent off, Merville held on and forced the game into extra time.

Both sides couldn’t be separated and it was decided on penalty kicks with Merville United coming out on top, three goals to one and putting themselves into the Semi Final of the Robert Cawley Cup.