Manor Rangers keep up the chase
THE kingpins of Leitrim, Manor Rangers welcomed the league leaders Strand Celtic to the Bee Park, Manorhamilton with just four points separating both sides in the Sligo Southern Super League.
The game opened at a high pace with both sides going on the attack and it was the home side going in front five minutes before the break when Shane Mc Callion drove an unstoppable effort into his own net in attempting to clear a dangerous attack.
Ten minutes into the second half, Seamus Ryder made it two nil to Manor but Strand despite the setback continued pressing. They were rewarded on sixty-five minutes when Fergal O’Hara brought them back into the fray firing home from the penalty spot. The visitors kept pressing for that elusive equaliser but the Manor defence was in outstanding form and two minutes from the end Vincent Sweeney broke free from the pack to score the clincher for a jubilant Manor Rangers who now move to within a point of the leaders with a game in hand.
Aughanagh Celtic took the bragging rights in this local Derby clash at home to neighbours Arrow Harps.
The only goal of the game coming on ten minutes when Nigel Hargadon fired home the goal that clinched all three points in an exciting encounter at Ballinafad.
Ballisodare United shared the points with visitors Calry Bohs in this six-goal encounter. Hero for Ballisodare United was Andrew Patton who netted a hat trick while Calry Bohs were magnificent with Eoin Doherty cracking home two goals and Kevin Coen adding a third that insured a great point for Calry Bohs. All the more impressive when one considers that Stephen Mc Cormack got his marching orders from referee Paul Kilcoyne when the keeper could only handle outside the box to prevent a certain goal. This left Calry with ten men for the remaining sixteen minutes in which their defence were outstanding.
In the Andrew Mullen Premier League title chase League leaders MCR travelled to Mullaghmore to take up the challenge of third placed Cliffoney Celtic and MCR were rocked to the core in the first half with a brilliant display from Cliffoney Celtic and two great goals from Niall Sheerin to leave the North Sligo side in a very commanding position for the second half.
MCR increased the tempo of their game and were rewarded when Captain Marvel Junior International Gary Rooney game them a lifeline when he fired home their first goal. The game sparked into life with leading scorer and Junior International Keith Nibbs levelling matters for MCR.
This gave MCR the initiative and ten minutes from time it was that man again Keith Nibbs that fired home a glorious winner to keep MCR top of the group.
Glenview Stars had an eventful day starting with some of the team getting lost on the way to Chaffpool but fair play to match official Glen Gilmartin who waited for them to arrive via their sat navs!
Chaffpool had only ten men for the first half but despite this they were leading by a goal to nil at the break thanks to a brilliant strike from Damien Watters. The Pool were at full strength for the second half but Stars having got over their Jet lag settled more into the game and Keith Carty started their revival scoring the equaliser and minutes from time Cole Coyle netted the winner that puts Stars into third on the leader board.
But full credit also to a gallant Chaffpool United who made the visitors fight all the way in a great encounter.
Gurteen Celtic took all three points in their clash with Benbulben FC. Goals from Tony Taylor Shane Grady and Ross O’Dowd wrapping up the game for a Gurteen Celtic side in total command. Benbulben battled throughout and Anthony Moylette pulled a goal back for the North Sligo Boys but the day and the points belonged to Gurteen.
Coolaney United were at home to Dromore Villa and what a historic game we had in this seven-goal thriller which Villa won. On form Coolaney were pre-match favourite’s and seemed destined to take this one when Joe Cullen scored a hat trick but it was not to be. The Villa scored four all from the lethal boot of Stephen Feeney and all from the penalty spot. Referee Paul Harte had a busy morning but what a breath taking game we had and congratulations to both sides on a splendid outing and the Villa claiming all the points.
In the TP Brennan Connacht Cup Quarter Finals, the League had two clubs still in contention Carbury FC and Merville United both with away fixtures against top opposition. The young Merville United side were at Celtic Park Castlebar against the highly experienced Castlebar Celtic and the Premier League proved to strong on the day winning by four goals to one but Merville will have learned a lot from this experience and will come back bigger and stronger.
Carbury travelled to Renmore in Galway and were a goal down on the stroke of half time with a fine goal from Paddy Gannon and despite their best efforts Carbury looked to be heading out of the competition that was until the last minute of the game when Gary Finan popped up to rocket home the equaliser. Extra time could not separate the sides and it went to the dreaded penalty shootout. Renmore missed their first penalty
and Carbury converted all five of their penalties to advance to the semi finals of the cup.
Sligo/Leitrim had more great news with south Sligo hero’s Real Tubber advancing to the Semi Finals of the TP Brennan Connacht Shield at the Astro Cleveragh where they entertained a very good West Coast United from Galway. The visitors took the lead on sixteen minutes when Tom Madden scored. Real Tubber battled back and were rewarded ten minutes before the break when Jack Walsh fired home the equaliser.
The sides were locked together in a game that eventually lead to extra time.
Real Tubber sealed victory two minutes into the first period when Eoin Walsh sent the crowd wild when he netted the all-important goal that see’s Real Tubber in the Semi Final of the TP Brennan Connacht Shield.