Carbury move into top place
CARBURY FC take pole position in the Sligo Southern Hotel Super League with an emphatic win against Ballisodare United on Thursday evening.
Carbury leaped to the top of the table thanks to Gareth Kelly hitting a hat trick, despite missing a penalty, and bringing his tally to twenty league goals while Mark McGoldrick scored a wonder goal to wrap up the points and leave Carbury top of the table.
St John’s, who were in desperate need of points, entertained Ballymote Celtic at the Astro in Cleveragh. Ballymote were also on the hunt for points to secure Super League status for next season.
Ballymote took the lead seven minutes from the break when Brendan Fitzsimons netted an own goal.
This was a small setback as St John’s were playing well within themselves but just on the stroke of half-time referee Paul Kilcoyne rightly so gave Killian Sweeney his marching orders reducing St John’s to ten men.
The second half was six minutes old when the hit-man Mark Irwin struck a devastating second goal for Ballymote four minutes later and the lethal boot of Jack Hever made it 3-0 on sixty minutes.
A rush of blood to the head saw Malachy Spratt dismissed and St Johns were now on damage limitation.
They held out until minutes from full time when Jack Heaver slammed home the fourth goal that see Ballymote Celtic go fourth in the league table while St John’s linger second from bottom.
Arrow Harps welcomed Strand Celtic to Riverstown and were two goals up after 20 minutes. A screamer from Frankie Quinn on ten minutes gave them the lead with Ben Tuohy adding the second.
Strand pulled a goal back five minutes from half time when Lee Marshall scored.
The second half was nip and tuck until sixteen minutes from time when Fearghal O’Hara cracked home the equaliser and a minute from full time Kyle Harrigan rocketed home a glorious winner for the Beachboys.
In the Andrew Mullen Premier League, Merville travelled to Coolaney and they were made to fight all the way against a gallant Coolaney United. Stephen Hansberry put Merville ahead on twenty minutes and Coolaney hit back five minutes later with a goal from James Ellis.
Merville restored their lead just before half time courtesy of a fine goal from Niall Feehily. Coolaney defence were rock solid in the second half conceding only one more goal on 70 minutes from ace marksman and leading scorer Ryan McManus.
The local derby game between North Sligo rivals proved an exciting affair with Benbulben FC welcoming Cliffoney Celtic to Grange. Alan Harrison opened the account for Cliffoney after ten minutes and they held this lead until ten minutes into the second half when Donal Gallagher hit a thirty-yard screamer high into the roof of the Cliffoney net. Both sides continued to attack but it looked like ending honours even.
ten minutes from time a rash challenge gave Cliffoney Celtic a penalty that Christy Keaney dispatched to the back of the Benbulben onion bag.
Then four minutes from time up stepped Chris McLaughlin to hit the third goal for a jubilant Cliffoney Celtic who now sit in second spot on the leader board but make no mistake they had to fight all the way thanks to a brilliant display by the young guns of Benbulben. Race Night:
Saturday night last at the Glasshouse Hotel Swan Point Hyde Bridge Sligo was a great success and a sincere thanks to all the clubs Arrow Harps, Ballisodare Utd, Ballymote Celtic, Cartron Utd, Carbury FC, Calry Bohs, Coolaney Utd, Dromore Villa, Glenview Stars, Gurteen Celtic, Manor Rangers, Real Tubber, Strand Celtic, Aughanagh Celtic, Cliffoney Celtic, MCR FC, Chaffpool Utd.
The draw for the football strip sponsored by Peter Carpenter of Teamsport and drawn by Des Kavanagh the winning club was Real Tubber.
While Arrow Harps won two tickets for a match of their choice sponsored by the Football Association of Ireland.
Cups:
All Cups presented for last season to be returned to the Hon Secretary in pristine condition by the 30th April.
Sligo-Leitrim DSL will now play Carlow in the semi-final of the Oscar Traynor at the Carlow Institute of Technology astro pitch date is Saturday 28th April. Kick Off 3pm.
Provisional Panel: Sligo-Leitrim: Mark Rooney, Killian Sweeney, Conor Griffin, Steve Feeney, Aaron Murren, Aaron O’Boyle, Ross McLoughlin (c), Mark Mc Callion, Christopher Kelly, Ryan McManus, Mark McGoldrick, Ibrahim Savage, Shay Doherty, Gary Finan, Tony Clarke (gk), Steven Armstrong, Keith Nibbs, Darragh Healy.
Management Staff and Players will all meet for departure at 8.30am sharp in the Ray Mac Sharry Complex next Saturday morning.