Youths football returned with a bang in the CCFL at the weekend with action in all three underage sections.
In the Under 17 Division, pride of place must go to Rosenallis who travelled to Mullingar Athletic and came away with a deserved 3-2 victory. Jordan Williamson who spent last season with Shelbourne’s Under 16’s scored a brilliant hatrick for a Rosenallis team that played excellent football throughout.
In the Under 18 Division Derry Rovers went down 4-2 at home to Newbridge Town. Former Gracefield player Jamie Evans was the star turn in this game when he fired in all four goals for Nrebridge Town to set them up nicely for the season.
An Oliver Renke goal was scant consolation for Mountmellick in the Under 19 Division as they crashed 5-1 away to St Peter’s.
In the Senior Division Willow Park continue to move relentlessly towards another title after they hammered Clara Town on Friday night. Monksland however continue to perform well. On Sunday they travelled to Mountmellick and won 4-1 with the goals coming from Steve Flynn, Ian O’Reilly and a double from the in form Robbie Connaughton.
Premier Division action began on Saturday night when Derry Rovers enjoyed a solid 4-1 win at home to a struggling Stradbally Town outfit.
Abbeyleix Athletic secured their first win of the season by beating Rosenallis 2-0 in the Grove; the Abbeyleix goals coming from Shane Fennelly and Mark Fitzpatrick.
C.K United’s good early season form continued when they defeated Mullingar Athletic seconds in Tullamore to move to the top of the table after Edenderry crashed to Birr later in the day. It finished 3-1 to C.K with the all-important goals coming from Mark Dunne, Kevin Kennean and Brendan Bracken.
In Division 1 Gracefield won again. This time their victims were Tullamore Town in Leah Victoria Park. The Portarlington based side came out on top by three goals to one with Robbie Knight once again very influential. Knight scored one and played well throughout. Stephen Slattery and Tom Slevin were also on the mark for Gracefield who have put together a very nice team and they should be in the shake up at seasons end.
Clonbonny are certainly not out of it yet by any means. They made their visit to Boora a fruitful one with a 4-0 win over Clonnmore. Kenny Prendergast was to the fore for the Athlone men in this game with two excellently taken goals to his credit. Eric Farrell and Shane Monoghan were also on target for Clonbonny.
In Division 3B, Clara Town will again be at the business end of things this season following a good 5-3 success over Gallen United seconds. Banagher United kept their hopes very much alive thanks to an excellent 2-1 win away to another of the favourites Melville Celtic. Frankford United will also fancy their chances after they defeated Ericssons of Athlone 5-1. Danny Seery scored a good goal for Aricssons, but it was little more than a consolation.
In Division 3 Saturday Newtown’s promising early season form continued following a resounding 5-0 victory over Ballymahon seconds. A hatrick from George Bell was the stand out memory from the game where Conor Quinn and Enda McKeirnan also found the back of the net for Newtown.
In Division 4A the game of the day was the clash between new side Portarlington Town and Maryborough. In an eight goal thriller that could have gone either way it ended four apiece in the end. Two second half goals from Sean O’Driscoll ensured the Portlaoise side would salvage a draw from the game where earlier goals from Adam Mulhall and Seamus Lawless had given them hope of taking all three points. A gritty performance from the Port men complimented with goals from Glass, Maher, Lennon and the evergreen Stephen Terry secured them a point.
In another Division 4A game Stradbally Town took all the points in their encounter with another Portlaoise team Portlaoise Shamrocks. Stradbally won by three goals to two thanks to goals from Jake Byrne, Mick Ramsbottom and Brian Lawlor with Tom Shiel also having a fine game for the Stradbally men.
