Combined Counties Football league Roundup Week 18
Unfortunately CCFL interest in the FAI Junior Cup is now down to two teams after both Mullingar Athletic and C.K United both bowed out on Sunday. Athletic went down 2-1 away to top Sligo side City United and C.K also lost out by a similar scoreline against Pearse Celtic from Cork. The Tullamore men had taken the lead when Damian Bracken fired home a real beauty, but two goals in the last eight minutes saw the Cork men advance. C.K certainly have nothing to be ashamed of however and can be very proud of the achievement of reaching the fifth round of the competition.
In the Senior Division there were two games played and Saint Peters showed that they are still a force to be reckoned with when they defeated Mountmellick 4-1 in Mountmellick. Monksland United kept their recent good run of form going when they defeated bottom side Gallen United 2-0. John Stapleton and Paul Urbanski were the goal getters for the Athlone outfit.
In the Premier Division, Mullingar Town gave their survival hopes a real chance when they defeated another side at the wrong end of the table Rosenallis by the odd goal in five. Abbeyleix Athletic and Edenderry Town played out a one all draw in Abbeyleix, which keeps Abbeyleix in mid table and keeps Edenderry in the relegation dogfight. Niall Wallace was on the mark for Abbeyleix.
The Division 2 title race is really hotting up. The top two were both beaten on Sunday. Dynamoe Town went down 3-1 at home to Walsh Island Shamrocks who are now well in the hunt themselves. The returning James Gallagher scored two of Walsh Islands total. Killeigh Ramblers had an excellent opportunity to put some daylight between themselves and the rest when they hosted bottom side Coolraine. It looked routine enough at half time when Killeigh led 2-0, but an amazing second half recovery from Coolraine saw them take all the points with a 3-2 win.
In Division 3A Ballybrittas went back to the top of the table when they defeated a Brosna team that are in free fall in recent weeks. Kieran Connolly bagged a brace for the Laois men with Pauric Dunne and Guido Marchetti also getting in on the act. Raheen moved off the bottom of the table thanks to a good 6-4 win at home to Daingean. Eddie Dunne was again the talisman for Raheen with three good goals, while the Dalton twins Mickey and Dan added the remaining goals between them.
Stradbally Town B team kept in sight of the leaders in Division 4A when they defeated Maryborough by three goals to nil. Alan Delaney, Jody Dillon and Damien Fitzpatrick were all on target for the Stradbally men.
In underage action, Longford Town kept their chances of at least runners up spot very much alive when they hammered bottom side Portumna 7-0 in a game played in Lohrra. The highlight of this game was a four goal haul from Dean Kavanagh.
In the Under 18 Division the game of the day was the battle of the top two when Newbridge Town hosted Edenderry Town. It finished one all after an excellent game. Jamie Evans was again the main man for Newbridge with another goal. The result keeps Newbridge at the top and ends Edenderry’s one hundred per cent record, but there is still a lot of football to be played in this division.
In case the top two slip up, Abbeyleix look like the side that could mount a challenge. On Saturday they defeated bottom side Derry Rovers 3-1 to stay in with a shout. Jamie Coffey, Aaron Carroll and Cormac McGowan scored the goals for the Abbeyleix men.
