Week 28 Roundup
It was a busy weekend of action in the C.C.F.L with further progress in the Combined Counties Cup and Shield Competitions and several teams laying down markers in the various Divisions.
This could certainly be said of Gracefield Athletic in the Under 17 Division who continue to grind out one narrow victory after another. On Saturday they entertained Tullamore Town and emerged with a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from the Knight boys, Gary and Jason.
Tullamore Town under 19 team also justified their favourites tag in the Under 19 Division with an emphatic 8-1 win over bottom side St Aengus. Aaron Hensey, McDaragh O’Neill, Rory Condron, Mark Casey, Matt Hayes and Michael James all got in on the act for the Tullamore boys. When you consider that this team is actually eligible to play in the Under 18 Division, it gives you an idea of the quality throughout the side.
In Division 1 Saturday Inny FC pulled off a massive result against Camlin United in Streete when they emerged with a 3-2 victory to keep their title hopes alive. Thomas Gallagher and Max Brady with two did all the damage for Inny.
In Division 3 Saturday Melville United set out their stall with a massive 3-1 win over Spartak Granard. The prolific Chris Conlon bagged another two while Norman Boland chipped in with a decisive third goal.
Sunday saw further progress in the Counties Cup with the local derby between Gallen United and Ballinahown on of the feature games. In the end it was Gallen who strolled into the quarter finals after coming out on the right side of a 7-1 result. This game must also surely have created some sort of record when Gallen goalkeeper Paul Wynne scored a hat-trick of penalty goals. Ciaran Kenny, a man more used to finding the net also fired in a treble with a seventh goal added by Sean Kenny.
C.K United are also safely into the last eight after they accounted for Rosenallis in a very tight affair in the Grove. Gopals from the experienced Paul Kinnearney and Trevor Wright sealed it for the Tullamore based outfit.
The most emphatic result of the day however came in the all Senior Division clash between Monksland United and Clara Town. Clara, who have won this major trophy on several occasions in the past were no match for the Athlone men on this occasion and sadly ended up being hammered 8-0. Robbie Connaughton hit a hat-trick for Monksland who had other scorers in Conor Jordan, Stephen Flynn, Keith O’Reilly and Les Brown.
In the Premier Division, Mullingar Town stopped a run of poor results with a fine 3-1 success over bottom side Clonaslee United. Hero of the day was Keigh Hope with a superb hat-trick.
In Division 1 Stradbally are going to make Abbeyleix work for the title following a 3-1 win over Noreside Celtic, the vital scores coming from Alan Mulhall, Kevin Holohan and Damian Murphy.
Clara Town’s B team continue to set the pace in Division 3B. A six nil victory over Clonown Rovers keeps them at the top of the table. Paddy Guilfoyle hit four and Dean Minnock added another two in this game and few would bet against this Clara side taking the Division 3B title.
In Division 4A, a double from Sean O’Driscoll helped Maryborough to a 4-0 win over CR Forest in an entertaining game in Portlaoise.
Division 4B action saw Derry Rovers gain another good victory on Wednesday night to move them further up the table. Ger Hanlon helped himself to a double and Michael Foran added another in their victory over St Carthages.
Raharney B team also kept up their good run of form with a 3-2 win on Sunday also against St Carthages. The goalscorers for the Westmeath men were Michael McAdden and Kevin Flynn.
