Week 29 Roundup
The Divisional Cups are now at the business end in all competitions following a very busy weekend of Cup action.
However, League games were top of the agenda in the underage divisions on Saturday with all three age groups shaping up for exciting run-ins.
This is certainly the case in the Under 17 Division where it looks like going right to the wire between Gracefield and Killavilla. Both teams have identical records following last Saturdays games. Killavilla had a comprehensive victory over Killeigh while at the same time Gracefield were beating Birr Town by three goals to one. Gracefield, who have led this division almost all season had Jim Hendy and Mark Kirwan to thank for their goals. The meeting of the top two in the league game in Portarlington will now surely decide the destination of the title.
In the Under 19 Division Abbeyleix Athletic kept their positive season going with a 7-4 win away to Saint Aengus in a game that had everything. A four goal haul for Paddy O’Keefe was the highlight of the game while Ben Conroy, Eoin Fennelly and Evan McEvoy also chipped in with goals for the Abbeyleix men.
In the CCFL Youths Cup, Tullamore Town A team have advanced to the Quarter Final stage after accounting for Under 18 leaders Monksland United 4-1 in Tullamore. McDaragh O’Neill struck two goals for the Tullamore lads.
In the Saturday Divisions Cup, Boro Celtic eased into the semi finals thanks to a 5-0 win over Division 3 side Spartak Granard. The goals for Bor came from Jason Hurley (2), Henry Kenny, Peter Flynn and David Harrison.
Arlington have progressed into the semi final of the Paddy Cotter Senior Cup thanks to a splendid 5-1 win away to neighbours Mountmellick United. The Portarlington men can thank Oled Shiskarev, David Thorpe, Joe Tully, Barry Kenny and Brian McCauly for their goals in a very strong team performance.
Monksland United are also into the last four of the Paddy Cotter Cup following a 2-0 success at home to Birr Town. The all important Monksland goals came from Kevin Brennan and Aidan Reilly.
In the Billy Hyland Premier Division Cup, Derry Rovers caused something of an upset by beating Mullingar Athletic 2-1 in Edenderry on Saturday night. Johney Jones and John Dunne got the goals for an improving Rovers side.
In the same competition, Shinrone advanced thanks to an amazing penalty shootout success over Mullingar Town in Mullingar. The game itself finished two all with Derek McLoughlin and Darren O’meara on the mark for Shinrone, but all 22 players on the pitch got a chance to take a penalty kick as it finished 10-9 to the south Offaly men.
A Stephen Hawkins hat-trick paved the way for Abbeyleix’s passage to the last four of the Michael Dolan Division 1 Cup as they knocked out Ballinahown on a six nil scoreline. The other goalscorers for a rampant Abbeyleix were Joe Bergin, Niall Cooney and David Brennan.
In a second round game in the same competition Tullamore made their journey to Athlone well worthwhile when they defeated Clonbonny 2-1, the goals coming from Trevor Francis and Niall Lynch.
Derry Rovers B team made it a weekend to savour for the club after they knocked out Division 4B leaders East End in the Division 4 Cup. Goals from Ross Kearney and Damien Nolan sealed Rovers place in the quarter finals where they will take on Raharney B.
Finally, in a Combined Counties Cup back game, Willow Park overcame a very stiff challenge from local rivals Melville United when a solitary strike from Benny McGuinness saw them over the line.
