Week 32 Roundup
The season is now right down to the business end of affairs with two divisional champions crowned on Sunday. Congratulations from the League are extended to Gracefield Athletic and Raheen FC, Division 2 and 4A champions respectively.
In Division 2 Gracefield travelled to Moate to play the only team that could catch them and duly won 4-1 to clinch the title. It was easy enough in the end for Gracefield for whom Eoin Gleeson, Tom Doyle, John Knight and Robbie Knight all scored, but it might have been different had Moate not missed a second half penalty when the score was 2-1.
Raheen made no mistake either when they hammered eight past a luckless CR Forest outfit. Dan Dalton was the star man for Raheen with four goals and these were complimented by four more from Craig Doheny, John Shiels, Eoin Delaney and Michael Dalton.
In the under 19 Division Edenderry and Athy played out a cracking three all draw in Edenderry. The Athy scorers were Malcolm Ogbogu and Nathan Germaine who hit a double to put a severe dent in Edenderry’s title aspirations.
In the battle for third or possibly even second place in the Senior Division, Monksland did their chances no harm with a 1-0 win over Clara Town the winning goal coming from James Keegan.
Gallen United are almost there in the Premier Division. A narrow 2-1 win over bottom side Clonaslee United ensured that the Ferbane side will return to the Senior Division after a few years absence. Wesley Greer and a penalty from Diarmuid Carroll means that Gallen only need one more point to become champions.
Also in the Premier Division, Derry Rovers did their survival chances no harm at all with a solid 3-0 success over C.K United, the vital goals coming from Colin Slevin and Stephen Doyle.
In Division 3A, a one all draw with Cloneygowan puts Killeigh within touching distance of the title. The battle for runners up spot is a four horse race however with Killavilla United well in the hunt following a last gasp 3-2 win away to Pollough. Paul Brussells, Craig Byrne and an injury time winner from Martin Walsh saw Killavilla over the line.
Division 3B action saw Gallen United finish strongly to beat Clonown Rovers 2-0 to move further up the table. The winning strikes came from Paddy Finnerty and Dermot Daly.
In Division 4A Maryborough ended their first campaign with a one all draw away to Frankford. Dave Harding equalised for the Portlaoise men who can look back on the season as being a very successful one for them and plenty there to build on in the future.
Division 4B leaders East End kept their narrow advantage at the top of the table following a 4-1 success over Clara Town C. Goals from Eddie Keenaghan, Pa Tyrrell, James Carty and Andy Kavanagh inch the Tullamore side closer to the title.
Derry Rovers second team geared up for their upcoming Cup Semi Final with a well earned two all draw away to Monksland in Athlone. Michael Foran and Ger Hanlon were on the mark for the Edenderry men who still have lots to play for this season.
