BEARA United warmed up for their Championship Cup final against Ardfield by moving to the top of the Championship table.
On a weekend when the Premier Division title was decided, the battle for the Championship crown – and the two promotion spots – took another twist.
In a clash of the top two, Daniel Mason struck a late winner as Beara United beat Bunratty United 2-1 – a result that leaves both sides level on 42 points, though Beara have a game in hand.
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James Harrington had nudged Beara into a 1-0 lead midway through the first half before Ryan O’Neill levelled for Bunratty with 20 minutes remaining. But Beara hit late to boost their promotion hopes before turning their focus to Sunday’s Championship Cup final against Ardfield in Skibbereen.
Bunratty have the chance to move outright top when they travel to Aultagh Celtic this Sunday afternoon.
Championship Cup finalists Ardfield remain firmly in the promotion race. They sit fourth on 34 points, eight behind Beara and Bunratty, but crucially have games in hand on both – two on Beara and three on Bunratty.
These are busy times for Ardfield, who are also preparing for the Beamish Cup final, and they are hitting form at the right time. Last weekend, they thrashed Aultagh Celtic B 11-0, with Paul Hodnett scoring five goals. Karol Siwek added a hat-trick, while Diarmuid Kerr, Seamus Lane and Niall Keane also found the net.
Bay Rovers, in third place, have just one game remaining and sit three points off the leaders. They beat Aultagh Celtic 6-3 on Sunday, with James Desmond scoring a four-minute hat-trick in the first half. Con Desmond, Luke Salter-Townsend and Ryan O’Sullivan were also on target. Cian Kennefick, Oisín O’Connell and Evan McGuire replied for Aultagh.
Elsewhere, goals from Ross Kenna and Jason Collins saw Skibbereen defeat Castlelack 2-0.
On the same weekend that Drinagh Rangers captured the Fusion Home Decor WCL Women’s 7s Premier Division title, Beara United secured the runners-up spot with a 3-1 win over Lyre Rovers. Shannon Hanley-Murphy scored twice after Laura O’Sullivan’s opener, while Erica Jennings replied for Lyre.
