TOM McQueen held his nerve to score a 90th-minute penalty that kept Drinagh Rangers alive in the PremierHiSpecCars.com Premier Division title race, but severely dented Togher Celtic’s hopes.
Table-toppers at the start of Sunday, Togher finished the day in third place after their 2-1 loss to Drinagh left them on the back foot in this title battle. While the teams will meet again in the Beamish Cup semi-final, the league was foremost in both camps’ thoughts on Sunday – and it’s advantage Drinagh.
After McQueen gave Drinagh the lead on 18 minutes, Paudie Crowley levelled for a Togher side high in confidence following their Beamish Cup win over Clonakilty Soccer Club the previous weekend. With little between the sides, it took McQueen’s late, late penalty to secure three huge points for Drinagh, who climbed to second in the table.
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Reigning champions Clonakilty moved to the summit after a 4-1 win over Castletown Celtic saw them leapfrog Togher. Clon also have a game in hand and must still face Togher in the latter’s final league tie.
Goals from Eoin Murphy (2), Odhran Bancroft and Luka Mohan saw Clon return to winning ways, while Jack O’Callaghan replied for already-relegated Castletown.
This Sunday sees the three title rivals in Premier Division Cup action, with Clonakilty Soccer Club taking on Drinagh Rangers in one semi-final and Togher facing Lyre Rovers in the other.
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The battle for the two promotion spots in the OBrienWaterServices.com Championship is heating up.
With leaders Bunratty United and Bay Rovers not in action last weekend, Beara United and Ardfield took advantage to close the gap. Five points now separate the top four – Bunratty (36), Bay Rovers (36), Beara (34) and Ardfield (31) – with the latter duo holding games in hand.
Colm Hayes scored a second-half hat-trick as Ardfield beat Skibbereen 4-1. Paul Hodnett had fired Ardfield into an early lead before Conor O’Brien equalised just before the break, but Hayes took over after half-time to drive Ardfield to victory.
Elsewhere, Declan Dunne struck five times, including a first-half hat-trick, as Beara United hammered Skibbereen Celtic 7-0. Ruben McStay and Tom Dickinson were also on target for the winners, who led 6-0 at the interval.
Evan O’Shea and Eoin Lane found the net for Castlelack, who edged Aultagh Celtic B 2-1; Kenny Kingston scored for Aultagh.
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It’s all very tight in the Fusion Home Decor WCL Women’s 7s Premier, with four teams level on three points after last weekend’s action. A double from Shannon Hanley-Murphy helped Beara United beat Drinagh Rangers B 2-0.
Goals from Meabhdh Coomey, Erica Jennings and Niamh Power fired Lyre Rovers into a three-goal lead against Dunmanway, and that cushion proved vital when the latter hit back through Maria Cregan and Ellen Healy. Lyre held on to win 3-2.
In the WCL Women’s 7s Championship, Aultagh Celtic defeated Sullane 2-1 thanks to goals from Danielle Jackson and Katie Buttimer, while Kathy Healy replied for Sullane.
