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Drinagh Rangers join Clonakilty Soccer Club and Togher Celtic at summit of Premier Division

January 31st, 2026 8:00 AM

By Matthew Hurley

Drinagh Rangers join Clonakilty Soccer Club and Togher Celtic at summit of Premier Division Image
Drinagh Rangers' Robbie McQueen was on target in their win against Lyre Rovers. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

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WITH joint PremierHiSpecCars.com Premier Division leaders Clonakilty Soccer Club and Togher Celtic’s top-of-the-table clash postponed last weekend, Drinagh Rangers were offered the opportunity to catch up. They did so in emphatic fashion, beating Lyre Rovers 6-0.

A 3-0 half time lead ended the game as a contest as Robbie McQueen, Tom McQueen and Barry O’Driscoll (H) all scored. Rampant Rangers didn’t slow down in the second half, as Padraic Hegarty, Mark Grace and Keith Jagoe all goaled to finish off the rout.

Now we have ourselves a title race, as champions Clonakilty, Togher and Drinagh are all level on 28 points with just a handful of games left. Also, three-in-a-row chasing Clonakilty must play Togher and Drinagh, while the latter duo must also meet. An exciting end to the season awaits.

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At the other end of the table, Drinagh Rangers B team sealed survival after two Damien Fernandez injury-time goals saw off Castletown Celtic 4-2. The result relegated Castletown in the process, who joined Baltimore in returning to the Championship for next season.

Jack O’Callaghan gave Castletown a 1-0 half-time lead but Liam Daly pulled one back for Drinagh. Again, Castletown took the lead through Darragh Kelleher but Joe McCarthy made it 2-2. Fernandez then stepped up to put the final nail in the Castletown coffin.

 

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Ardfield are the last club through to the Beamish Cup quarter-finals after a 3-1 victory over Beara United in Canon Crowley Park, Drinagh. Sam Linehan and Paul Hodnett gave last season’s surprise finalists a 2-0 half-time lead but a Beara goal courtesy of James Harrington made things nervy. Ardfield eventually grabbed the clinching goal, as Niall Keane netted seven minutes into added time.

Ardfield will face Skibbereen Celtic in the quarter-finals with Lyre Rovers or Castletown Celtic awaiting in the semi-finals.

 

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The OBrienWaterServices.com Championship saw table-toppers Bunratty United record a 9-1 victory over Skibbereen AFC, a game in which they were 7-1 up at half time.

A first-half hat-trick from Ryan O’Neill was the highlight while Conor Brosnan and Sean Evans also hit a brace each. Two second-half strikes from Milan Vearncombe completed a good day for United. John Paul Reen got Skibb’s only goal as they were totally outclassed.

Bay Rovers stayed in touch with leaders Bunratty after a 2-0 win over Spartak Mossgrove. Alex Young and Luke Slater-Townshend scored the goals for Bay.

Skibbereen Celtic remained in fourth after drawing 2-2 against Castlelack. Adam O’Donovan gave Celtic the lead but a Brian Lordan penalty levelled it for Castlelack at the break. Lordan gave Castlelack the lead but O’Donovan equalised as the sides shared the spoils.

Aultagh Celtic secured a 1-0 win over their B counterparts as Daniel Barrett fired home a late winner.

 

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There was one game in the Fusion Home Decor Women’s 7s League as Beara United beat Drinagh Rangers B 2-0. Goals in the first half from Clare O’Shea and Shannon Hanley Murphy did the trick. Beara sit third in the table, just two points off Drinagh’s A team at the summit.

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