LYRE Rovers surged up to second place in the PremierHiSpecCars.com Premier Division after an emphatic 7-1 victory over Baltimore on Sunday afternoon.
Conor O’Neill and Finn Moroney opened the scoring for Rovers before Stephen Leonard pulled one back for Baltimore. Conor Daly restored the two-goal cushion before half-time, making it 3-1 at the break – and things only got better for Lyre in the second half. Kieran Fitzpatrick bagged a brace after the restart, while Daly and James Lynam completed the rout.
This third win of the season moves Rovers level on points with Clonakilty Soccer Club at the top of the table, though Clon have two games in hand.
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Two West Cork sides advanced to the next round of the McCarthy Insurance Group Munster Junior Cup after strong round two performances.
Drinagh Rangers saw off DHF Grangevale 4-2. Robbie McQueen gave Rangers an early lead before Barry O’Driscoll doubled the advantage. Billy Tabb pulled one back for Grangevale, but second-half strikes from O’Driscoll and Tom McQueen made the game safe before Niall Fitzgerald netted a late consolation.
Togher Celtic also cruised into the next round with a commanding 6-1 win over Hibernians. Cathal Daly and Brian Horgan gave Celtic the perfect start before Ryan French replied for Hibs. Goals from Donnacha Collins, Gavin Farr, Euan Lehane and Luke Hurley capped off an impressive display from the Togher men.
The remaining three West Cork clubs in cup action all suffered narrow defeats. Clonakilty Soccer Club were undone by a David Bomor hat-trick in their 4-3 loss to City Wanderers. Bomor and Shahzad Jehan gave the Bishopstown side a 3-0 half-time lead, but to Clon’s credit, they battled back. Goals from Odhran Bancroft and Chris Collins brought them within one, before Bomor struck again to make it 4-2. James O’Donovan gave Clon late hope, but an equaliser proved elusive.
Castlelack were also edged out 4-3 by Knocknaheeney Celtic, despite taking an early lead through Brian Lordan. A Vincent Lonergan double and Craig Hourihan strike put Celtic 3-1 up at the interval. Castlelack refused to lie down, drawing level with goals from Aaron Elliott and Evan O’Shea, but Evan Burke hit a late winner to seal heartbreak for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Dunmanway Town bowed out on penalties to Arc Rovers after a scoreless draw that went the distance through extra-time.
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Bay Rovers climbed to the summit of the OBrienWaterServices.com Championship after a 1-0 win over Spartak Mossgrove, who have now suffered four consecutive defeats. A Paddy Cronin strike in the fifth minute was enough for Bay to preserve their unbeaten start.
Bunratty United sit second after maintaining their perfect record with a third straight win – a 3-1 success over Beara United. First-half goals from Conor Brosnan, Eoin O’Brien and Seán Evans put Bunratty firmly in control. James Spencer pulled one back for Beara in additional time, but it was too little, too late, as the home side dropped points for the first time this season.
Mizen Hob earned their first victory of the campaign, defeating Aultagh Celtic B 2-1. Donal O’Sullivan fired Hob ahead after 14 minutes before Brian Dineen equalised for Aultagh midway through the second half. However, Ryan O’Neill struck a dramatic last-minute winner to secure all three points for the Mizen outfit.
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Fixtures for Sunday, October 12th, are as follows:
PremierHiSpecCars.com Premier Division: 11am, Baltimore v Drinagh Rangers; 11am, Drinagh Rangers B v Lyre Rovers; 11am, Togher Celtic v Dunmanway Town; 2.30pm, Clonakilty Soccer Club v Castletown Celtic.
OBrienWaterServices.com Championship: 11am, Aultagh Celtic v Aultagh Celtic B; 2.30pm, Ardfield v Bay Rovers; 2.30pm, Castlelack v Skibbereen; 2.30pm, Skibbereen Celtic v Bunratty United.

