Things are tough at the bottom of the Best Western Sligo Southern Hotel Super Ballisodare United travelled to the Yeats country for their last league game of the season in the knowledge that at least a draw against Yeats United might save them from the dreaded play off’s and that’s the way it turned out. Ballisodare erred on the side of caution and were happy to take a share of the points in this goal less encounter.
In The Sligo Pallets Premier League Gurteen Celtic won by the odd goal in three at home to Cartron United and the hero of the day was Michael Doddy with two super strikes that may well insure the safety of Gurteen. Cormac Coyne replied for Cartron who are making very hard work on maintaining their Premier status, which they should but my oh my, are they doing it the hard way.
The Mc Sharry and Foley Independent Insurance Brokers Cup semi finals saw a feast of great football goals from Johnny Kenny and Mark Touhy at the Bowl in Riverstown seen of the gallant challenge of Dromore Villa who replied once with an Owen Connolly strike, but the day belonged to the Riverstown boys who have now booked their Cup Final date Friday 13th at the Ray Mac Sharry complex. Real Tubber will be their opponents thanks to a Dermot Walsh goal in extra time that seen them claim victory over a superb Coolaney United, so what a night in store with Riverstown and Tubbercurry to be set alight with Cup fever.
The A.U.L. Headquarters at Clonshaugh was the venue for the quarter final tie between The A.U.L. and the Sligo- Leitrim representative sid. The A.U.L. being lucky to be still in the competition having been beaten in the previous round by the Defense Forces who were subsequently disqualified for fielding an illegal player.
The game started with both sides battling hard and Barry Kavanagh & Stuart Glen proving to be a lethal combination up front for the A.U.L. side and their efforts paid off when Barry Kavanagh scored from a quickly taken free kick on the half hour mark. A.U.L. were a warded a free kick 20 yards out ant Kavanaghs shot was deflected of the Sligo Leitrim wall. On 43 minutes the A.U.L. were forced to make a substitution through injury Robert Duggan replacing Meleady. They combined well again 5 minutes later and Clarke in the Sligo Leitrim goal took off a succession of fine saves to keep the score at 1-0 at half time.
Early in the second half Sligo Leitrim were awarded a penalty and up stepped the former Sligo Rover Jason Mc Cartney who failed to convert the spot kick. Sligo Leitrim piled on even more pressure and were rewarded for their efforts when Keith Nibbs scored a fine strike following some neat football by the visitors and it was game on with both sides fighting hard for the winner. The home side going ahead through a well worked passage of football and Keith Kirwan slotted home with 5 minutes to go. That proved to be the killer blow as Sligo Leitrim failed to re-shape, Kirwan scored his second and the tie ended 3-1 putting the A.U.L. through to the semi final
A.U.L. Lee Murphy, Mark Cromwell, Dean Carpenter, Ross Carraig, Conor Dillon, Chris Barbour, John Meleady, Stephen Murphy, Barry Kavanagh, Darren Dunne, Stuart Glenn,
Sligo Leitrim: Tony Clarke, Neal Mc Kenna, Simon Kelly, John Gaffney, Gary
Rooney Chris Kelly, Colm Jinks, Ross Mc Loughlin, Jason Mc Cartney, Keith Nibbs, Gareth Kelly.
Match Officials. Referee Martin Moore, Assistant Referees Richard Foley & Martin Hickey.
Results: Sunday 1st May
Best Western Sligo Southern Hotel Super League: Yeats Utd 0, Ballisodare Utd 0;
Sligo Pallets Premier League: Gurteen Celtic 2, Cartron Utd 1;
Mc Sharry Foley Independent Insurance Brokers Cup Semi Finals:
Arrow Harps 2, Dromore Villa 1; Real Tubber 1, Coolaney Utd 0;
Oscar Traynor Quarter Final AUL Dublin 3, Sligo Leitrim & D.S.L 1;
Fixtures Wed 4th May KO 7pm:
Best Western Sligo Southern Hotel Super League:
Carbury FC v Strand Celtic; City Utd, v Cliffoney Celtic Manor Rangers, v Yeats Utd;
Sligo Pallets Premier League:
Cartron Utd, v Real Tubber; Quayside Rovers, v Dromore Villa;
Fixture Saturday 7th May KO 7pm:
Merville Utd, v Cartron Utd;
Fixtures Sunday 8th May KO 11am:
Best Western Sligo Southern Hotel Super League:
Aughanagh Celtic, v Strand Celtic;
Sligo Pallets Premier League
Real Tubber, v Quayside Rovers;
Robert Cawley Memorial Cup Semi Finals:
City Utd, v Carbury FC; Boyle Celtic v Ballymote Celtic;
Connacht Shield Final KO 1pm:
Coolera Rovers v Ballina Utd KO 1pm Lecarrow Roscommon.
Frank Kennedy Memorial Cup Final KO 3pm
Boyle Celtic Res. v Strand Celtic Res.
Venue: Ray Mac Sharry Complex
Fixtures Wed 11th May KO 7pm:
Best Western Sligo Southern Hotel Super League:
Boyle Celtic, v City Utd; Carbury FC, v Ballymote Celtic
Sligo Pallets Premier League:
Coolera Rovers, v Merville Utd; Cartron Utd, v Arrow Harps;
All Cup games decided on the day if still a draw after 90 minutes plus one period of extra time (10 minutes each way) FIFA rules on penalties to apply. All morning results by 1.30pm and afternoon results by 4pm to 087 1417566 Fixtures are available from 6.30pm in Sunday on 071 9170099.
All Cup games decided on the day if still a draw after 90 minutes plus one period of extra time (10 minutes each way) FIFA rules on penalties to apply. All Finals to be played at the Ray Mac Sharry Complex Cranmore Road Sligo. After expenses both clubs share the gate receipts 50/50. Both Finalists are responsible for insuring agreement of gate receipts. Team draw out first in Final has Home dressing rooms.
The League’s Annual General Meeting takes place on Thursday 12th May and the Annual General Meeting of Connacht on Monday 16th May both at 8pm and both AGM’s are in the Best Western Sligo Southern Hotel
