It’s double delight for Corrib Celtic in the Connacht Cup

IT was a good weekend for Corrib Celtic as the club registered a double victory in the Connacht Junior Cup and have two teams in the last 16 of the competition as the Annaghadown based club registered home and away victories.

Premier outfit Corrib Celtic A travelled to face Mayo League side Manulla and emerged victorious by a 4-1 margin, courtesy of goals by Brian Burke, Shane Concannon, Keith Greaney (pen) and Ciaran Duggan. Adam McGahon got a lone reply for the home side.

The B team, who are vying for promotion from the Fourth Division, created somewhat of a shock with a 2-1 win over Maree/Oranmore. An Eoin McGrath goal gave the home side an interval advantage, before Conor Murphy levelled matters direct from a corner for the visitors.

Celtic B then struck for the winner when Kevin Fox raced on to a long ball, before getting the better of goalkeeper Nigel Walsh. The visitors had plenty of opportunities to level matters, but a combination of poor finishing and the woodwork was to deny them as Stephen Matthews struck timber twice.

Athenry had matters all their own way as they defeated NUI Galway by 8-0, with Gary Forde (three), Cathal Fahy (two), Colm O’Donovan, Jamie O’Driscoll and Conor Cannon all on the mark for the home side. Unfortunately, St Bernard’s never saw any action as their Sligo opponents Carbury FC conceded the game to the Abbeyknockmoy side.

The holders Mervue United had a comfortable passage with a 2-0 win over Castlerea Celtic under lights in Fahy’s Field. The returning Barry Moran scored in each half as the striker put his injury worries behind him. Bohemians caused the biggest upset of the round as the Third Division side saw off Hibernians by 1-0 in Bohermore. Goalkeeper Alan McDonagh played his part with a good penalty save to thwart Keith Ward and Sean Guinan then struck for the winner in the opening half.

Corrib Rangers comfortably saw off Sligo/Leitrim Super League champions City United by 4-1 at Westside in what was a potentially difficult tie. However, the home side were always in the ascendancy as a weak visitors defence was continuously exposed by the fast breaking Rangers. Former Tuam Celtic winger Danial Burke got the opener for the home side, before exGalway United stalwart Derek O’Brien got his first goal for his new side with a low blast past Martin Ward.

Though Mark McGoldrick pulled one back in a good spell on 39 minutes that was quickly cancelled by a Gerry Dolan strike that gave Rangers a 3-1 interval advantage. The home side totally dominated the second half and only for some poor finishing the margin could have hit double figures. Ronan Sweeney cracked home a stunning volley for the fourth in the closing stages as Brendan O’Connor’s charges strolled into the next round.

West United defeated Dysart by 4-1 with Sean Keogh, Geoffrey Power, James Ryan and Keith Lee all on the mark for the home side in South Park, while Cathal O’Regan scored in the opening minutes as Renmore defeated Skyvalley Rovers by 1-0.

NUI Galway B came from behind as they saw off another Roscommon League side Moore United by 2-1 in Dangan. Colm Tummon slotted in a last minute winner from the penalty spot for the home side, after Adam Duffy had notched the opener for the students.

There was no joy for Dynamo Blues as they suffered a 5-0 defeat at home to Manor Rangers, while three goals in the opening half hour set Ballinasloe Town on the way to a surprisingly comfortable 4-0 away win over Castlebar Celtic. Westport United are always one of the fancied sides in the Connacht Cup and they eased past Strand Celtic by 4-0 in Sligo.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.