Relegation battle heats-up but Devon crash out of top flight

Date Published: 22-Apr-2013

 With Cup action elsewhere and the Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division leaders not in action, it was a weekend which happened to concentrate on teams in the relegation area and without a doubt a few results have certainly stirred matters up in that category.

One issue was certainly sorted as Salthill Devon will be relegated after find themselves marooned at the foot of the table, as they were the only side unable to spark any sort of revival in an effort to save themselves.

In contrast, NUI Galway were making it four wins from their last five games with a victory over Devon at Dangan and in the process they have moved up to seventh place in the table.

West United have also begun to redeem themselves and two victories in five days has seen them give themselves a chance to avoid the drop.

The resurrection of that duo has certainly sucked a number of sides who thought they were safe back into the relegation dogfight and Hibernians and East United will certainly be looking over their shoulders in the closing weeks of the season, as they enjoy just a slender advantage over West.

PREMIER DIVISION

Before the weekend action, Salthill Devon required full points from their final three games and hoped Hibernians picked up none in their quest to get away from the drop zone. They certainly started well at Dangan, as Tommy Bradshaw fired them ahead, before the Cillian Grant show took over as the striker notched his first ever hat-trick.

He levelled matters with a close range rebound after Julius had initially saved a Mikey Creane effort. Then, as the game entered the closing two minutes, it looked like parity was going to be the outcome, until Grant struck twice in a minute to secure a 3-1 win.

He nodded in a header following a Ger Cheevers cross to put them ahead and he completed his hat-trick with a good finish in the final minute, after Cheevers and Stephen Kirk provided the assists.

West United began their fightback with a 3-2 midweek win over NUI Galway. Eric Holland got a late winner after the two sides had traded the earlier goals.

While Gary Mullin had put the visitors ahead at South Park, it was the home side who were soon in command as goals by Tony Ward and Paul Murphy-direct from a corner had them ahead. A Cillian Grant goal levelled matters at 2-2, before Holland had the final say after another Murphy set-piece.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.