St Bernard’s blast league title warning with big win over NUIG

THOUGH Corrib Rangers might be striding away at the top of the Premier Division, the chase is on behind to catch the leaders and third placed St Bernard’s are in a terrific position to pose a real challenge for title honours.

While they are ten points in arrears, Bernard’s do enjoy five games in hand and, on Sunday morning in Dangan, inflicted a 7-0 defeat on NUI Galway.

The Abbeyknockmoy side were always in command and once they made a breakthrough on 24 minutes, they rattled home two more in quick succession to open up a 3-0 interval advantage. When Eoghan Roche added a fourth after the restart, the game petered out as a contest and as the students wilted in the closing stages, St Bernard’s added three more before the end.

Adrian Roche set up Craig Kennedy for the opener and the visitors quickly pulled away as Shane King twice fired past goalkeeper Luke Williams to give them a comfortable interval advantage. The longer the contest went the more defenceless the students became and after Daryl Finn headed an Eoghan Roche cross against a post, Kennedy set up Jason Finn to fire home from close range to make it 5-0. Shane King then completed his hat trick, before Finn notched his second of the day against a College side displaying nothing but disinterest at this stage.

While St Bernard’s are the only unbeaten side in the Premier Division and enjoy a certain advantage with games in hand, their task in winning a first ever title is still a difficult one. Obviously, their away game with Rangers at Westside in ten days time will have a huge bearing on where the title ends as the City side have a much easier run in thereafter. That aside, St Bernard’s have matters in their own hands and while they can afford the odd slip up, their title challenge is a live one.

Elsewhere, Mervue United and Athenry are also in the top four, but barring a collapse by the other duo, it is difficult to see either ending up as champions. In fact, they met in midweek and in a temperamental affair, the encounter finished level at 2-2 with three players red carded.

Scoreless at the break, it was Athenry who broke the deadlock when Conor Cannon powerfully headed home a Cathal Fahy cross, before a Stephen Larkin brace put the home side in command. The visitors restored parity when Seamie Crowe set up Alan Harty for the equaliser and an outcome that did neither side any favours in their title challenge.

Under lights in Drom, an opening half brace from Keith Shaughnessy eased Salthill Devon to a 2-0 win over Tuam Celtic.

First Division

There is no doubt that Maree/Oranmore provided the shock of the day in the First Division as they fashioned a 2-1 win over a previously unbeaten West United. Aided by an outstanding display by goalkeeper Niall Walsh and goals in each half by Andrew Dillon, the home side held on for victory. Mixer Devanney got the visitors’ lone reply in the opening half.

Despite the setback, West United are still strong favourites for promotion, with four other sides chasing the remaining spot. Leaders Loughrea were surprisingly held to a scoreless draw by relegation threatened Kinvara United, while it also finished scoreless between Knocknacarra and Corofin United at Cappagh Park. Here, visiting goalkeeper Conan Clarke impressed with some smart saves, while Karl Higgins went closest to a break through at the other end.

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