Local football round up, 19th May 2012
Premier Division
Bessbrook United v Kilkeel Athletic was the only Premier Division fixture scheduled for Saturday. Bessbrook were awarded a 2-0 victory by default though as Kilkeel were unable to field a team.
These three points, coupled with their midweek 4-2 victory over Crieve Rovers, leaves Bessbrook just seven points adrift of Newry Celtic at the top of the table. The ‘Brook still have two games in hand over the Celts and both teams still have to play each other in what is Celtic’s final league game.
Windmill Stars can’t be written off yet either as they are only two points below Celtic. The Stars also have only one game remaining – which is against Bessbrook. There may well be plenty of twists and turns in this year’s title run in, but at the moment it is all in the hands of Newry Celtic. If they defeat Bessbrook in their final fixture then they will be crowned Premier Division champions for the first time since 2001.
P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Newry Celtic | 23 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 64 | 26 | 38 | 58 |
Windmill Stars | 23 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 63 | 20 | 43 | 56 |
Bessbrook United | 21 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 57 | 24 | 33 | 51 |
Killeavy United | 24 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 59 | 42 | 17 | 43 |
Finn Harps | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 48 | 46 | 2 | 34 |
Killowen Celtic | 24 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 51 | -10 | 32 |
Woodside | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 33 | 41 | -8 | 30 |
Cleary Celtic | 23 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 39 | 43 | -4 | 29 |
Kilkeel Athletic | 21 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 32 | 33 | -1 | 28 |
Rockview United | 23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 38 | 48 | -10 | 27 |
Ballybot United | 23 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 38 | 49 | -11 | 23 |
Damolly United | 24 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 23 | 73 | -50 | 13 |
Crieve Rovers | 24 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 28 | 67 | -39 | 8 |
First Division
Drums hit six past Parkview in their penultimate league fixture at Artie Green Park. Ace marksman Kieran Slim netted a hat trick, Stephen Hughes hit a brace and Mickey Lennon completed the scoring.
If Drums win the final game on Tuesday night against Ashgrove Rovers then they will finish the season in fourth place.
P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whitecross AFC (C) | 25 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 94 | 31 | 63 | 60 |
North End Strollers (P) | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 61 | 32 | 29 | 58 |
Bohemians | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 70 | 46 | 24 | 46 |
Millburn United | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 50 | 38 | 12 | 41 |
Drumcashlone | 25 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 52 | 38 | 14 | 40 |
Grasshoppers | 25 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 43 | 49 | -6 | 39 |
Midway United | 25 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 49 | 40 | 9 | 36 |
Rostrevor Rovers | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 42 | 52 | -10 | 33 |
Ashgrove Rovers | 25 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 30 | 41 | -11 | 31 |
Parkview | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 45 | 65 | -20 | 30 |
Villa Rovers | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 39 | 51 | -12 | 26 |
Cartwheel United | 25 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 42 | 61 | -19 | 26 |
Clanrye Athletic | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 50 | 86 | -36 | 21 |
Newry Juventus | 26 | 4 | 1 | 21 | 41 | 78 | -37 | 13 |
Gilmore Cup
The quarter final ties of the Gilmore Cup were played on Saturday.
Milburn proved too strong for Midway United at Milburn Park. Nathan Gray headed them into the lead from a Packy McNulty cross before Daniel Small rounded the ‘keeper to double their advantage and send them into the semi final.
Milburn’s opponents will be North End Strollers after they saw off the challenge of Newry Juventus at Frank Curran Park. Conor Quinn, Brian Dillon and Micky Donnelly were on target for the Strollers while Cathal Murphy scored a consolation goal late in the game for Juve’.
Clanrye Athletic produced the shock of the round with a stunning 4-0 victory over in form Bohemians at Olympic Park. Goals from Mark Hughes, Brian Price and two O.G’s saw Collie Price’s side run out easy winners.
Clanrye will need to continue this form as they will face League Champions Whitecross in the semi-final. The South Armagh men were handed a bye into the semis as Grasshoppers were unable to field a team on Saturday.
The semi final line up dates and locations are as follows:
Millburn Utd v North End Strollers (Thurs, 24th May in Jennings Park No.2)
Clanrye Ath v Whitecross AFC (Sat, 26th May in Jennings Park No.1)
Fr.Davies Cup
It took extra time for Windmill to see off a spirited Ballybot United team at Willie Davis Park.
Ballybot took a first half lead from a penalty before John Joe Maguire restored parity a short time later. The same player had a great chance to double his tally minutes after when he beat two men but scuffed his shot wide.
The ‘Bot were up against it in the second half when they were reduced to ten men and following this they were put under intense pressure from Windmill. Maguire and Havern in particular were guilty of spurning good chances. Windmill failed to capitalize on their second half dominance so extra time was required to separate these sides.
In the first half of extra time Windmill took the lead for the first time in the game. John Fegan crossed to substitute Mickey Fearon who stabbed the ball home from close range. Neil Murtagh then sealed the victory with a strike in the second half of extra time.
Windmill will now face Killeavy United in the semi final this Saturday at Frank Curran Park.
The other semi final sees either Bessbrook United or Cleary Celtic take on Killowen Celtic or Kilkeel Athletic.
Results
Premier Division
Bessbrook United 2 – 0 Kilkeel Athletic
First Division
Parkview 0 – 6 Drumcashlone
Gilmore Cup Round 2
Clanrye Athletic 4 – 0 Bohemians
Millburn United 2 – 0 Midway United
North End Strollers 3 – 1 Newry Juventus
Whitecross AFC 2 – 0 Grasshoppers
Fr.Davies Cup Round 2
Windmill Stars 3 – 1 Ballybot United (AET. 1 – 1 at full time.)
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