*Elias Kunz was in flying form for Avenue Utd. Photograph: Natasha Barton
A PLAY OFF will be required to determine the winners of this year’s Maloney Hardware Premier Division after Avenue United did what they had to do and defeated Newmarket Celtic.
Avenue Utd 3
Newmarket Celtic 2
Venue: Roslevan
Glorious sunshine adorned Roslevan for the all-important contest on Wednesday evening, Avenue knew only a win would suffice for them to have a chance of retaining the League title while a draw would have been enough for Newmarket.
Weather wise it was hot but it was incredibly tense towards the finish of the contest and looked like things could have got out of hand, such was the rising friction from either sideline.
Producing a powerful first half showing saw Avenue deservedly hold a 3-0 advantage at the interval. Newmarket got their act together on the restart, bringing a bit of fight to proceedings and benefitted but did not receive the ultimate reward.
It took just six minutes for Avenue to open the scoring, Nnabuike Nneji who was highly effective in the opening half but less so when the pressure mounted was the man to hit the target. He secured possession in midfield and glided on his way before dinking the ball of the right post and into the back of Shane Cusack’s net.
Eunan Doherty lining out at right full in the absence of the injured David O’Grady tried to bring some life to a jaded Celtic. He had a great run and twist before offloading possession to Eoin Hayes but his subsequent pass saw the ball turned over and was an example of how Newmarket struggled early doors with no outlet or support for Hayes to work with up front.
No such problems existed at the other end with Avenue scoring their second goal with their next attempt. Elias Kunz with a one touch strike off his left boot finished Mossy Hehir’s to the net and had the hosts 2-0 ahead with fourteen minutes on the clock.
Kunz appeared to have another goal on twenty eight minutes after Aaron Rudd gifted Eoghan Thynne possession allowing the midfielder to put Elias through on goal and though he finished to the net, it was disallowed as officials deemed the striker to be offside.
There was no stopping him from getting his second goal on thirty three minutes when the attacking duo of Ronan Kerin and Elias Kunz combined for Kunz to put the ball past Cusack as Newmarket struggled to lay a decent tackle on the Ennis club.
Jack Kelly had Newmarket’s best chance of the half but his header on thirty five minutes but his header dipped wide. Another opportunity fell to his namesake, Stephen Kelly at the end of the half but he was denied by the post after his shot took a deflection.
On the forty five minute mark, Avenue winger Mark Roche had a shot saved and the subsequent rebound from Kunz was missed to ensure that their lead was just 3-0 at the interval. Due to stoppages and a water break, fifty minutes were played in the opening half.
Needing a drastic shake-up, Paddy Purcell and his management made a triple substitution at half-time with David McCarthy, Gearoid O’Brien and Eoin Kelly called to action as Cathal Hayes, Ronan McCormack and Conor McDaid made way.
Celtic’s fightback began in earnest when Stephen Kelly headed home a David McCarthy corner on forty seven minutes. The centre-half stepped up at the other end with a vital block to stop Mark Roche who was bearing down on goal.
Cusack then saved from a Ronan Kerin header on Avenue’s next attack and Celtic worked the ball straight up the field to danger man, Eoin Hayes and his excellent lob was just about stopped by Avenue netminder Luke Woodrow.
Both goalkeepers were kept on their toes in this two minute period with Cusack having to reach to a sharp touch from Kunz off a Na delivery.
On sixty minutes, Avenue were left frustrated again as another Kunz goal was deemed to be offside.
Experience at the heart of the Newmarket defence was proving decisive with a Stephen Kelly clearance getting rid of a Mossy Hehir header that looked dangerous.
At the other end of the field, Kelly then threw his head on the line but Nnabuike Nneji decided to throw up his foot and the high tackle was deemed to be a penalty by referee Trevor White.
Harvey Cullinan was tasked with taking the spot kick and he duly dispatched it to the back of the net on seventy eight minutes to leave spectators on edge for the final quarter of an hour.
Momentum was certainly with the FAI Junior Cup champions as they exerted their control on the game and kept the bulk of the possessional for the final exchanges in their attacking half. Crucially, the coveted equaliser never arrived with Woodrow saving headers from Eoin Kelly and Darragh Leahy in additional time to ensure that the rivals would have to cross swords once more to decide who will taste league glory this season.
Referee Trevor White was certainly busy over the course of the evening. He gave Avenue Utd manager David Russell his marching orders, having given him a second yellow card with eighty five minutes on the clock. With Russell’s two included, Avenue received seven yellow cards in comparison to Newmarket’s two.
Avenue’s discipline was not far worse than their opponents for there to be such a difference in this regard with some challenges from Newmarket players very fortunate not to result in a caution. It is the second game in a row that Avenue can feel aggrieved regarding offside calls. Another bone of contention was the struggle in communication with the referee, they had attempted for at least five minutes to try bring on Stephen Jordan while the confusion regarding the second half water break was another example. That said, the antics of some unused substitutes in their camp hassling officials from the beginning of games is something that definitely needs to be clamped out and serves no purpose to any one.
On the field, Avenue played the better football for the most part, except when Newmarket grew into the game. They tore through the spine of Newmarket team on several occasions in the opening half but once their opponents restructured, they were not as effective in this sector. Elias Kunz was excellent throughout the course of the game with Eoghan Thynne showcasing that he plays his best against their biggest rivals, Conor Hehir, Cullen McCabe and Dylan Casey were also prominent for the winners.
Squad depth has certainly been tested for Newmarket. They had just six starters from the side which won the FAI Junior Cup and with such a high amount of turnover, their flow was greatly disrupted. That can be no excuse for their abysmal showing in the opening half where their touch was poor and tackling non-existent or far too late. The concession of three goals has to be a big concern but they will take solace from how they rallied in the second half. Stephen Kelly and Eunan Doherty stood out for Paddy Purcell’s side.
CDSL officials have confirmed to The Clare Echo that the play-off will take place on Saturday evening at 6:30pm in Frank Healy Park. The side that comes out of Roslevan with the least amount of injuries and the most bodies available will be on track to taking the Premier Division title.
Avenue Utd: Luke Woodrow, Cullen McCabe, Jamie Roche, Dylan Casey, Conor Hehir; Eoghan Thynne, Mark Roche, Nnabuike Nneji, Mossy Hehir; Ronan Kerin, Elias Kunz
Subs: Stephen Jordan for Ronan (78), Philip Talty for M Roche (84).
Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack; Eunan Doherty, Harvey Cullinan, Stephen Kelly, Conor McDaid; Jack Kelly; Cathal Hayes, Kevin Harnett; Ronan McCormack, Aaron Rudd; Eoin Hayes.
Subs: David McCarthy for Hayes, Gearoid O’Brien for McCormack, Eoin Kelly for McDaid, Darragh Leahy for Harnett (78), Davy Lennon for S Kelly (85),
Referee: Trevor White
