Carnbane League: Cleary close the gap at the top of the table and four games decided in the AOH Cup

Carnbane League Round-up

Premier Division

Cleary Celtic’s Neil Barr and Jack O’Doherty celebrate a Barr goal earlier this season.

placeholder image — Cleary Celtic’s Neil Barr and Jack O’Doherty celebrate a Barr goal earlier this season.

Millburn United 1 Cleary Celtic 8

Cleary Celtic were at their blistering best at the weekend, and they closed the gap on table toppers Newry Celtic to four points (with three games in hand) with a seven-goal triumph at Millburn United.

Cleary Celtic’s Neil Barr and Jack O’Doherty celebrate a Barr goal.

Neil Barr hit a hat trick, Tomas Marks fired in two, and Declan Monaghan, Sean Mooney and Oisin Gray also found the net.

AOH Cup Round 2

Cartwheel United 2 Church Street 3 (AET)

The game of the weekend took place in Killeavy, where Church Street overcame Cartwheel 3-2 after extra-time.

After falling 1-0 down, Shay McEvoy and Jordan Pinnington put Church Street ahead. Cartwheel answered back to make it 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes, but Church Street progressed into the last eight, when Neil Kelly fired in the winner on 107 minutes.

Cartwheel can take solace from the fact that they have a Sean Havern Memorial Cup Semi-final to look forward to this weekend.

Mayobridge 2 Ballybot United 1

It has been a good season for Division 1 winners and Bessbrook Cup Semi-finalists Ballybot United, but their run in the AOH Cup concluded with a 2-1 defeat against the in-form Mayobridge on Saturday.

Mayobridge match winner Jamie McKay goes on the attack against Ballybot United on Saturday. Pic: Brendan Monaghan

The Bridge may have finished in mid-table in the Division 1 league, but they have saved their best performances for late on in the season, as they have now won seven of their last eight games in all competitions.

Mayobridge’s top scorer Keelan McEvoy didn’t find the net at Olympic Park, but he made a telling contribution by setting up both goals, which were scored by Paddy Brannigan and Jamie McKay.

Ballybot won’t have to wait too long to get a shot at redemption however, as the two sides meet again this weekend in the semi-final of the Sean Havern Memorial Cup at Jennings Park.

Orchard United 1 Camlough Rovers 9

Premier Division side Camlough Rovers overpowered Division 1 side Orchard United in a 9-1 trouncing.

Aaron O’Malley and Kane Rossiter were the stars of the show for Camlough, with each player netting a hat trick.

Camlough Rovers face Archview United in the quarter-final this Saturday at Olympic Park.

Parkview 2 Lisdrum 5

Lisdrum progressed into the quarter-finals of the AOH Cup with a 5-2 win against Parkview.