Carnbane League Round-up: Orchard United win keeps them in the race for promotion ​

Premier Division

Cleary Celtic 2 Newry Celtic 2

​The top two sides in the top flight, leaders Newry Celtic and title holders Cleary Celtic couldn’t be separated at Jennings Park on Saturday where they played out a 2-2 draw.

It looked like it might not be Cleary’s day when Mark Hughes stuck the ball in his own net in the second minute to give the Newry Celts a one-goal advantage.

Five minutes before the break, Caolan Gray scored to give Stephen Daly and Daniel Forde’s unbeaten side a 2-0 half-time advantage.

Hughes redeemed himself on 50 minutes however, pulling a goal back for Cleary and after Gray was sent off with a second yellow card, Davy Walker squared the match and that was how it stayed at the full-time whistle.

Villa Rovers 4 Millburn United 2

Villa Rovers continue to impress, unbeaten in their last seven games, while Saturday’s opponents Millburn United continue to struggle and remain glued to the floor unable to build on their victory over Greenfield Park in their last league fixture.

Joe Campbell got the ball rolling for Villa, with the opening goal on 21 minutes. Sean McConville found the equaliser on 35 minutes however and it remained 1-1 at the break.

Millburn took the lead after the restart but their joy was short-lived as 10 minutes later Aaron Devlin made it two goals apiece. Three minutes later, Aodhan Conlon put Rovers in front and Jamie O’Connor scored the insurance goal on 74 minutes which proved to be the last of the game.

Division 1

​Mayobridge 2 Orchard United 3

While Ballybot were fulfilling their last fixture to claim the league title in Olympic Park on Saturday, the second place spot was still very much up for grabs. The drama unfolded as the Bot beat Ballyholland and Orchard pulled off a winner on 80 minutes in Kilbroney Park to keep them in the hunt as they leapfrogged Ballyholland to second spot by two points.

That was Orchard’s last league fixture while Ballyholland play Ashgrove on Saturday to determine which side wins promotion.

Christopher Smyth opened the scoring for Orchard on Saturday on 28 minutes but Keelan McEvoy levelled on the cusp of half-time. But just before the short whistle Orchard went in front again through Aaron Lennon.

McEvoy scored his second for the Bridge from the penalty spot, but Sean Gorman produced the winner 10 minutes before the end.

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Newry Rovers 3 Church Street 4

Church Street ended their league season with a win finishing fourth in the table, while Newry Rovers were a goal short of picking up their first point of the season with only one chance left to avoid the bagel when they play Mayobridge on Saturday.

Church Street were two goals to the good courtesy of Kieran Slim and Liam McCartan when Luke Flynn pulled one back on 37 minutes to make it 2-1. McCartan scored again before the break and it looked like Church Street were home and hosed. Rovers battled back in the second half however, hitting the net twice to level proceedings. But it wasn’t to be for them as Slim found the winner on 88 minutes.

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Parkview 3 Cartwheel United 3

Parkview and Cartwheel played out a 3-3 draw in their penultimate league fixture at Artie Green Park on Saturday. The sides were level at half-time with goals from Daniel Cumiskey and James Coyle for Cartwheel either side of a brace for Rory Craven. Cartwheel went in front on 68 minutes but Craven found the equaliser again with his hat-trick 10 minutes later.

Parkview start their league cup campaign on Saturday against Orchard United.

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​Sean Havern Memorial Cup

Section B Round 1

Lisdrum Youth 2 Ashgrove Rovers 4

With the Division 1 League almost done and dusted – Ballybot having claimed the title on Saturday – it’s time for the cup competitions to take centre stage.

Consequently, the League has decided to organise the Sean Havern Memorial Cup on a semi-league basis, with two sections.

Section B of the Sean Havern Memorial Cup got underway on Saturday with Ashgrove Rovers getting the better of Lisdrum in Killeavy.

The teams were evenly matched in the first half with a goal apiece. Ashgrove didn’t waste any time however, with Niall McElligott opening the scoring in the first minute.

Lisdrum recovered well though and found the equaliser just after the half-hour mark. The game remained 1-1 at the half-time whistle but four minutes into the second period Ashgrove took the lead again with a goal from Patrick McShane. There was plenty of action still to come however, with Lisdrum refusing to go down easily and levelling the match once more on 75 minutes.

Ashgrove pulled a winning goal out of the bag when Kealan Morgan scored to make it 3-2 on 83 minutes. Rovers made sure that there would be no equaliser this time as well, as McShane put the insurance goal in the net with three minutes of normal time remaining.

This Saturday Parkview and Orchard United get Section A underway.