Local Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

Two Galway sides will contest the Connacht Junior Cup semi-finals as Mervue United and Moyne Villa qualified for the last four in contrasting fashion, but there was no joy for Renmore as they fell at home to defending champions Castlebar Celtic.

In the Connacht Shield, Maree-Oranmore B and Corofin United also have a semi-final to look forward to, but the quarter-final ties only saw disappointment for Corrib Celtic and Oughterard as both fell to single goal defeats.

The semi-final draws for both competitions were held on Wednesday and they guarantee that a Galway team will be in both finals, as Mervue United will play host to Moyne Villa, while St John’s Athletic will enjoy home advantage against Castlebar Celtic in the Cup.

In the Shield, Maree-Oranmore B will welcome Corofin United, while Castlebar Celtic B will face fellow Mayo side Iorras Aontaithe.

Connacht Junior Cup

Renmore 1

Castlebar Celtic 4

The result might flatter the visitors somewhat, but without a doubt they were the better side in West Park on Sunday as they advanced with a bit to spare.

There was no lack of desire or ability about the home side, but they just didn’t have the performers the visitors had and the concession of such soft goals proved to be their downfall.

A 5th minute goal set the tone as Dylan Edwards finished a Jason Hunt lay off for the opener, before Mark Cunningham applied a header to an Edwards corner to see the visitors lead 2-0 on 22 minutes.

The home side certainly applied themselves well to the task in hand, but were finding clear chances hard to come by. A Kieran McGinty shot did test goalkeeper Stephen Hester, before Renmore pulled one back on 43 minutes with a stunning goal.

A clearance from home custodian Cian Costello broke to Cian Specht in the centre circle. He just let fly, and Hester never moved as the ball nestled in the top left corner.

Despite that boost, it was Castlebar who were to respond in perfect fashion as a long ball from defence by Cathal Coyne went over Renmore heads and the impressive Jason Loftus was all alone as he flashed a low effort past Costello for 3-1 interval advantage.

With Keith Fitzgerald trying to keep Renmore on the front foot, they went close on a number of occasions as a Padraig Corcoran header extended Hester, while Aaron Moran and Fitzgerald had efforts that went close.

The game was killed off on the hour mark when another ball over the top was again picked up by Loftus and he duly obliged with the finish to make it 4-1 and in the process secured their place in the last four.

Renmore: Costello, Rees, Corcoran (Papin Lucy 75), Tabot-Ndip (Corbett 86), Winters (Omokua 64), Fitzgerald, Kinneen (McKernon 64), Moran (Martyn 64), Specht, McGinty, Byrnes.

Castlebar Celtic: Hester, Cunningham, Howley, O’Reilly, Cotne, Groarke, Brennan, Cocozza, Loftus, Hunt, Edwards,

Referee: Marc Lynch.

Pictured: Mervue United coaches pictured at the launch of the Billy Carr Memorial Tournament (see p70), back row, from left: Gary O’Connor, Garry Brogan, Alan Walsh, David Walsh, Brian McDonnell, and Brian Lynch. Front: Tommy Walsh, Kevin Curran, Eimear Whelan, Kevin Brogan, Keith McHugh, and Pa Walsh.