MCR brought their pre-Christmas form into the new year on Sunday as they picked up where they left off, stretching their unbeaten run to 13 games with a win over Strand Celtic as they continue to lead the way in the Sligo Southern Hotel Super League.
he first half on Sunday morning was scoreless with neither side giving anything away. Again, the second half was a tight affair until 11 minutes from time when Bradley Fowley opened the scoring for MCR with a peach of a goal.
Ciaran Harvey put MCR in a very safe position 5 minutes later when he rifled home goal number two and luckily for MCR he did as Leo Doherty cracked home a superb goal for Strand Celtic in injury time and in the end, it was too little too late.
MCR are now on 39 points with the nearest challengers 13 points adrift, although Carbury have two games in hand, it is still in MCR’s hands.
Carbury were away to Manor Rangers at the Bee Park Manorhamilton and they scored twice in injury time to steal a point after Manor were 2-0 up heading into injury time.
The hosts took the lead on 45 minutes courtesy of an own goal from Aaron Murren after a mix-up in the Carbury defence. The second half was much the same, but both sides were reduced to ten as Manor Rangers’ Philip Patton and Carbury’s Ross McLoughlin were both dismissed for second yellow cards.
The Sligo town side were struggling to threaten the Manor goals, and it was the Leitrim men who found the net next as Josh Ritchie’s sublime finish flew past Mark Rooney to make it 2-0.
It looked like game over at this point, but Carbury started playing their best football of the afternoon after the concession of that second goal.
As the game entered injury time it looked like they had no chance, but Gary Finan netted on 91 minutes to give them hope, before Steven Armstrong struck in the 95th minute to steal a point.
Third place Cartron United travelled to Mullaghmore to take on Cliffoney Celtic. The North Sligo men were 1-0 up at the half way point thanks to Jack Davitt.
Enda McGowan levelled the scoring, but Davitt struck once again in the second half to give Cliffoney the advantage.
It was all Cliffoney at this stage and it looked as though the points were going to stay in North Sligo, until Donal Gallagher blasted home a brilliant equaliser eight minutes into injury time to earn a valuable draw.
Coolaney Utd were at home to visitors Calry Bohs. Coolaney took the lead on 20 minutes thanks to a Ciaran McMurray goal. Nine minutes later Brian Lynch replied for Calry leaving both sides level at the break.
Nine minutes into the second half and Stanley Harte hit the 2nd goal leaving Coolaney in the lead. Then with 21 minutes remaining on the clock Cian Oates hit the equaliser to ensure a share of the spoils for Calry Bohs.
Ballisodare United continue their good run with a superb win against Real Tubber by a score line of 2-1 at the Astro Ballisodare. Adam Grace struck oil after 4 minutes to put Ballisodare in command.
Gary Anderson made that 2-0 with ten minutes to go to the break.
Ciaran Gorman threw Real Tubber a lifeline 5 minutes from the break with a cracker of goal. The second half saw Real Tubber come out with all guns blazing but their best efforts were thwarted with the Ballisodare rear-guard proving impenetrable and a brilliant all-round show by the Boys from Ballisodare seen them capture three great points.
St Johns FC in mid-table looked in great shape and proved just too strong for Arrow Harps at Mac Sharry Park on Saturday night. Matthew Conlon Oates hit 2 goals, aided and abetted with a goal each from Malachy Spratt and Conor Brennan.
Luke Flynn scored the only goal for Arrow Harps, score line finishing St Johns 4 Arrow Harps 1.
In the Andrew Mullen Sligo Pallets Premier League Leaders Gurteen Celtic were away to Ballygawley Celtic and found themselves two goals down at the break thanks to a double from Cathal Davey.
In the second half, a strike from Seamus O Hara plus 2 goals from Dylan Walsh saved the blushes of Gurteen Celtic as they came away with all three points.
Hot on the heels of the leaders are Ballymote Celtic who were at home in Brother Walfrid Park to visitors Strand Celtic Reserves.
This was a goal show by two players – Cian Kilcoyne with a hat trick now on 23 goals with Jack Hever hitting another hat trick now on 22 goals leaving Ballymote Celtic six goals to the good while Jamie Kilfeather netted a consolation for Strand Celtic Reserves.
Benbulben welcomed Glenview Stars to Mac Sharry Park playing out a 7-goal thriller. Oisin Gilmartin with 2 goals and Evan Mc Donald added a third for Benbulben.
But Stars went one better thanks to Cormac Coyne who netted twice from the penalty spot and a goal each from Jake Drew and Malcolm Reilly.
Dromahair continue to move in the right direction winning by the odd goal in three at home to Carrick Town. Dromahair struck early courtesy of Shane Conlon.
The Town continued to battle on and were rewarded when Ryan Higgins levelled matters. The game was ending, and it looked like a draw until Shane Fowley struck the killer goal to see a final score of Dromahair 2 Carrick Town 1.
Chaffpool United were at home to Valley Rovers and they hit the visitors for six. Oisin Gorman with a hat trick and a goal each from Liam Carty, Kevin O Brien, and Conor Prendergast doing the business for the Pool. Valley responded with 2 goals from Jody Reilly and the third from David O
Reilly.
Calry Bohs Reserves welcomed Kilglass Enniscrone Utd to ATU Sligo. Joe Kilcullen netted for Calry Bohs while an own goal brought the West Sligo men back into the game, to leave the final score 1 – 1 despite Calry Bohs Reserves scoring all the goals.
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