Campile close the gap on North End
IS NORTH End United&'s reign at the top of the Carlton Millrace Premier Division table coming to an end?
Their title aspirations were put under the microscope when they went head-to-head with fellow championship hopefuls Shamrock Rovers, and the Hollygrove side failed their test as Rovers ran out 42 winners at Fr. Murphy Park (see focus match).
North End's stint at the summit of the table could be ended next week by second-placed Campile United when the two face off at Tom O'neill Park.
A victory for Campile will see them move level on points, but for the lead to change hands next week's hosts would have to record a victory by eight goals or more. And they warmed up for next week's top of the table clash with a 2-0 success over Forth Celtic on Sunday. David Shannon and Lorcan O'brien landed the goals against the Murrintown men.
Patiently waiting in the wings in fourth and fifth place are Wexford Bohs and Courtown Hibs respectively. Any kind of slip-ups by the top three would be pounced on by the duo, and they kept the pressure up on the trio as they both picked up maximum points last weekend.
Wexford Bohs clashed with Ferns United at Drinagh and showed great resolve to come away with all three points. Efforts from Ryan Nolan and Johnny Dwyer had given United a 2-1 lead but Bohs, despite having to play the last 35 minutes with ten men, battled back to emerge as 3-2 winners. Eddie Lawlor, Dermot Flood and Gary Byrne bagged the goals for Bohs.
Courtown Hibs' triumph came at the Adamstown Community Centre where Leighton Gleeson earned his stripes. Gleeson put Adamstown to the sword as he struck all three goals for his side in a 3-1 win. Ian White netted the home side's reply.
The meeting of New Ross Celtic and Bunclody at Butlersland rounds off last weekend's action in the top flight. Hosts New Ross looked set to collect their sixth win of the season courtesy of a 1-0 win, but in the 90th minute Sewern Gadzina struck for Bunclody to earn them a dramatic late share of the spoils.
