Top three begin year with a bang
NORTH END United, Shamrock Rovers and Campile United have all started 2012 with a bang.
The trio showed no signs of a Christmas hangover as they began the new year just as they ended the old one with wins all round in the Carlton Millrace Premier Division.
North End United are currently the Premier Division's front-runners and they kept their healthy six-point lead at the top of the table intact courtesy of a 3-0 success over Forth Celtic in Murrintown.
Jason Murphy and Craig Mcguire were both on target for the Holygrove outfit, with Kyle Dempsey inevitably getting on the scoresheet to round off the scoring.
The heat was kept up on North End by Campile United, who welcomed Courtown Hibs to Tom O'neill Park. And they got the better of their visitors courtesy of a 2-1 scoreline.
Shamrock Rovers complete the top three and they proved their title credentials on Sunday thanks to a 3-0 triumph at Father Murphy Park against fifth-placed New Ross Celtic.
Emmet Quirke, Ricky Fox and 'Hopper' Kenny landed the efforts for the hosts as they strolled to their fifth league victory of the campaign.
Rovers' title ambitions will be put under the microscope on Sunday next when they host North End United.
It was a story of two strikers at Church Road as Bunclody and Ferns United locked horns. Both sides would have been hoping to distance themselves from the trapdoor with a win, but they had to settle for a point apiece in the end thanks to Timmy Halpin and Johnny Dwyer for the home and away side respectively.
The attackers grabbed both their club's goals as they played out a 2-2 draw.
There was another draw at the Community Centre in Adamstown where Adamstown took on Gorey Rangers.
Adamstown were denied the chance to move out of the relegation zone as they were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Rangers.
Ian White struck the hosts' goal with Emmet Gregan registering the effort for the Gorey club.
