ANOTHER EPIC conclusion is in store to the Jack Crossan Premier League race in the Inishowen League.
Clonmany Shamrocks are top of the table and have a four-point cushion with just one game remaining – but that’s only part of the tale.
Clonmany’s last game of the season sees them welcome the defending champions and fellow title hopefuls Glengad United (pictured above) to Shamrock Park.
Glengad United have been fighting on all fronts this season and look set to take the title race to a winner-takes-all final day.
Before they head for Shamrock Park, though, they take on Buncrana Hearts on Wednesday-week, April 27 and on Sunday May 1, they will face Culdaff FC, whom they meet in the Ulster Junior Cup final this Sunday at Maginn Park.
Back in December, Clonmany went to The Crua and Mark McLaughlin netted the only goal of the game as they won 1-0.
It was a first League defeat for Glengad in precisely a year – also since Clonmany defeated them 1-0 the previous December.
The win over Glengad, four months ago now, put Clonmany ten points clear at the summit.
Clonmany Shamrocks
Earlier this month, a dramatic, late penalty save by Paddy Harkin saw Clonmany defeat Buncrana Hearts 2-1 in their penultimate game of the season.
Ten points was the margin, but Glengad have narrowed it to four and a remarkable week saw Shane Byrne’s men take three League wins before overcoming Derry City in a Knockalla Caravans Cup semi-final.
While Clonmany were making hard work of defeating Buncrana, Glengad defeated QPS 3-0 with Seamus Doherty, Michael Byrne and Patrick McDermott n the mark.
Doherty netted the only goal of the game in a nervy 1-0 win over Aileach and two dats later they defeated Greencastle 5-1, with Doherty, McDermott, Christy Fildara, Nigel McMonagle and Stephen Fildara scoring.
Glengad took the title last year, but the memories of a final game of the regulation season, when they could only draw 0-0 with QPS, will be fresh in their minds now as they inch down the home straight.
Last season, it took a McDermott goal in a play-off to defeat Aileach 1-0 at Maginn Park.
Glengad meet Culdaff in the Ulster Junior Cup this weekend and on May 15 play Cockhill Celtic in the Knockalla Caravans Cup final.
That crunch clash with Clonmany is anticipated to take place on May 22.
“It’s certainly an interesting run-in,” says Inishowen League PRO Terence Hegarty.
“Clonmany have been getting the results all season and they have the experience. They have been getting points and they can always make a goal when needed and defend it too.
“We have a very busy few weeks. At one stage, we thought we might have to extend the season, but we’ll have it done now by the end of May.”
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