Crumlin crowned Leinster Senior League champions
By Stephen Leonard
Crumlin United secured the Leinster Senior League title for the sixth time in the club’s history following an emphatic 5-0 victory away to Cherry Orchard last night.
Craig Walsh opened the scoring for them in the first half, but it was in the second that Martin Loughran’s side really took off.
Martin Loughran saw his Crumlin United team storm to the Leinster Senior League title this season
Indeed Alan McGreal doubled their advantage just two minutes after the restart before making it 3-0 after which goals from Aidan Roche and Liam Brady put them well clear.
The victory moved them out of reach of closest rivals Killester Donnycarney who are now 13 points further back with four games remaining.
Indeed it has been a hugely impressive campaign by this Crumlin outfit who remain the only unbeaten team in the Senior Division.
“The lads have been great” Loughran told The Echo. “They all bought into what we were trying to do and they really put the work in” he added.
Defensively, Crumlin have been rock solid, shipping just two goals in their last eight matches while up front McGreal and Jake Donnelly have inflicted heavy damage on all opposition, the two combining for 53 goals so far this season with Walsh also weighing in significantly.
And the season is far from over for this outfit with a much-anticipated clash against Avondale in the FAI Intermediate Cup decider at the Aviva Stadium coming up on Saturday, May 11.
Crumlin are one step away from lifting this very prize for the fifth time in ten years, but will be facing a side that has won the title no less than seven times.
Also on the team’s programme this season will be a date with Maynooth in the Metropolitan Cup semi final and a clash with UCD in the last eight of the Leinster Senior Cup.
Crumlin’s Saturday side are still in with a chance of a seventh straight Major Division title, but will need to win all their remaining six matches and hope that leaders Bluebell United slip up in their closing two games.
That same Crumlin side will meet Colepark in the Lanigan Cup Final towards the close of the month with semi final outings in both the Leinster Junior and Noel Ryan Cups also on their agenda.
What’s more, the club’s Under 19s are also still in with a shout of some silverware having reached the Leinster Cup decider in which they will face off against Hardwicke FC in Frank Cooke Park on May 26.
