Corrigan hat trick helps Boyle Celtic win eight goal thriller
Boyle Celtic took a huge step closer to securing the Premier Division title with a 5-3 win over St. John's Athletic.
Michael Corrigan’s hat trick helped Boyle Celtic take control of a fascinating Premier Division title race.
St. John’s Athletic entered this contest top of the table, leading Moore United by a point and Boyle Celtic by two points. However, this win propels Boyle Celtic to top spot.
Moore will play both Boyle Celtic and St. John’s in their final two games. For Boyle Celtic, the equation is simple, win their final game against Moore United and they will claim the Premier Division title for the first time since 2022.
Boyle Celtic made home advantage count on Sunday although they were made to work hard by a St. John’s side who entered this contest undefeated in their league campaign.
The Lecarrow based outfit took the lead when Daire Keenan headed to the net from Kelly’s precise corner.
The lead lasted less than 90 seconds as Gerard McDermottroe’s deep cross found Corrigan, who produced a bullet header to the back of the net.
This left the sides deadlocked 1-1 at the interval.
After a tense start to the second half the game came alive with 20 minutes to go.
Corrigan produced a deft header from Jake McCrann’s delivery after 70 minutes before the striker completed his hat trick as he dispossessed St. John’s keeper Aidan Fallon with the ball trickling into the empty net.
St. John’s dug in and Alan Duffy’s close range overhead kick cut the arrears. But Callaghan headed home another McCrann corner to re-establish the two goal cushion.
St. John’s cause was not helped by Eamon Harney's red card, but they set up a tense finale when Cian Kelly netted his side’s third.
However, McCrann’s long range effort found the net in injury time as Boyle Celtic move closer to securing league glory.
For a St. John’s side who saw their hopes of a first ever Premier Division title take a blow, they must now regroup for their Connacht Cup semi final against Castlebar Celtic next Sunday.
**Full report in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald**
