Limerick Soccer - Abbeyfeale and Glin into Hogan Cup final

Frank Nelligan rounds up the weekend action in the Limerick Desmond League.

The Richard Hogan Cup Final will be contested by Abbeyfeale United B and Glin Rovers B after both recorded 1-0 home victories last weekend. The Fealesiders were first to qualify, Brian O’Connor getting to the end of a superb cross from Joe Flaherty to score an 87th minute winner against Ferry Rangers on Saturday night. David O’Sullivan was the scorer when Glin Rovers B got past Carrig Celtic B on Sunday afternoon.

Desmond Cup

The shock result of last Sunday’s Desmond Cup first round games was pulled off by Division 4 leaders Shountrade who won 3-2 at home to Premier Division outfit, Killeaney. Martin Mullane opened the scoring for Shountrade in the 25th minute and they held that lead until the 55th minute when Darragh Woods equalised. The normal order of things appeared to be restored ten minutes later when Sean O’Connor put the visitors in front. However, Shountrade refused to follow the conventional script. Tim Frawley pulled them level in the 80th minute and, in true fairytale fashion, Niall Lenihan scored the winner from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game.

Ballysteen put up a brave show against one of the Cup favourites, Broadford United, only losing 3-2 in extra-time. Kallum O’Donoghue, on his first start for the Broadford A-team, opened the scoring midway through the first-half. Liam O’Shaughnessy doubled Broadford’s lead midway through the second-half, seemingly putting the home team on course for a comfortable victory. However, that scenario was shattered when Ballysteen earned extra-time with two goals from set-pieces. O’Donoghue ensured that there was going to be no fairytale ending to the Division 2 side’s comeback when he scored the winner in the second minute of the second period.

Granagh United also required extra-time to win 2-1 at home to Askeaton. Their goals were scored by Pa O’Donoghue and Denis O’Connor.

Glantine went to the very last minute of extra-time before Tom McCarthy scored the only goal of the game against Old Mill. The tie was played in Templeglantine, Old Mill having conceded home advantage.

Newcastle West Rovers also conceded home advantage and, for them, it proved a good move, as Brian Fallon’s goal in the first period of extra-time was enough to secure a 1-0 victory against Division 2 promotion hopefuls, Rathkeale Reserves.

Newcastle West had a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Breska Rovers, the goals scored by Seanie Fitzgerald, Daniel Power and Seoirse Joyce.

Newcastle West B are out of the competition after losing 2-0 away to Kilcornan, whose goals, midway through each half, were scored by Blaine Collins and Kenneth O’Donoghue.

Alan Fitzpatrick got on the scoresheet for St. Ita’s for the first time since his return from Broadford United when he netted a brace in the 4-1 victory away to Division 4 side, Bally Rovers, who took a 10th minute lead through Darren Curtin. Fitzpatrick equalised in the 40th minute and that’s how it remained until Joe Soroka put St. Ita’s in front in the 69th minute. The Division 1 promotion hopefuls added two more in the last ten minutes, through Damien Breen and Fitzpatrick.

Premier Division

Glin Rovers earned what may yet prove to be a useful point in their battle to ensure Premier Division survival when they drew 1-1 away to Shannonside FC.

Division 1

Kildimo United are nine points clear in Division 1 after Kevin Hogan’s goal on the hour secured a 1-0 victory at home to Adare United. They are odds-on to be promoted and, after that, it’s one from four, namely, Rockhill Rovers, St. Ita’s, Glantine and Athea United.

Division 4

Shannonside FC B are just one point Division 4 leaders, Shountrade, after Keith Enright’s fourth minute strike turned out to be the only goal of the game at home to Newcastle West Rovers B.

Desmond Youths Cup

Rathkeale, Adare United and Abbeyfeale United all advanced to the quarter-finals of the Desmond Youths Cup with comprehensive first-round home victories. Rathkeale were 4-1 ahead at half-time against Pallaskenry and went on to add five more without reply in the second-half.

Four goals in each half gave Adare United an 8-0 win against Feenagh. David Connolly and Hugh Burke both bagged a brace, with David O’Mahony, Jason Griffin, Chris Geary and Jack English also getting on the scoresheet.

Conor Horan (2), Thomas Sexton (2) and Jonathan Lyons accounted for Abbeyfeale United’s five-goal haul at home to Broadford United, who failed to reply.

The path to the last eight was far less clearcut for Carrig Celtic in their home tie against Ferry Rangers. Goals from David Costello and Padge Balfe earned a 2-2 draw before they went on to win 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out.