LIMERICK SOCCER - Pike Rovers off to winning start

Pat Sheehan reports on the first two rounds of the Limerick District League, where Pike Rovers got the defence of their title off to a winning start.

Pike Rovers 2 Fairview Rangers 1

Premier League Champions Pike Rvs made a winning start in their bid to retain the Fran Mullally trophy but Lady luck was on their side as they edged past a young Fairview XI.

With Dermot Finnan back in charge, Fairview showed plenty of character and courage and they led Pike with five minutes remaining through a Mark McGrath goal. However when a Paul Doona was deflected past Fairview keeper Robert Shier the Champions were level.

It was harsh luck on the visitors and got even worse in injury time when Dave Ryan forced the ball home to give Declan Considine’s men the start they required.

Pike Rovers - Gary Neville; Gavin O’Shea; Eddie O’Donovan; Pat Mullins; Colm Enright; Paul Doona; Pat Moloney; John Tierney; Keith Hartnett; Martin Deedy; Dave Ryan. Subs: Jason Heffernan

Fairview Rgs - Robert Shier; Damien Moloney; Mike Ryan; Niall Mullen; Brian Fitzgerald; Dean McNamara; Conor McCormack; Craig Madigan; Lucca Tedde; Colin Scanlon; Mark McGrath. Subs: Shane Power; Eddie Mangan

Janesboro 0 Ballynanty Rovers 3

Many people’s tip to oust Pike from the top spot, Janesboro, were rocked back on their heels when they were hammered 3-0 at home by a rampant Ballynanty Rvs in their opener.

The Blues with Ray McMahon on board were superb on the night and with young Adam Frahill dictating matters in the middle of the park it was no surprise when Tom Daly fired them into a first half lead.

Frank Lee added a second after the break and Barry Quinn completed the rout.

Ballynanty Rvs - Stephen McNamara, Dara Hughes, Shane Doran, Tom Daly, Dave Dunphy, Alex Purcell, Brian Doran, Shane Guerin, Adam Frahill, Frank Lee, Barry Quinn

Carew Park 5 Kilmallock 1

Carew Park under the watchful eyes of Cecil Prendergast and Albert Slattery made some shrewd signings during the off season and in paid off in style in their opening fixture.

Kilmallock took the lead through Ryan Glenn but Jonathon Grant marked his Carew debut with the equaliser. Stephen Grant put Carew in front before the break and second half goals from Brian Aherne and a double from Jamie O’Sullivan put the icing on the cake.

Carew Park - Ronan Power; Gary Griffin; Jon Somers; Mark Slattery; Brian McSweeney; John Boyle; Stephen Grant; Jamie O’Sullivan; Brian Aherne; Jonathon Grant; Dale McNamara. Subs: Pat Boyle; Francis Kett

Kilmallock - Peter Murphy; Kieran Stubbins; John Heffernan; Rob Hanley; Peter Ryan; Mark Hayes; Mark Heffernan; Chris Todd; Niall Hanley; Anthony Punch; Ryan Glenn. Subs: Dave Todd; Alan Finn

Regional Utd 0 Geraldines 4

It’s great to see Geraldines back in the top flight and they gave notice in their first game that they mean to stay.

An own goal gave them the advantage away to Regional and new signing Richie Flynn made it 2-0. A stunning goal from Danny O’Neill piled on the misery for Regional and Flynn completed the scoring with his second of the game.

Regional Utd - Sean Sheehy; Mike Aherne; Fergal Blake; David Cowpar; Jack Molyneaux; Danny Colbert; Shane O’Doherty; Kieran O’Connell; Peter Nash; Declan Nash; Paudie Walsh. Subs: Ian Hughes; Tom Frawley; Mike Reidy

Geraldines - Keith McCarthy; Paul Fitzgerald; Ian Storan; Tom O’Grady; Shane Madden; Christy O’Neill; Bobby Tier; Jason Travis; Derek Daly; Richie Flynn; Jamie McMahon. Subs: George Daffy; Danny O’Neill; Jordon Boland

Shannon Hibs 2 Aisling Annacotty 4

The other new comers to the top flight, Shannon Hibs did not have as memorable start as Geraldines , going down 4-2 at home to Aisling.

Goals from John Okoro (2), an own goal and Chumkwa Manjor had Aisling well in control but a much improved second half display by Hibs saw them pull back goals from Dave Wall and Seamus Farrell but the visitors had done enough to hold out.

Aisling Annacotty - Dermot Clune; Niall Feeney; Dara Droog; Des Keehan; Eoin Gunnigle, Conor McCullough; Darren Harrington; Ronan Smalle; John Okoro; Chumkwa Manjor.

Corbally Utd 4 Wembley Rvs 4

The remaining Premier game produced a real thriller. Darren O’Sullivan (2), Ken Nealon and Jimmy Fyffe scored to put Corbally in first half control.

Alan Wallace pulled one back after the break but Darren O’Sullivan marked his Corbally debut making it 3-1. Two goals from Paul McCormack levelled the tie but near the end Darren O’Sullivan looked to have snatched it for Corbally. However deep into injury time Barry Dillon struck a free kick to force a share of the spoils.

Corbally Utd - Adrian Duhig; Mike Crowley; Shane Cox; Barry Hartnett; Jimmy Fyffe; Darren Hanley; Kevin Hartnett; Fearghal O’Connell; Fionn O’Dea; Darren O’Sullivan; Ken Nealon. Subs : Pierce Cunningham; Evan O’Mara; James Ryan

Wembley Rvs - Ray O’Connell; Eoin O’Sullivan; Brian Finnegan; Pat Sheahan; Richard Mullins; Paul McCormack; Barry Dillon; Diarmuid O’Callaghan; Dave Quinn; Rob McLoughlin; Alan Wallace. Subs : Eddie Ryan; Mike Ryan

Ballynanty 1 Regional Utd 1

Ballynanty Rvs and Regional played out a highly entertaining 1-1 draw at Shelbourne Park on Sunday morning.

Following their superb league opener against Janesboro, Balla were hot favourites going into this one but a determined Regional XI bagged a deserved point.

Balla looked a lively outfit with youngster Dara Hughes along with Shane Guerin and David Dunphy highly impressive.

Regional bounced back well from a heavy defeat to Geraldines and had fine performers in Sean Sheehy, Ian Hughes and Kieran O’Connell.

Barry Quinn gave Balla a half time lead when he beat the offside trap before rounding the keeper to score.

Kieran O’Connell headed in the equaliser shortly after the restart from Danny Colbert’s cross and thereafter both sides had chances to clinch it.

Dara Hughes twice came to Balla’s rescue and keeper Stephen McNamara also made a fine save all denying Declan Nash.

At the other end the post and some superb saves from Sean Sheehy kept Balla at bay.

Ballynanty Rovers - Stephen McNamara; Dara Hughes; Shane Doran; Tom Daly; David Dunphy; Alex Purcell; Brian Doran; Shane Guerin; Adam Frahill; Barry Quinn; Frank Lee. Subs: Bobby Griffin; Jamie Enright; Jason Hughes

Regional Utd - Sean Sheehy; Fergal Blake; Frank Browne; Ian Hughes; Jack Molyneaux; Paudie Walsh; Kieran O’Connell; Shane O’Doherty; Peter Nash; Declan Nash; Danny Colbert. Subs: Mike Aherne; Mike Reidy; Mark McManus

Aisling Annacotty 2 Janesboro 6

Janesboro bounced back from their opening day loss by inflicting a 6-2 defeat on Aisling in Annacotty.

David Njuki and Janesboro’s Conor Lynch exchanged first half goal and when John Okoro put Aisling in front after the break another shock looked on the cards.

However new signing Dave McCarthy hit a stunning free kick to level the tie.

The former Avenue player went on to complete his hat trick with Shane Clarke grabbing a brace to complete the scoring.

Aisling Annacotty - Dermot Clune; Niall Feeney; Anthony McDonnell; Dara Droog; Mike Barry; Chumkwa Manjor; Darren Harrington; Ronan Sherlock; Conor McCullough; John Okoro; David Njuki.

Janesboro - Darren Glasheen; Wayne O’Donovan; Darren Cullinane; Lee O’Mara; Wayne Colbert; Patrick Stanislewski; Dave McCarthy; Aidan Hurley; James Hayes; Conor Lynch; Shane Clarke. Subs: David Donnan; Dave Roche; Mouslim Mousserine

Corbally Utd 1 Geraldines 1

Corbally chalked up their second draw of the campaign when they hosted Geraldines on Sunday morning. Kevin Hartnett put the home side in front after five minutes but shortly after the restart Derek Hannon replied for the Dines.

Corbally Utd - Adrian Duhig; Darren Hanley; Shane Cox; Glen Carroll; Jimmy Fyffe; Ian Dunworth; Kevin Hartnett; Fionn O’Dea; Fearghal O’Connell; Darren O’Sullivan; Ken Nealon. Subs: Pierce Cunningham; James Ryan; Con McCormack

Geraldines - Keith McCarthy; Paul Fitzgerald; Ian Storan; Tom O’Grady; Shane Madden; Danny O’Neill; Christy O’Neill; Jamie McMahon; Richie Flynn; Derek Daly; Bobby Tier. Subs; Derek Hannon; George Daffy; Shane Byrne

Fairview Rgs 2 Carew Park 2

Once again Fairview’s crop of youngsters turned in a fine performance and were denied a win only by a late equaliser from former player Jonathan Grant.

Grant was taken down in the area just before the break and Gary Griffin converted the spot kick to put Carew in front.

Ten minutes after the break the sides were level when Mark McGrath latched onto Jason Mullins through ball to score.

McGrath looks the real deal and he scored a stunning goal to put Fairview in front and looking likely to take the spoils however with time running out Grant struck the equaliser.

Fairview Rgs - Robert Shier; Jason Mullins; Eddie Lenihan; Aaron Cooney; Brian Fitzgerald; Eddie Mangan; Conor McCormack; Craig Madigan; Lucca Tedde; Mark McGrath; Colin Scanlon. Subs: Dean McNamara

Carew Park - Ronan Power; Mark Slattery; Jon Somers; Gary Griffin; Francis Kett; Stephen Grant; Brian Aherne; John Boyle; Jamie Kelly; Jonathon Grant; Jamie O’Sullivan. Subs: Mark Keane; Cyril Maher; Pat Boyle

Kilmallock 2 Wembley Rvs 3

Goals from Paul McCormack, Brian Finnegan and Barry Dillon had Wembley well in control of this game by half time.

However two penalties converted by Niall Hanley along with two red cards made it an uncomfortable finish for Wembley but they held out to take a welcome three points.

Wembley - Ray O’Connell; Eoin O’Sullivan; Richard Mullins; Pat Sheahan; Brian Finnegan; Paul McCormack; Barry Dillon; Diarmuid O’Callaghan; Dave Quinn; Rob McLoughlin; Alan Wallace. Subs not used: Mike Ryan; Diarmuid Green; Keith Ryan

Shannon Hibs 1 Pike Rovers 6

With just two games played Pike have already opened up a two point gap at the top of the table following their 6-1 win over Shannon Hibs on Sunday.

Paul Doona scored twice for the winners with Dave Ryan, Conor Moloney, Gary Higgins and John Tierney also getting in on the act. Rob Wall replied for Hibernians.

Pike Rovers - Gary Neville; Gavin O’Shea; Eddie O’Donovan; Conor Moloney; Pat Mullins; Jason Heffernan; John Tierney; Martin Deedy; Eoin Hanrahan; Paul Doona; Dave Ryan. Subs not used: Colm Enright; Gary Higgins; Gary O’Toole