Limerick District League weekend junior soccer round-up

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Aisling Annacotty 7 Geraldines 0
AISLING eased to three points in their penultimate Premier League game hitting seven without reply against Geraldines.

The result means if Aisling win their final game at Newport, they will be crowned Premier League Champions.

This game was over as a contest within minutes as goals from Adam Costello (2), Leon Daly and Adam Foley made it 4-0. Tom Kidd added another before the break.

After the restart in the contest, Costello completed his hat-trick of goals in the game and Tom Kidd completed the scoring.

Aisling Annacotty: Josh Coady; Ciaran Jennings; Adam O'Regan; Tom Kelly; Eliah Riordan; Tom Kidd; Adam Foley; Darren Coughlan; Adam Costello; Theo Joyce; Leon Daly. Subs: Shane Donegan; Sean Ezekannagha; Evans Ezekannagha; Ciaran Finn.

Geraldines: Cian O'Brien; Dean McNamara; Thomas O'Grady; Conor Madigan; Ethan O'Sullivan; Jason Mullins; Liam Chambers; Nathan Cross; Tony Mambuana; Conor Lynch; Sean Langston.

OTHER games in the top flight saw Coonagh Utd beat Carew Park 5-1 thanks to scores from Mark McGrath (3) and Kieran Simmonds (2).

A Matt O’Gorman goal gave Nenagh the points in a 1-0 win over Mungret while Regional beat Newport 3-0.
In the Premier A League, Janesboro made a welcome return to the Premier League following a hard earned 1-0 win over Murroe.

With the home side battling to survive they put up a great fight before ‘Boro took the spoils thanks to a goal from the ever-reliable Thomas Clarke.

In the final round of games in Division 1A, Southend did what was required to be crowned champions after an exciting race.
Two goals from Alan Keane and one from Owen Tracey had Southend in celebratory mode but Pallasgreen struck two goals to ensure an exciting finale.

Regional, hoping for a Southend slip up, did all that was required of them with a 6-1 win over Star Rvs, but it proved futile in the end.

Jeff Mannion (3), Eoghan Killian, Joshua Adadeji and Morgan Hanley were the winning scorers.

In the Division 1B Cup, the top two sides crossed swords in Corbally’s pitch in Athlunkard but it was visitors Aisling who progressed to the cup final on a 4-0 scoreline.

Jason Daly, Manni Ajuong, Jason Lipper and Calum Ryan were on the mark.

Goals from Brian O’Sullivan (2) and Conor Brett ensured Newport will provide the opposition after a 3-1 win over Mungret Reg.

In the Div 2A Cup there was a surprise defeat for Pike Rvs going down 2-1 at home to Kilmallock B. Jake Prendergast netted for the Hoops.

Goals from Oisin O’Grady (2), Tyrique Leamy (2) and Kevin Meade gave Herbertstown a win at Shels. Rory Cullen, Conor McGuane and an own goal accounted for the home side.

Aisling Annacotty C hit Mungret Reg for six to progress. Kyle O'Donovan (2), Ayooluwa Lasile (2), Matheus Jacome and Ryan Harris obliged with scores.

Garrett Higgins, a player entering his fifth decade and still producing the goods, scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for Hyde Rgs over Murroe.

Brazuca secured their promotion from Division 2B with a 4-2 win in their final game at Cappamore. Two goals apiece from Jorge Becker and Emanuel Christian secured the result.

In the semi-final of the Division 3A Cup, Moyross had an exciting 2-0 win at home to Summerville. Goals from b Seanie McGill and Tyrone Fitzgerald sets up a cup final with league champions Geraldines.

FAI CUP FIRST ROUND:

Pike Rovers 1 Villa FC 1
(Pike Rvs won 4-2 on pens)

PIKE Rovers advanced in the FAI Senior Cup with a penalty shoot out win over Waterford Junior counterparts Villa FC in their first round fixture played at the Pike Field on Sunday afternoon.

Despite fielding without quite a few regular starters, Pike took the lead midway through the first half when Adam Lipper headed in from Shane Walsh’s corner kick.

The visitors levelled the tie with fifteen minutes remaining through Walsh. Extra-time failed to separate the sides so penalties were called for.

Once again, Gary Neville was to the fore for the Hoops, saving two spot kicks to send his side through to the next round.

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville, Danny O'Neill, Sean Madigan, Robbie Williams, Adam Lipper, Shane Franklin, Shane Walsh, Shane Clarke, Eddie O'Donovan, Derek Daly, Colin Daly. Subs: Dylan Murphy, Eoin Hanrahan, Conor Coughlan, Wayne O'Donovan, Aaron Cusack.

DIVISION 3B CUP FINAL: 

Herbertstown 2 Lough Derg 3
LOUGH Derg marked their first appearance in Jackman Park in style with a thrilling 3-2 win over Herbertstown on Friday evening.

An injury time goal by Daniel Fogarty, his third of the evening, proved the difference between two fully committed sides.

Enjoying their first season in the Limerick District League, Lough Derg went two up after the break but Herbertstown fought back to tie up the game before Fogarty’s last gasp intervention.

It was a tentative opening half with the only chance of note, a shot from Adam Stuart that was well saved by ‘Town keeper Matt Holmes.

A scoreless first half gave little indication of what was to come after the break.

Lough Derg took the lead on 51 minutes when Jay Collins and Dan Tighe combined for the latter to square the ball for Dan Fogarty to tuck away.

Fogarty made it 2-0 on the hour mark when he finished off Jack Grace’s flick on.
To their credit Herbertstown regrouped and pulled one back five minutes later Dan McGuire fired home in a goalmouth melee.
With 20 minutes remaining, ‘Town were back on level terms when their man Fogarty, Joe, got the finishing touch.

With the tie now back in the melting pot neither side looked like halting the inevitable extra time. However, with four minutes injury time played, Tighe forced a corner for Lough, Darragh Hickey delivered into the six-yard box and that man again, Daniel Fogarty rose unchallenged and powered a header to the back of the net to wild scenes of celebration.

Herbertstown B: Matt Holmes; Andrew Kearns; Liam Bermingham; Declan Kenny; Mark McGuire; Daniel McGuire; Darragh Fallon; Paddy Bermingham; Joe Fogarty; Colm Bermingham; Cathal Kearns. Subs: Ciaran Mallory; Sean Herr; Ed Dooley; Luke Murphy; Gary Wright; Cian McCarthy; Mack Ward; Aaron Carroll.

Lough Derg: Cathal Mullane; Jack Grace; Tomer Migdal; Cian Commins; Dan Cassidy; Darragh Hickey; James Frahill; Jay Collins; Daniel Fogarty; Adam Stuart; Daniel Tighe. Subs: Dan Furey; Dermot McCarthy; Cian McAuley; Dean Lawlor; Daryl Peters; Liam O'Shaughnessy; Jason Cumley; Cian Oakley

YOUTH DIVISION 1 CUP FINAL:

Pike Rovers 3 Aisling Annacotty A 2
Pike Rvs and Aisling Annacotty produced a thrilling Cup final in Jackman Park on Saturday evening that had thrills and spills to the final minute of extra time when the Hoops snatched victory.

Shane Franklin was the Hoops hero, scoring twice including the dramatic winner in an all round superb performance.

The sides have been the tow best sides in the league all season and only a few days earlier Aisling beat Pike Rvs to be crowned champions.

Pike were out to right matters this time out and they had the perfect start when Dara McNamara gathered midway inside the Aisling half and cut infield before drilling a low shot to the bottom corner.

Pike’s celebrations gave indication of their determination and things got even better midway through the half when Franklin gathered in midfield and exchanges passes with Cian Punch before firing into the corner for a super goal. Aisling were shell shocked but got to half time to allow them to regroup.

The League winners emerged more focused after the break and got back in the tie when the impressive Shae Guinnane saw his shot in a crowded goalmouth blocked on the line but the rebound fell to Rhys Meehan who finished from close range.

Aisling’s hopes looked to be dashed when they were reduced to ten men for the remainder of the tie but they showed plenty of fighting spirit and were rewarded in the 90th minute.

A push on the hard-working Alex Keating presented Aisling with a free kick 25 yards from goal. Up stepped Cathal Downes who drilled a sweet low drive into the bottom corner to set the game to extra time.

Two tired sides battled it out in extra time. Franklin went within a whisker of scoring when his free kick struck the inside of the post and rolled along the line to safety.

The Pike frontman was not to be denied however and with penalties looming, Rhys Barry won his tackle (which he had being doing all evening), played inside to Franklin who glided into the Aisling area before unleashing a shot that nestled in the net for a worthy winner. Both sets of players should be commended for their effort and commitment in the game.

A small section of the spectators could have taken example from the kids as their behaviour only succeeds in taking attention away from these talented players, whose sole focus is just a game of football.

Pike Rvs: Maurisz Palen; Ethan Joyce; Rhys Barry; Josh Mullaney; Pa Steed; Jamie Mitchell; Dara McNamara; Luke Keating; Shane Franklin; Kaden Deegan Herlihy; Cian Punch. Subs: Aaron Shinners; Sean McCallig; Jake Kiely; Aaron Cusack; Lenny Raleigh.

Aisling Annacotty A: Charlie Lane; Shae Guinane; Matt Conway; Andrew Kearney; Rhys Meehan; Paul Canny; Tim O'Sullivan; Tommy Glynn; Alex Keating; Eoghan Brady; Cathal Downes. Subs: T Lazo; Shane Dolan; Louis Van De Wiel; Alan Kiely; Jake Obande Mantey; Eoin Cunningham.