Limerick District League round-up as Aisling Annacotty celebrate historic Premier League title win

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Newport 1 Aisling Annacotty 3
AISLING Annacotty created their own history on Saturday evening when for the first time, the Club won the Premier League following a 3-1 win over Newport at the Co Tipperary venue.

Needing three points to be crowned champions, Aisling did it the hard way after conceding a first half goal to the home side.
Blessed not to concede a second before half-time, Aisling took full advantage of the let-off to grab a late first half equaliser.

That took the pressure off and a more controlled second half performance saw them push on to take the spoils.
Credit to Newport who rightly put up a stern challenge and made John Lysaght’s men earn their win.

It’s a remarkable victory for Aisling. After a little wobble in late October/November, they bounced back in style to win twelve consecutive games to claim the throne.

Not surprisingly, with so much at stake, Aisling started rather nervy but they did create the best early chances. Paul Brennan saw a volley whizz just wide, while Leon Daly fired into the side netting and Adam Foley went close with a couple of efforts.

The pace of Newport’s Jay Ryan was causing Aisling trouble and it was from this source they took the lead when Ryan played Brian O'Sullivan through to fire in from 20 yards.

While the leaders didn’t panic, they had Josh Coady to thank for keeping it at 1-0 when he made a double save from Ryan at close range.

Just before the break, a good run by Raid Mouras saw him play the ball into the path of the in-rushing Adam Foley and the captain made no mistake to level the tie.

Aisling were much more composed after the restart and took the lead when the excellent Paul Brennan profited from Adam Costello’s hard work and he calmly slotted past Seamus O’Regan to put Aisling on their way.

They still had a bit to do however and Coady came to their rescue again when he saved a six yard shot from Jay Ryan. Aisling weathered the scare and got the crucial third with a couple of minutes remaining.

Substitute Fiachra Cotter did all the hard work himself, winning his challenge on half way and then following up, let fly with a volley from 25 yards that nestled in the back of the net to let the celebrations begin.

Aisling become just the 9th team to put their name of the Premier trophy in the last 50 years.

After the game Joe Pond of the LDL, a founding member of the Club, presented the trophy to winning captain Adam Foley.

Newport: Seamus O'Regan; Joe Shanahan; Pa Murtagh; Christy O'Connor; Drew McLean; Elliot Slattery; Daniel Ryan; Darren Collins; Jay Ryan; Brian O'Sullivan; Cillian O'Shea. Subs: David Ryan; Luke Ryan; Aaron O'Neill; Conor Brett.

Aisling Annacotty: Josh Coady; Raid Mouras; Adam O'Regan; Kieran Jennings; Eliah Riordan; Leon Daly; Paul Brennan; Tom Kidd; Adam Foley; Theo Joyce; Adam Costello. Subs: Kian Barry; Tom Kelly; Cathal Downes; Darren Coughlan.

HOPING for an Aisling slip up, Pike did all they could by easing past Geraldines.

Shane Clarke scored a hat trick to move to the top of the scoring charts. Aaron Cusack scored two while Colin Daly and Danny O'Neill also obliged.

Ryan Gilmartin and Matt O'Gorman scored for Nenagh in a 2-2 draw with Fairview Rgs.

In the Div 1A Cup, Regional Utd qualified for the final following a 2-0 win over Star Rvs. Jeff Mannion and Ben Carew netted for United who will play Ballylanders in the decider.

PREMIER A CUP FINAL:

Hyde Rgs 4 Janesboro 1

HYDE Rangers A won the Healy-Webb Premier ‘A’ Cup on Saturday evening when they beat league champions Janesboro 4-1 in Jackman Park.

It caps a brilliant season for the Claret and Blues who still have a chance to join ‘Boro in the top flight next season if they take a point in their final game at Athlunkard Villa.

Janesboro, crowned Champions during the week, conceded midway through the opening half and when they had a player red carded shortly afterwards it was always going to be an uphill struggle for them.

To their credit they did battle back but Hyde eventually took a grip of the game.

A second sending off for ‘Boro late in the game suggests it was a difficult game but in truth the game was played in a sporting manner throughout.

‘Boro started brighter and had Hyde on the back foot in the opening minutes.

However, Hyde played their way back into the tie and took the lead midway through the half when Nathan Walsh’s clearance fell to Ben O’Shaughnessy who played Ben Kennedy in on goal and the leagues top scorer calmly slotted past the advancing Walsh in the ‘Boro goal.

Ten minutes into the second half and Boro were back on level terms when Conor Artur pounced on a good ball across goal to finish from close range.

Hyde maintained their composure and were back in front within ten minutes. Evan Shine played a sublime through ball and that man again, Ben Kennedy fired past Walsh for his 32nd goal of the season.

With fifteen minutes remaining Lee Hartigan blocked a Boro clearance and he pulled the ball back across the centre for Calum Murphy to score Hyde’s 100th goal of the season to make it 3-1.

With seven minutes remaining a good ball over the top by Evan Shine put Murphy through for what looked like the fourth.

However, a trip on the edge of the area saw ‘Boro reduced to nine and worse was to follow as Shine fired the free kick over the wall and into the net to complete the scoring.

Hyde Rgs A: Kyrin McGarry; Lee Hartigan; Nathan Walsh; Dylan O'Byrne; Alex Kiely; Ciaran Rainsford; Ben O'Shaughnessy; Richard Benn; Ben Kennedy; Evan Shine; Dave Thompson. Subs: Calum Murphy; Aaron Hickey; Jack O'Callaghan; Dylan O'Neill; Jack Moroney; Sean Dooley; Tibor Voćanec; Daniel Dorman.

Janesboro: Kevin Walsh; Tom Clarke; Graham Bourke; Scott McEvoy; Conor Artur; Josh Twomey; Eoghan Burke; Dion Lynch; Aodh O'hAnluain; Shane O'Brien; Calum O'Connell. Subs: Darragh Shine; Ronan O'Dwyer; Eoin Tucker; Stephen Young; Shane O'Sullivan; Jack Hartnett; Lee O'Donnell; Steve Walsh.

U17 DIVISION 2 CUP FINAL:

Pike Rvs 4 Mungret Reg 1
PIKE Rovers did a clean sweep of Under 17 football on Thursday evening when their Under 17B team emulated the feat of the  A team by capturing the League and Cup double.

They saw off the challenge of a game Mungret Regional side who only capitulated in the dying minutes.

As league champions, Pike carried the favourites tag going into the tie but Mungret upset the script by taking an early lead. A good run by Conor O'Longaigh saw his burst into the Pike area and trade passes with Ronan Keane before blasting in from an acute angle.

The Hoops responded well and were back on level terms midway inside the half.

Scott Nugent delivered a good cross into the danger zone. Mungret cleared the initial danger, but Cathal McNamara knocked it back into the area and Ben Ross reacted quickest to head home.

The game swung in Pike’s favour midway through the second half. Joe Murphy sent an in swinging free kick into the six-yard box and the defence got in a block but the struck Tadhg McElligot and flew to the net.

Mungret threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser and had Pike on the backfoot.

However, with minutes remaining, Joe Murphy gathered in the middle of the park and a sweet ball over the top put the impressive Cathal McNamara through and he rounded the keeper before firing in the clincher.

With time virtually up Michael Casserley finished in a crowded goalmouth to complete the scoring.

Pike Rvs B: Danny Sheedy; Scott Nugent; Jack Meaney; Shane Cross; Oisin Healy; Jack Duggan; Evan O'Riordan; Tadhg McElligot; Ben Ross; Cathal McNamara; Joe Murphy. Subs: Kieran Grimes; Michael Casserley; James Benson; Michael Omojoefodum; Jack Thorne; Sean Maguire; Mark Caldwell.

Mungret Reg: Danny Kiely; Adam O'Connell; Paul Carmody; Guideon Cobbs Sako; Adam McAleenan; George Lloyd; Ronan Keane; Shay O'Neill; Shane Ryan; Conor O'Longaigh; Eamon McSweeney. Subs: Ronan Fogarty; Kuba Galuszka; Alex Conway; Gavin Dore; Liam Aherne; Dylan Gilmore; Brian Moroney; Aaron Morrow.

MID-WEEK ROUND-UP

In Division 1B, Aisling D were crowned champions when they saw off a stern challenge from Castle Rvs to take the required full points.

Jason Daly scored the only goal of the game on 75 mins before picking up a nasty injury late on. Best wishes to him on a speedy recovery. Parkville kept their promotion hopes alive with a 5-2 win over Lisnagry. Keith Moran and Gary Fowley scored two apiece and Ben McNamara also netted for the winners.

In Division 1A Cup semi final Ballylanders were most impressive when they hit Pallasgreen for five without reply to reach the decider.

Rob McLoughlin, Shane O’Donoghue, Ciaran Kelly, Danny Frewen and Eamon O’Mahoney obliged for the winners.
In the Premier League, Balla put seven past Charleville through Darragh Rainsford x2, Shane Dillon x2M Adrian Power, Conor Keane and Aidan Hurley.

Division 3B is down to a thrilling final day climax.

Cals finished their program with a disappointing scoreless draw against bottom side Caherdavin Celtic.

It means the leaders hold a one point lead over Corbally and Lough Derg, who play each other in the final game.
Ethan Quinn, Nathaniel Zabatakis, Owen O'Connell and Dave Madigan scored for Corbally in a win over Herbertstown while Lough Derg won 4-2 against Hill Celtic.

James Frahill, Jack Grace, Jason Comley x2 were the scorers.

In Youth Div One, Aisling finished their season with a 100% record thanks to a 1-0 win over Newport. A Cathal Downes beauty from a free kick did the damage.