Limerick Desmond League round-up: Four clubs in FAI Junior Cup action

FAI Junior Cup second round

Fenit Samphires 3, Ballingarry 3

Ballingarry will be in the third round draw this week after overing the Fenit Samphires challenge in north Kerry on Sunday afternoon. Fenit started quickly scoring within the first two minutes when Ger McCarthy set up brother Des to fire past Craig McInnes. Ballingarry settled and had a significant period of possession which brought the equaliser on twenty minutes, a cross from David Geary was headed down by Eoin Lynch allowing Jack Hartnett to tap in from three yards. On thirty-five minutes Ballingarry took the lead as David Geary finished a fine thorough ball from Gary McInerney. The lead lasted only minutes as Fenit levelled when McCarthy got his second from a Cian Mckenna corner. Half time 2-2.

The second half saw Ballingarry apply significant pressure on the home defence but were unable to convert this pressure and possession into goals. Eventually the pressure told as David Geary got his second with a superb free kick from thirty yards that flew past Ciaran Murray in the Fenit goals. But not for the first time Ballingarry cropped up another Fenit equaliser n not for long as JJ Prior finished from close range after Richard Burke made a nuisance of himself at the back post. 

The game headed into extra time as the game got stretched with both sides having one or two half chances. With no further goals came the dreaded penalties where Ballingarry came out on top in what was a great cup contest from start to finish. In the penalty shoot-out Fenit scored their first two, missed their third and scored their fourth while Ballingarry scored all five of theirs.

Shannon Hiberians 3, Rathkeale 2 

A very youthful Rathkeale team travelled to Shannon Hibs and straight from the off Rathkeale were very much the better team. This was evident when John Fitzgerald drove a low ball into the box where Chris Carey hit a flick on to it to make it one nil after just three minutes. Rathkeale had a few more chances before Carey made it two nil on twenty minutes. 

Some good saves by Hibs keeper Scott Whelan kept it to two goals at half time.

It was a different story in the second half where Shannon came out a different team, they made it 2-2 and in the first minute of added time they scored the winner, Rathkeale pushed for an equaliser in the last few minutes but were held to a few half chances, 3-2 was the final score

NCW Town 0, Ballyheigue Athletic 1

Lightning definitely struck twice for the Kerry side in The Demense last Sunday afternoon when they took another Desmond scalp in this seasons FAI Junior Cup. It was a historical day for Athletic when they defeated Limerick Desmond league champions Glin Rovers in the first round, their first ever win in the Blue Riband of junior football and they repeated the feat against Newcastle West Town on Sunday. A young Newcastle team played well in the first half and had a couple of great chances but just failed to convert and they were made to pay when Ballyheigue got the winner from Dara Kearney on eighty-six minutes.

Castleisland 3, Creeves Celtic 1

Having already beaten Breska Rovers at home in the first round, Castleisland added another Desmond side to the list when defeating Creeves Celtic three one. Tommy Feehan gave them an early lead from the penalty spot with Harry Crowley doubling the advantage by half time. Tom Shanahan got one back for Creeves on sixty-five minutes but a Timmy Walsh goal in the last minute saw the Kerry side through.    

Weekly Observer Division 1 League Cup Group A

Askeaton/Kilcornan 1 Abbeyfeale Utd 3

A Cathal McCoy hat trick gave Abbeyfeale Utd a three-nil lead with Sam Duggan getting one back for the hosts on eighty-two minutes with a header from a corner. As a result, Abbeyfeale are into the semi-finals of the league cup. 

Knockaderry v Dromore Utd 

Dromore Utd received a walkover from Knockaderry

Weekly Observer Division 3 League Cup 

Askeaton/Kilcornan B 2 Dromore Utd B 1

All the goalscoring drama was preserved for the last ten minutes of this game. 

Tomas Sheahan from the penalty spot put Askeaton/Kilcornan B ahead on eighty-three minutes only for Jack Purcell to equalise for Dromore Utd B with two minutes left on the clock. In stoppage time Paul O’Shaughnessy got the winner for the home side after a scramble in the Dromore box

Weekly Observer Division 1  

Granagh Utd 1 Athea Utd 4

Athea Utd made it back-to-back wins in division one after a four one win away to Granagh Utd. After a convincing win two weeks ago in the league cup, Granagh were more competitive on this occasion. Mikey Nolan continued his fine form opening the scoring early on after a defection off a Granagh defender. The home team settled well after this and were back on level terms through Alier Ajoung after a Shane O’Brien while Darragh O’Carroll was unlucky not to put Granagh ahead soon after. Granagh had a defender sent off as last man back after he fouled Darren Murphy who was through on goal after intercepting a back pass. Mikey Nolan turned provider as he teed up Andrew O'Riordan to put Athea ahead by half time. 

In the third quarter Granagh had some good opportunities to get on level terms but a combination of good last ditch defending and off target finishing kept Athea ahead. The away side extended their lead on the hour mark when Dylan Griffin headed home an in-swinging Kevin Murphy corner for his first goal of the season. The game was put to bed with more or less the last kick of the game when Mark Horgan finished off a James Hunt cross. 

Weekly Observer Division 2 League 

Shountrade 2 Carrig Celtic 5 

Carrig Celtic have made a good start back in division two with a five two win away to Shountrade.  Carrig started brightly and forced Shountrade to defend a lot in the opening minutes and were rewarded on ten minutes when a miss hit back pass was intercepted by Adam Bennett who rounded the keeper and finished to an empty net. Shountrade started to get on top and Evan Fitzgerald brought Shountrade level before the break from a corner.

A twenty-minute spell at the start of the second half saw Carrig score four times. They retook the lead when good play on the wing from Eoin King and a cross from Anthony Molyneaux found the head of Seanie King who made no mistake from six yards. Noel Callanan got his deserved first goal of the season two minutes later when Adam Bennett put him through on goal and he rounded the keeper and slotted home. Sean Long then got his name on the scoresheet from a quality ball from Anthony Molyneaux sent him in down the left and he hit a right footed shot into the top corner to make it 4-1. Declan Greaney made a quality point blank save to keep the score at 4-1 before Adam Bennett made it 5-1 after a cross from Sean Long found him and while his initial effort was well saved by the keeper he tapped home the rebound. Carrig conceded a penalty with ten minutes which Diarmuid Keating converted. 

Glantine/Mountcollins Utd 4 Breska Rovers B 1 

The Glantine Mountcollins Utd A team maintained their good start to the new season with a deserved four one win against Breska Rovers B. Highlight of the game was a hat trick from Shane O’Sullivan to take his tally to seven for the season. James Brouder was their other scorer while Barry Adams got the Breska goal.

Glin Rovers B v Feenagh

Walkover to Glin Rovers B

Weekly Observer Division Three

Abbeyfeale Utd B 4 Kilcolman Rovers 0 

A Dominkas Digotis hat trick inspired Abbeyfeale Utd B to a merited four nil win at home to Kilcolman Rovers on Saturday night with Olan Quigley rounding off the scoring.

YOUTHS NEWS  

JAKO Munster Youths Cup 2nd Rd 

Ballingarry 2 Granagh Utd 3

A local derby at The Paddocks on Saturday produced a fine footballing contest where visitors Granagh Utd edged out Ballingarry by the odd goal in five. Paul Murphy opened the scoring for Granagh with an absolute cracked from thirty yards that flew past the Ballingarry keeper. On twenty minutes the sides were level when Rory Alymer scored from a corner. Within three minutes Granagh were back in front, keeper Aaron Deane picked out Darragh O’Donoghue who took the ball on before slotting it past the keeper. With ten minutes to go until half time Paul Murphy won the ball back in the middle of the field and with his pace and strength got into a goal scoring position, took the ball around the keeper and placed it in the net. Half time 1-3.

The second half saw Ballingarry attack more but poor finishing let them down. Eventually they got a second when Dylan Flyn got through to make it three two. A late high press saw Granagh having to defend more with keeper Aaron Deane making four good saves to ensure Granagh walked away with the win.

Youths Division 2 League 

Shannonside 0 Athea Utd 2 

A quick salvo of goals in the second half from Jim Ahern and Eric Barrett saw Athea Utd win two nil away to Shannonside. They now join Glin Rovers in joint second place behind Rathkeale. 

FIXTURES 

Friday, October 18

Weekly Observer Premier Division

Ballingarry V Glin Rovers 7.30pm (G O’Connor)

Saturday, October 19

Youths Interleague Trophy Group B

Cork Youths League V Limerick Desmond League 1pm (Ringmahon Rangers Grounds)

Sunday, October 20

FAI Youths Cup 1st Round

Mungret Regional V Ballingarry 2pm 

Weekly Observer Premier Division

St Itas v Rathkeale 10.30am (S Behan)

Breska Rovers v Creeves Celtic (P O’Connor) 

Weekly Observer Division 1

Newcastle West Town Reserves V Dromore Utd (Fixture withdrawn, MJC)

Knockaderry V Abbeyfeale Utd (Fixture withdrawn)

Weekly Observer Division 2

Rathkeale B V Ballingarry B 1.30pm (E Noonan)

Feenagh V Breska Rovers B 1.30pm (P King)

Weekly Observer Division 3

Askeaton-Kilcornan B V Glantine/Mountcollins B (Fixture withdrawn, MJC)

Division 3 League Cup

Straight to tie breaker penalty shoot-out if the result is a draw after 90 minutes)

Dromore Utd B V Kilcolman Rovers 1.30pm (G O’Connor)

MIG Insurance Munster Junior Shield 3rd Round (et & pens)

Carrig Celtic V Herbertstown B 2pm (M Murphy)

MIG Insurance Munster Junior Cup 3rd Round (et & pens)

Askeaton-Kilcornan V Newcastle West Town 10.30am (P O’Donnell) (in Askeaton)

Wednesday, October 23

Desmond Youths Cup 1st Round (et & pens)

Breska Rovers V Granagh Utd

Thursday, October 24

Desmond Youths Cup 1st Round (et & pens)

Ballingarry V Rathkeale