Limerick Desmond League junior soccer round-up

PREMIER DIVISION:

Broadford Utd (1) 2 Ballingarry (2) 3

HAVING been relegated from the premier division two seasons ago Ballingarry made an immediate return to the top flight after winning the division one title. Now they find themselves top of the premier division at this early stage after a merited 3-2 win under lights away to Broadford Utd on Saturday night.

Ballingarry started strong and kept the ball very well throughout the game and opened the scoring on seventeen minutes when Eoin Lynch ran through one on one with keeper Brian Stack and finished it well after being released by Phillip Padong.

Ballingarry kept the pressure on and got the second after a great through ball from Gary McInerney for Lynch to round the keeper and slot the ball to the net for his second of the night.

Broadford were treading balls over the Ballingarry full backs Brian Sheehy and Dean Clancy but centre halves Kieran Storin and Adam Long were providing solid cover.

Right on half time Broadford were right back in the game but Ballingarry will be disappointed as a mistake in their defence saw keeper Craig McInnes mishit his clearance which fell to Charlie Finn who shot low to the keepers right. Half time 1-2.

Ballingarry started the second half strongly and nine minutes in restored their two goal cushion when Lynch got in for his hat trick after fine work by David Geary. Ballingarrys work rate was exceptional and the midfield was again in control for the bulk of the second half.

With a quarter of an hour left to play Broadford again reduced the deficit to give them a chance to get something from the game. Adam O’Kelly picked out Jack Pierce with a crisp pass which the full back then crossed into the penalty area, the ball falling to Michael Brosnan who knocked it down for centre half James Molyneaux to poke the ball home from ten yards. An exciting last fifteen minutes or so saw Ballingarry defend very well to see out the rest of the game.

NCW TOWN (1) 2 CREEVES CELTIC (0) 1

NEWCASTLE West Town picked up their first win in the premier division with a hard earned victory at home to Creeves Celtic who remain in second place on their own despite this defeat.

Jake Power, who played well when introduced the previous Sunday for the Oscar Traynor side against Kerry, continued this form as it was from his excellently delivered corner that led to Pa Ahern heading the opener against one of his former clubs. James Naughton nearly levelled before half time but a fine save from Andrew Ruddle kept Town ahead.

Into the second half and seventeen minutes in Creeves were level when Naughton reacted quickest to a free kick into the area to fire past Ruddle. Three minutes later a great chance for Creeves to go ahead when they were awarded a spot kick but again Ruddle came up trumps to save Kevin Guina’s penalty. Relieved not to be behind it was Town who forced the pace again and with seven minutes of regulation time remaining Power drilled the ball past Kevin Mee from sixteen yards through a crowd of bodies. Full time 2-1.

A hectic finish followed but the lads held firm for the 3 points and preserve their unbeaten start to the league campaign

RATHKEALE (0) 1 BRESKA ROVERS (0) 0

After two opening defeats Rathkeale finally have points on the board after a narrow one nil win at home to Breska Rovers on Sunday morning. Home keeper Brendan Carmody was called into early action to make a good save after a long ball behind the home defence had given Breska an early opportunity.

Both sides were evenly matched in the first half but after the break the sky blues upped the tempo and began to create some chances. A cross in from the right saw Barry Riordan with a chance from a header that was just over. Patrick Wilmot broke behind the Breska line but his effort was just over the bar.

Rathkeale did have a few half chances while Carmody had to make a double save. All this before sub Mark O’Sullivan rose highest to meet a Dean Maune corner on ninety minutes to win it for the home side, a welcome win for the hosts.

GLIN ROVERS (0) 2 ST ITA'S (0) 1

DEFENDING champions Glin Rovers secured their first win in the premier division with a narrow two one win at home to St Itas on Sunday morning.

Rovers had some good chances in the first half but found Itas keeper Sean Richards definitely had brought his gloves with him. He denied Danny Stack his second goal in a Rovers shirt by turning his well struck effort around the post before deflecting a rasper from Jack Sheahan away from the top corner.

However, his biggest save was to deny skipper Paul Sheahan from the penalty spot. Half time 0-0.

The second half saw the home side continuing to press the Itas back line and nine minutes into the second half lighting struck again with another penalty award for Glin, this time Sheahan made no mistake. The two sides created a few half chances in the second half but really didn’t trouble Richards or Mike Stack in the home goal.

On eighty-seven minutes Rovers got some breathing space where a Sheahan cross was headed down by sub Johnie O’Sullivan for Jack Sheahan to score past Richards. Glin conceded a poor penalty in stoppage time which striker Callum Donoghue converted before referee Ger O’Connor sounded the final whistle.

DIVISION ONE:

ASKEATON-KILCRNAN (0) 3 NCW TOWN RESERVES (0) 1

Askeaton-Kilcornan are the new leaders in division one after their third win in as many outings after a three one win at home to Newcastle West Town Reserves. The sides were scoreless at half time and it was just past the hour mark when Ken O’Donoghue put them ahead.

As the game entered the final ten minutes’ sub Seoirse Joyce set up Robert O’Grady to bring the sides level. There was still time for late drama as a second goal for O’Donoghue in the last minute of normal time put the home side back in front and on their way to an important three points. The points were secured deep in stoppage time when sub got a third to assure the hosts of the win.

ATHEA UTD (1) 2 SHANNONSIDE (1) 2

After a disappointing performance against Dromore Utd in the league cup semi-final the previous Tuesday night, Athea Utd let two points slip at home to Shannonside on Sunday morning when conceding a bizarre penalty in the ninetieth minute when leading two one.

Shannonside opened the scoring with Shane Mulvihill bringing Athea level five minutes from half time. Dylan Griffin then put the home side in front on sixty-five minutes before the last minute penalty earned Shannonside a point.

ABBEYFEALE UTD (1) 5 GRANAGH UTD (0) 0

Played on Saturday night, Abbeyfeale Utd bounced back from their home defeat to Dromore Utd to move into the top three with a five nil home win against Granagh Utd. They led by a Conor Mullane goal at half time and he also scored in the second half as did Cillian Cotter and a brace from Dylan Murphy.