Limerick Desmond League claim historic Kennedy Cup final win

Limerick Desmond League are 2025 SFAI Kennedy Cup champions after they defeated Donegal at the University of Limerick on Friday. 

READ MORE: Treaty United host Bray Wanderers in crucial First Division clash

Goals from Dan Healy and Precieux Malonga ensured that the Limerick side would be taking home their first ever Kennedy Cup and it was richly deserved. 

The opening half was a cagey affair with both sides acutely aware of what was at stake. Defences were on top for the vast majority of the half but the ever-lively Precieux Malonga posed a constant threat threat throughout for Desmond and almost gave his side the lead mid-way through the first half but dragged his effort just wide of the post. 

Windy conditions dictated a lot of the play in the first half with both sides opting for the long ball route at times, asking questions of both sets of defences and invariably both Donegal's and Desmond's back four stood firm. The sides went in at the break locked at 0-0. 

It was always going to take a bit of magic to break the deadlock and that bit of magic came from the right boot Dan Healy. The midfielder took aim from a long-range free kick and his strike never deviated off track, rifling his effort into the bottom corner, advantage Desmonds.

Healy's strike ramped up the level of intensity in the game with both sides loosening the shackles as the half wore on. Donegal began to pour more players forward with each attack but the Limerick Desmond defence stood firm, as it had done all game. 

With minutes left on the clock and the game still in the balance, the next goal was always going to be crucial and it came the way of the side from the Treaty County.

With time running out and Donegal in all out attack mode, a long ball clearance found its way to Malonga who headed the ball down to himself on the half-way line before dribbling the ball into the box and taking it around the Donegal goalkeeper, finishing smartly into the back of the net.

A goal that was well deserved for Malonga for his constant pressing and tigerish intensity throughout the game. 

The home crowd exploded into life and their celebrations continued as the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards. Manager Dean Maune was overjoyed with his side's display.

"It's just unbelievable, it's hard to believe, the lads probably won't understand what this means for another while yet," he said.

"To get to the final and win it is unreal and nobody deserves it more than them boys, they do all the work and they are class acts every single one of them," he added. 

On what it means to win the Kennedy Cup in Limerick, Maune said: "For a Limerick team to win a cup here in UL is unreal, the crowd that was here, I've never seen anything like that here, it was magical," he said. 

Limerick District League were also in action earlier on in the day when they took on Waterford in the Plate Final. After a scoreless first-half, District exploded into life in two second-half minutes.

Two excellent quick-fire strikes from Adam O'Shea and Ciaran Maher gave the Limerick side a foundation to go on and claim the title but to Waterford's credit, they never gave in and scored two goals late on to force extra time.

It was an end-to-end, pulsating extra-time period where either team could've won it. Lenson Mate Maher in the Waterford net pulled off a series of stunning saves to keep District at bay. At the other end the solid Kareem Mohamed snuffed out any Waterford attacks. 

With very little time on the clock Waterford managed to eek out a winner via a corner, Max Chren getting the vital touch to get the Déise men over the line. 

Speaking after the game, District manager Noel O'Connor spoke about the contest and his side's positive run to the final.

"After getting the second goal, we felt like we nearly had one hand on the cup. To give Waterford credit, they never gave up. They got balls into the box and scored from a corner, probably quicker than we would've wanted as the game seemed to be petering out," he said.

I thought in extra time it was us creating all the chances but again they got a goal from a corner and it was all hands to the pump but our lads never gave up. I thought we had two or three great chances in that last five minutes but their keeper made a few wonder saves."

"The result shouldn't take away from the week that this group has had. Until today we played five matches, won four, drew one and conceded only one goal. It is a top six finish for Limerick District and it's been a good few years since that has happened," he added.

2025 SFAI Kennedy Cup Squads:

Limerick Desmond: Michael Giltenane (Shountrade), Kian Brosnahan (Abbeyfeale), Adam Mulqueen (Ballingarry), Harry Smith (Breska Rovers), Darragh O'Connor (Newcastle West Town), Ronan Magner (Abbeyfeale), Darragh Collins (Newcastle West Town), Dan Healy (GB Rovers), Precieux Malonga (Newcastle West Town), Joey O'Regan (Shountrade), Kyle Smith (Abbeyfeale), Joseph Carr (Newcastle West Town), Liam Gibourne (Newcastle West Town), Sean Walsh (Creeves Celtic), Conor Mullenger (Newcastle West Town), Eamon Kirby (Adare), Conor Geary (Shountrade), Jimmy Mullane (GB Rovers), Dan Phillips (Newcastle West Town), Stephen Pierce (Broadford Utd)

Management: Dean Maune (Rathkeale), Caragh Kelly (Kilcolman Rovers), Alasdair MacInness (Ballingarry), Tom Healy (Glin Rovers)

Limerick District: Ryan Twomey (Pike Rovers), Joseph Cronin (Corbally), Mark O'Grady (Aisling Annacotty), Kareem Mohamed (Fairview), Shay McGuire (Pike Rovers), Casey Doran (Caherdavin), Luke Gleeson (Pike Rovers), Ciaran Maher (Fairview), Mudathir Alkahafu (Aisling Annacotty), Adam O'Shea (Newport), Craig Sheehan (Fairview), Noah Cassidy (Aisling Annacotty), Aden France (Fairview), Jack Houlihan (Mungret), Shane McAnulty (Newport), Samuel Crowley (Fairview), Kacper Poprawski (Shelbourne), Mohamad  Gabyow (Fairview), Oliver Galecki (Shelbourne), Lee Ryan (Pike Rovers)

Management: Cillian Finn (Geraldines AFC), Terry Waters (Fairview Rangers), Noel O'Connor, Aidan Ryan, Sean Heaney, JJ Hartigan

Limerick County: Jamie Ryan (Charleville), Marko Boyle (Charleville), Adam McLoughlin (Charleville), Adam O' Mahony (Charleville), Tadgh McMahon (Charleville), Lucas Lira (Charleville), Sean Whelan (Kilmallock), Dáithí Curley (Kilmallock), Conor Ryan (Kilmallock), Tom O'Mahony (Kilmallock), Conor Philpot (Castle United, Cormac O'Farrell (Castle United), Conor Kiely (Cullen Latin), Gearoid Maguire (Cullen Latin), Billy Ryan (Cullen Latin), Dan Ryan (Murroe), Tom O'Brien (Murroe), Alex Sibert (Herberstown), Olaf Kuruski (Croom), Alfie Donnegan (Holycross)

Management: Jp McLoughlin (Charleville), Paul Philpot (Castle United), Tom Brady (Kilmallock), Sandra Boyle (Charleville)