Limerick District League weekend junior soccer round-up

MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP

Coachford 3 Regional Utd 3
(Coachford win 12-11 on pens)

REGIONAL United travelled to Cork on Saturday afternoon and turned in a superb performance in a 3-3 draw with reigning champions, Coachford United in the Munster Junior Cup quarter final.

Unfortunately, the subsequent penalties went the way of the Cork side after a marathon shoot-out.
It was a bitter blow for Alex O’Donoghue’s side whose performance deserved better but should give the sides renewed confidence with important Tuohy and Lawson Cup games in the offing.

The game kicked off in typical frantic cup style and with both teams trying to grab control, tackles were flying.

Regional took the lead with their first meaningful attack after ten minutes.
Kieran O'Connell was taken down about 25 yards from goal. He dusted himself off and from the free kick, fired a superb goal in off the frame giving the keeper no chance.

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A bad tackle on Ben O’Shaughnessy saw him hobble out of the game and as Coachford applied pressure over the next fifteen minutes, Tommy Frawley was shown a second yellow card and left the fray with the Limerick side particularly unimpressed by the officials.

Coachford grabbed a deserved equaliser through Irish junior international Luke Casey ten minutes before the break.

Regional came out for the second half showing a steely reserve and even with the ten men played the better football.

They got their rewards to regain the lead with O’Connell taking advantage of a second ball in midfield and without thinking struck the ball sweetly from just inside his own half to catch the Coachford keeper out of his goal as the ball found the net.

Regional continued to play some good football on a heavy pitch. They were dealing well with the Coachford pressure with Jack O’Donavan immense in the Regional backline.

Regional keeper Cian O’Brien made a fantastic double save but with two minutes remaining, the home side were awarded a penalty kick Adam Murphy duly dispatched.

Three minutes into injury time Coachford seemed to have snatched it when Matthew Bradley sent the home crowd wild finishing from close range.

Showing immense character, Regional went down the field and from a great centre by O’Connell, Alex Keating finished at the back post to wild celebrations by the visitors.

Extra time was much of the same vein and when Coachford were reduced to ten it ensured the two sides cancelled each other out to bring on the penalty shoot-out.

The penalties saw every player take a turn before starting over again with the home side holding their nerve to progress 12-11.

Regional Utd: Cian O'Brien; Tom Frawley; Jack O'Donovan; Andy Quaide; Ewan O'Brien; Joe Lavin; Eoin Duff; Kieran O'Connell; Ben O'Shaughnessy; Brian O'Connor; Shane Donegan. Subs: Sean Madigan; Alex Keating; Muhsin Jelle; Ryan Gilmartin.

LAWSON CUP

Aisling Annacotty 9 Lough Derg 0

AS EXPECTED, an in-form Aisling XI proved much too strong for Division 2A side Lough Derg.

The Premier side ran in nine goals without reply. Sean Ezekannaghan was tormentor in chief with three goals.

Donnacha O'Leary and Adam Foley scored two apiece with Raid Mouras and Sean Oyibo made up the tally.

Aisling Annacotty: Aaron Curtis; David Moloney; Raid Mouras; Sean O'hAodha; Alex Cuddy; Jack Aherne; Donnacha O'Leary; Adam Costello; Sean Ezekannagha; Adam Foley; Sean Oyibo. Subs: Isaac O'Sullivan; Jamie Halpin; Oscar Omorodian; Cian Finucane.

Murroe 6 Castle Rovers 0

Murroe advanced in the Lawson Cup with a comfortable win over Castle Rvs.

Two goals apiece from Liam Quinn and Jamie Long killed off the game as a contest.
In the second half, Nathan O’Shea scored a rare goal while Brian Quinn completed the rout.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Pike Rovers 1 Athlunkard Villa 0

A DYLAN Murphy goal with five minutes remaining was all that separated the sides in this dour affair at the Pike Field on Sunday.

The wind played havoc with proceedings meaning chances were at a premium.

Dylan Murphy went closest in the opening half when his effort rebounded off the crossbar.

When it looked as if Villa had earned a point, John Keogh’s pass was blocked by Brendan O’Dwyer whose clearance turned into an inch perfect pass with the aid of the wind that set Murphy free and he showed great strength and composure to outmuscle his marker and then slot the ball beyond Power in goals.

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Ethan Joyce; Eddie O'Donovan; Robbie Williams; Brendan O'Dwyer; Daniel Cullen; Kyle Duhig; Dylan Murphy; Steven McGann; Aaron Hough; Aaron Murphy. Subs: Joe Murphy; Conail Stapleton; Lee McGuire; Jack Croke; Bryan Mambouana; Jack Meaney.

Athlunkard Villa: Robert Power; Sean Markham; Donie Curtin; Diarmuid Grimes; Ben Dillon; Shane Cope; Cillian Scully; Lorcan Feeney; TJ McDonnell; John Keogh; Famara Kassama. Subs: Cormac Noonan; Darragh Peters; James Frahill; Danny Taylor; P Taylor.

Janesboro 4 Mungret Reg 3

JANESBORO took the points on offer in their mid-table clash with Mungret Regional on Sunday.

The two sides produced a thrilling game to keep the spectators glued to the final whistle.

The home side had the perfect start. Josh O’Rahilly opened the scoring in the opening minute and four minutes later Dion Lynch netted for a spot kick to double their lead.

Kieran Long scored midway through the half to leave one between the sides at the break.

Aodh O'Hanluain made it 3-1 minutes after the restart and Fionn O'Leary put Boro further ahead with 20 minutes remaining.

Conor Madden pulled one back and Long netted his second with seven minutes remaining to set up an exciting finale but Boro held firm to seal the win.

Janesboro: Aaron O'Sullivan; Josh O'Rahilly; Ryan Mawdsley; Shane O'Brien; Kai Joyce; Adam Finn; Dion Lynch; Graham Bourke; Aodh O'Hanluain; Fionn O'Leary; Rubin McCarthy. Subs: Eoghan Burke; Josh Toomey; E Brady, S Young

Mungret Reg: Daniel Doyle; Conor Myers; Mark Barrett; Aaron Long; Conor Madden; Craig Prendergast; Danny McCarthy; Kian Barry; Hamza Selman Celik; Kieran Long; Cian McNicholas. Subs: Conor O'Leary; Mark Patterson; Evan Barrett; Sean O'Sullivan; Darragh Killian; Gavin Mellerick.

ROUND-UP

IN THE Premier A league, leaders Star Rvs went down badly at a rapidly improving Charleville side. Darren Casey, Donal O'Connell and Aaron O'Connor were on the mark for the Cork side.

Kilmallock returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Aisling Ann B. Paul Moloney put the county side ahead while Kyle Tierney added the crucial second after the break.

Summerville Rvs moved out of the relegation spots with a 4-0 win over bottom side Southend. Jamie O'Carroll, Kevin O'Connell and Marcus Kiely netted for the winners.

With Murroe in cup action, leaders Herbertstown increased their lead at the top of the table to four points with a comfortable 7-1 win over Ballylanders.

David Ryan scored twice with Bradley McNamara, Sean O'Dea, Oisin O'Grady, Jack Horan and Tyrique Leamy also netting.

Shelbourne kept pace with the leaders with a hard earned 3-2 win over 3 Pallas Utd.

Alan Carr scored direct from a corner and Matthew Decourcey hit a brace to secure the win.

Aisling Annacotty D hit Granville Rgs for six through Manni Ajuong 2, Jack Considine, Jason Daly, James Lane and an own goal.

In Division 1B, Balla B opened up a whopping 14 point lead over Pike Rvs with just four games left to play.

On Sunday, Kilfrush were the latest to feel the force of the Blues firepower.

Greg Daly scored twice, one a 35-yard screamer to the top corner. Dermot Fitzgerald also scored two while Derek Daly and Jamie O'Sullivan completed the scoring.

T Coffey-Bermingham scored the only goal of the game for Lisnagry against Croom Utd.
Division 2A leaders Hyde Rgs B posted another high scoring win against Coonagh Utd.

Evan Shine bagged another four to bring his tally for the season to 45.

Lee Downes, Sean Dooley, Scott Quaide, Andrew Brosnahan and Jamie McNamara completed the rout while Joe Murray replied for a hard-working Coonagh XI.

Tadhg McCarthy and Sean Daly were on target for Meanus in a 2-2 draw with Moyross B for whom Barry Quinn and Leon Fitzgerald replied.

Newtown Rovers and Cappamore B also ended all square. R Delgado and J Morrissey were the respective scorers.

It’s as you were at the top of Division 2B with wins for the top two Mungret and Fairview Rgs.
Leaders Mungret won 2-0 at Holycross thanks to scores from Abdallah Hamareh and Niall Gibbons.

Fairview proved too strong for Summerville Rvs B running in four goals without reply. Adam Keating and Jordan Kelliher scored two apiece

John Ryan 3, Darragh O’Shaughnessy, Sean Reddington, Aidan Quigley and Alex Long Considine scored for Murroe in a 7-1 win at Geraldines B.

Only one game survived the weather in Division 3A when Shelbourne B and Moyross C ended 1-1. Thomas Garbat scored for Shles, Colm O'Mahoney replied for Moyross.

There was mixed fortunes for Limerick sides in the FAI U17 Cup 2nd Round at the weekend. Aisling Annacotty hosted Kinvara on Sunday afternoon and recorded a superb 7-0 win.

Goalscorers were Ewan Coulter 3, Aaron Guerin 2, S Moloughney and Kevin McNamara
Mungret had no such luck as they fell 5-0 to a strong Douglas Hall side on Saturday afternoon.

In the Youth Premier Division Fairview saw off a potential banana skin with a 4-3 win at Murroe. Oscar O’Donoghuye was the hero for the Blues with a well taken hat trick. Eamon Doyle was also on the mark. Alex Woodland 2 and Luke O’Sullivan netted for the home side.

Holycross kept pace as joint leaders following a 6-0 win over Shelbourne.

In Youth Division One, Pallas lost their 100% record when they fell 2-0 to second placed Caherconlish. Mike Koyce and M Boland were the winning scorers.

T Lowe and B Walsh were on the mark for Charleville in a 2-1 win over Herbertstown while Lisnagry, thanks to a Shane Gill goal, beat Corbally Utd 1-0.