Complete weekend Limerick District League junior soccer round-up

TUOHY CUP

Geraldines 1 Aisling Annacotty 0

GERALDINES qualified for the final of the Tuohy Cup with a gritty but deserved win over Aisling Annacotty in the semi-final on Wednesday evening.

Ousman Darboe’s goal ten minutes after the restart was the deciding factor to set up a final clash with neighbours Fairview Rgs on Monday evening in local headquarters.

Geraldines went into the tie as outsiders and Aisling, fresh from qualifying for the MFA semi-final, began in a fashion befitting their favourites tag.

They showed frightening speed up front that had the Dines chasing shadows at times.

However, despite the threat posed, they could not break down a rock solid defence and in fact, ‘Dines keeper Jose Zaquieu who was commanding throughout, was hardly called on to make a save of note.

As the game progressed, the Reds came more into the game and created the first credible chance when Cian Fitzgerald’s free kick from outside the box forced Aisling keeper Aaron Curtis low to his left to save at the post.

Adam Foley and Joel Coustrain were Aisling’s biggest threats, but the experienced John Mullane had his back four in tune, blocking anything that came into the danger zone, right full back David Power typified Geraldines’ desire with a tenacious outing.

READ NEXT: Treaty United open Women's Premier Division with defeat to Shels' in live TV clash

Before the break Gareth Ronan tried his luck with a volley from distance that dropped inches over the crossbar.

The deadlock was broken ten minutes after the restart. Cian Fizgerald gathered in midfield and put Tony Mambuana away on the right. His ball into the area saw Gareth Grant thread a ball through for Ousman Darboe to score from six yards.

As expected, Aisling pushed forward in search of an equaliser but the workrate of their opponents was admirable, none more so than striker Tony Mambuana who ran himself ragged.

The closest Aisling came to scoring was a free kick from outside the box when Adam Foley’s well-struck effort grazed the crossbar on it’s way to safety.

Geraldines: Jose Zaquieu; Dave Power; Aaron Grant; John Mullane; Scott McEvoy; Kian Mitchell; Tony Mambuana; Gareth Grant; Cian Fitzgerald; Ousman Darboe; Leon Johnson. Subs: Alan Keane; Kevin Barry; Denis Brophy.

Aisling Annacotty: Aaron Curtis; Conor Carew; David Moloney; Alex Cuddy; Sean O’hAodha; Jack Aherne; Donnacha O’Leary; Joel Coustrain; Sean Ezekannagha; Adam Foley; Sean Oyibo. Subs: D Brennan.

LAWSON CUP

Star Rvs 1 Janesboro 4

WHILE the vast majorities of games fell victim to the weather, Lee Estate was in superb condition when Premier A high flyers Star Rvs hosted Janesboro in the Lawson Cup.

As it transpired the Premier side proved too clinical for the hosts with veteran striker Shane Clarke’s nous proving too hard to contain Star had to field without a number of players which severely hampered any hopes they had of causing a shock result.

And if any doubts remained ‘Boro put an end to that after just three minutes.

Kai Joyce dispossessed his marker on the right and played infield to Clarke. A clever back heel returned the ball into the path of the on running Joyce to finish in the corner.

Star midfielder Emmet Hehir tried his luck from range with a low shot that forced Boro keeper Harry Ryan to his left to save.
Minutes later Hehir hit a free kick from outside the box that Ryan stopped on the line.

Janesboro doubled their lead after seventeen minutes. A good run and cross from Tony Burns saw Clarke expertly step ahead of his marker to finish at the front post.

It was 3-0 ten minutes from the break. A good cross by Graham Bourke fell kindly for Aodh O’Hanluain who turned his marker to fire low into the corner.

To their credit, Star continued to battle and got some reward before the half time whistle when another Hehir free kick was nodded back by Ryan Guedes and Jake Downey volleyed in a rasper from outside the box.

Star had the wind at their backs on the changeover but any hopes of a comeback were dashed within five minutes when another smart overhead kick by Clarke played Aodh O’Hanluain through to lob the stranded keeper for his second and the game’s final score.

The remainder of the second half proved a drab affair but ‘Boro will not be complaining as they progressed to the last 16 of the tournament.

Star Rvs: Eden Minehan; A Vijandran; Jack Doyle; Keith Curran; Willon; Adam Quinlivan; Ryan Guedes; Jake Downey; Emmet Hehir; Jake Gallagher; Cathal Howard. Subs: Tyrone Price; Emiliano Rojas; Fellipe Torres; Colin Koyce; Conor Monahan.

Janesboro: Harry Ryan; Adam Finn; Tony Burns; Eoghan Burke; Graham Bourke; Josh Toomey; Aodh O’Hanluain; Fionn O’Leary; Shane Clarke; Rubin McCarthy; Kai Joyce. Subs: Gavin Carrick; M Lynch; E Brady; Naoise O’Leary.

Charleville 5 Knockainey 1

CHARLEVILLE also made it through to round three of the Lawson Cup with an expected win over Knockainey on Sunday morning.

The Division 3A side started well and took the lead through J Murphy but two goals in a four-minute spell just on the half hour mark through Aaron O’Connor and Donal O’Connell flipped the game back in Charleville’s favour.

Jason Collins made it 3-0 before Knockainey were reduced to ten men after which Aaron O’Connor scored again to make it 4-0 by the break.

The Cork side tacked on a fifth after the break through Donal O’Connell to complete the scoring.

Charleville: David Parajnak; Frank Herr; Colin Quaid; Darren Butler; J O’Toole; Aaron O’Connor; Jason Collins; Donal O’Connell; Luke Doyle; Eamon Meehan; Kian Smith. Subs: Jason O’Hara; D Waters; C O’Riordan.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Corbally Utd 1 Pike Rovers 3

JUST one game survived in the Premier League and it ended in more disappointment for Corbally who went down 3-1 at home to Pike Rvs.

The result leaves Corbally mired in the drop zone, six points from safety with six game remaining. The result was a welcome win for the Hoops who fielded a very young side.

Jack Croke gave Pike the lead after 15 minutes and top scorer Dylan Murphy doubled the advantage midway through the half.

Sean Kiely gave Corbally hope when he pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining. Steven McGann’s penalty kick, three minutes from time, put the result beyond doubt and sealed the Pike win.

Corbally Utd: Rob Madigan; Fionn O’Regan; Shane Cox; Eoghan Carr; Liam O’Flynn; Michael White; Eoghan O’Connell; Rhys Barry; Sean Kiely; Alan Doherty; David Thompson. Subs: Ethan Hannon; David Madigan; Barry O’Sullivan; Mikolai Imbierovski; James Kelly.

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Ethan Joyce; Eddie O’Donovan; Brendan O’Dwyer; Jamie Mitchell; Leon Daly; Dylan Murphy; Steven McGann; Joe Murphy; Jack Meaney; Jack Croke. Subs: Robbie Williams; Conail Stapleton; Cian McNamara; Wayne O’Donovan.

ROUND-UP

Munster U17 Cup

Pike Rvs 5 Killarney Celtic 0

PIKE Rvs turned in a superb performance on Sunday afternoon when they defeated Killarney Celtic 5-0 in Jackman Park to reach the final of the inaugural Munster Under 17 Cup.

Dylan Kett was the hero of the hour with a well taken hat trick but Pike were physically stronger than the Kerry lads and bossed the game from the off.

It took eight minutes for the deadlock to be broken when Sean Potter’s inswinging corner kick went directly through a crowd of players to the back of the net.

Pike doubled their lead after fifteen minutes. Superb work on the right by Brian Mbounana created the opening. His cross found Kett who saw his header return off the upright.

The striker reacted quickest and laid the ball back to Sean Dunphy to blast in from ten yards.

The game ended as a contest just before the half hour mark the impressive Preston.

Humphries played a wonderful through ball for Kett to latch onto and open his account with a fine finish.

Pike continued to dominate after the restart and midway through the half good link play between Danny Quirke and Humphries saw the latter cleverly dink a ball in behind for Kett to race through and got his toe in just ahead of the keeper to make it 4-0.

Kett completed his hat trick with ten minutes remaining with a well taken goal.

Pike will meet Douglas Hall in the decider after they beat fellow Cork side Midleton 3-2.

Pike Rvs: J Wormald; E Byrne; Sean Potter; Cathal Daly McInerney; P Griffin; Preston Humphries; Aaron McNamara; Sean Dunphy; Dylan Kett; Danny Quirke; Brian Mbounana. Subs: Dylan Browne; Gustavo Dos Santos; R Bourke; R Hanrahan Stewart.

IN THE other youth game, the top of the table clash between Fairview Rangers and Holycross went the way of the county side on a 2-1 scoreline. James McCarthy and Caleb McNmara scored for the winners. Pedro Ubah replied for Fairview.

The top of the table clash in Division 2B ended in an exciting 1-1 draw between Mungret Regional C and Fairview Rangers B meaning with three games remaining the one point advantage remains with the Blues.

Sunday’s game was played in bad weather conditions with Fairview faster out of blocks to take a seventh minute lead through Adam Keating following good work by by Anthony McNamara.

The game ebbed and flowed and both teams having chances with Mungret snatching a equaliser in the 87th minute through Cathal Woods. A draw was a fair outcome with Mungret now relying on a View slip up to overtake the leaders.

Holycross B beat Dromore Celtic 8-5 in a score fest. Sean Lyons 4, Cian O’Connell 2, Adam Lyons and Pa Finn scored for the winners.

Daniel Malone 2, Mansoor Arda and Dean Glasheen replied for Celtic. Newport Town B moved out of the drop zone in Division 1B with a 3-0 win at Glenview Rovers.

Conor McHugo (2) and Adam Power were on the mark for the winners.

In Division 3A, second placed Athlunkard Villa C came back from two down versus Lough Derg to take the spoils on a 3-2 scoreline. Peter Looi, Leon Carroll and Keith Kane scored the winning goals. Shelbourne B kept up their promotion charge with a 4-2 win at Northside.

AJ McDonagh 2, Martin Wallace and Ben Meehan obliged for the winners; Luke Brosnan and Dylan Franklin netted for Northside.

James Philpot 2, Alan Cronin, TJ Buckley, Colm O’Keeffe, C Ensor, Shane Philpott and an own goal accounted for the goals in Castle Utd’s 8-2 win over Parkville B for whom Jonathan Ryan and J Hogan replied.