Limerick District League roundup: Munster Junior Cup final awaits

AISLING Annacotty qualified for the final of the 2025/26 Munster Junior Cup following a well-deserved 3-2 win over Newmarket Celtic at a wet and windy Jackman Park on Saturday evening.

The result suggests a close encounter but if the home side had taken their chances throughout, they would have won rather comfortably.

That said, the visitors chances took a severe blow after five minutes when international striker Eoin Hayes hobbled out of the action.

Aisling were controlled throughout, although in the opening half they toyed with the self-destruct button needlessly, insisting on passing across their back line, creating openings for the opposition.

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In truth, the wind was making it almost impossible for defences and Celtic suffered similarly after the restart.

Newmarket came into the tie as favourites and early exchanges seemed to be going to script. A couple of crucial interceptions from stand-in centre back Raid Mouras kept the Reds at bay.

Aisling found their feet and were denied an opener when Adam Foley was just off target. Minutes later Celtic keeper Shane Cusack made a super save to deny Sean Ezekannagha.

Aisling were not to be denied however and took the lead midway through the half. Adam Foley’s free kick delivered from half way was headed back across goal by Sean O'Haodha where Joel Coustrain pounced to apply the finish.

Celtic had a good shout for a penalty denied but with five minutes remaining in the half they equalised, Dean Hegarty pulled the ball back for Conor McDaid to fire home.

With the wind at their back on the restart Aisling dominated the game.

They regained the lead when a good run and delivery by Adam Foley saw Coustrain head in a fine goal for his second of the day.

Donnacha O'Leary was inches over the top and following good work by the excellent Isaac O’Sullivan, Adam Foley forced a stunning save from Cusack.

The Clare side were under siege, struggling to cope with the wind and the pressure.

Aisling increased their lead just after the hour mark. Good work by Coustrain and Sean Ezekannagha saw the latter tee up Foley to fire low into the corner with his 23rd goal of the season.

Coustrain and Foley again went within a whisker of increasing the lead.

With nine minutes of injury time completed, Darragh Leahy fired in from a crowded area to set up a nervous finish but Aisling held on deservedly.

In the final Aisling will play Villa FC from Waterford who beat holders Coachford 3-2 on Sunday.

Aisling Annacotty: Aaron Curtis; Jamie Halpin; David Moloney; Sean O'Haodha; Raid Mouras; Jack Aherne; Donnacha O'Leary; Isaac O'Sullivan; Joel Coustrain; Adam Foley; Sean Ezekannagha. Subs: D Brennan; Conor Carew; Sean Oyibo

Premier League

Athlunkard Villa 1 Mungret Regional 3

Mungret Regional fought back from a goal behind to take the points on offer in their clash with Athlunkard Villa in Lee Estate.

Famara Kassama put the home side from the penalty spot after ten minutes.

Mungret equalised through Kian Barry on the hour mark and seven minutes later the same player tilted the tie Mungret’s way with his second.

Cian McNicholas scored his usual last-minute goal, this one from the penalty spot to secure the win.

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

Mungret Regional: Daniel Doyle; Craig Prendergast; Sean O'Sullivan; Conor Myers; Colm Barrett; Darragh Killian; Danny McCarthy; Mark Patterson; Mark Barrett; Kian Barry; Cian McNicholas, Subs: Aaron Long; C O’Leary

Corbally Utd 2 Geraldines 2

It was a late heartbreak for Corbally United in their game with Geraldines on Sunday morning.

Needing three points to close the gap on the sides above them, Corbally looked like they may achieve their goal.

They took the lead with a penalty from Sean Connolly and just after the hour mark Sean Kiely made it 2-0.

It looked like they would hold out until the 87th minute when Scott McEvoy reduced the deficit and a minute later Tony Mambuana struck a crushing blow with the equaliser for the Dines.

Corbally United: Rob Madigan; Tom O'Brien; David Thompson; Eoghan Carr; Liam O'Flynn; Michael White; Eoghan O'Connell; Barry O'Sullivan; Sean Kiely; Sean Connolly; L O'Sullivan, Subs: Shane Cox; David Madigan; Robert Clancy; Ryan McLaughlin; Fionn O'Regan

Geraldines: Jose Zaquieu; Jonathan Moran; Eoin Hanrahan; Scott McEvoy; Aaron Grant; Kian Mitchell; Tony Mambuana; Cian Fitzgerald; Jake Leamy; Alan Keane; Gareth Ronan, Subs: Leon Johnson; Ousman Darboe; Jack O'Doherty; John Mullane 

Fairview Rangers 4 Nenagh AFC 0

It’s as you were in the Premier League following the two challengers bagging full points.

Fairview Rangers beat Nenagh 4-0 at the Fairgreen with two goals in each half.

A good save by Josh McCarthy denied Aaron Cusack a lead for Nenagh and from the subsequent attack, Jeffery Judge’s low shot was deflected to the net by Tomas O’Connor.

Nenagh gifted Fairview a second goal, tucked away by Brian Aherne.

To their credit the visitor tested Fairview but once Aherne grabbed a second on the hour mark it was contest over.

Lee J Lynch was the provider for Conor Kavanagh to complete the scoring five minutes from time.

Fairview Rangers: Josh McCarthy GK; Danny O'Neill; Blake Curran; Thomas O'Connor; Conor Kavanagh; Jeffery Judge; Shane Duggan; Oleg Vysochan; Josh McCarthy; Yoyo Mahdy; Brian Aherne, Subs: Adam Dore; Lee J Lynch

Nenagh AFC: Oisin Conacur; Colm Hayden; Craig Hilmi; Kieran Barr; Eoin Coffey; Pa Steed; Daniel Connolly; Mark Manley; Adam Brennan; Adam Ryan; Aaron Cusack, Subs: B Tracey; Mark McKenna 

Regional Utd 2 Ballynanty Rovers 3

Ballynanty Rovers kept pace with Fairview thanks to a 3-2 win in Dooradoyle against Regional United.

Leon Kirrane gave Balla the perfect start after eight minutes from Shane Walsh’s delivery.

Walsh scored the second ten minutes later after good work from Kane Connolly.

Regional were reduced to ten men on 55 minutes but pulled one back through Kieran O’Connell 20 minutes from time.

AJ Moloney eased Balla worries when he restored the two goal cushion with five minutes remaining.

Gerry Fitzpatrick scored in injury time but Balla held on for three crucial points.  

Regional Utd: J Curtin; Sean Madigan; Ewan O'Brien; Joe Lavin; Andy Quaide; Kieran O'Connell; Brian O'Connor; John Forson; Jack Flanagan; Shane Donegan; Ryan Gilmartin, Subs: Gerry Fitzpatrick; David Burke

Ballynanty Rovers: Tommy Holland; Cian Lynch; Adam Costello; Alex Kiely; Josh Adams; Shane Walsh; Eddie Byrnes; Vinny Ryan; Kane Connolly; Jamie Greaves; Leon Kirrane, Subs: AJ Moloney; Calum Kiely; Thomas Byrnes; James Fitzgerald;

Roundup

With leaders Star Rovers not in action, the chasing pack all picked up full points to make things crowded at the top of the Premier A League.  

Kilmallock closed the gap on the leaders to just one point after Dwayne Bagnell’s goal gave them the spoils at Aisling D.

Moyross kept up their challenge with a hard earned 3-2 win over Prospect.

Jat Ryan was the Moyross hero with all three goals while Jamie Hogan and Cameron Walsh replied for Prospect.

Newport are not giving up as they beat Southend 4-1. Luke Ryan (2) Callum O'Connell and Dave O'Brien were the winning scorers.

Goals from Shane O'Donoghue 3, Ciaran Kelly, Seamus Ryan and Rob McLoughlin helped Ballylanders to a 6-1 win over Pallas Utd for whom David Curtin replied.

In Division 1A, leaders Herbertstown beat Corbally Utd B 4-2 to keep their title charge on track. Mark Hayes scored twice for the home side but goals from Oisin O'Grady, Kevin Meade, Darragh O'Sullivan and Bradley McNamara secured the points.

Shelbourne, with scores from George Barry and Ger Johnson beat Aisling Annacotty D 2-0 to remain second while Murroe a point further back following their 3-0 win over Cappamore. Two goals from Liam Quinn and one from Jamie Long sufficed for the Blues.

Parkville and Holycross played out a 3-3 draw. Jamie McMahon, Ben McNamara and Liam O'Connell for Parkville and Niall O'Riordan, Finn Clancy and Bryan Nagy for the Cross obliged.

Lisnagry beat Glenview Rvs A 3-0 thanks to scores from Breen Ryan (2) and Ryan Haskett.

Pike Rvs B closed the gap on leaders Balla B to five points in Division 1B following a 2-0 win over Kilmallock B. Logan O'Byrne and Andre Ritter scored for the Hoops who also have two games in hand on the leaders.

Jonathan Lawlor and Diarmuid Fitzpatrick netted for Nenagh in a 2-2 draw with Croom Utd who had late scores from Ylli Sheu and Conor Laffan.

Brazuca United dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Aisling Annacotty C. Ethan O'Donovan netted for the home side while Rafael Henrique was on the mark for Brazuca.

Goals from H Costello (2), James Houlihan, Anthony Punch and Pat Hough helped Meanus to a 5-0 win over Cappamore B.

Caherdavin Celtic B are right back in the title race in Division 2B following a 2-0 win over Corbally Utd C. Mark Ryan and Kevin Ryan were the goalscorers.

In the Divisional C Holycross B beat Summerville Rvs B 2-1 thanks to scores from Gavin Bracken and James McCarthy. Martin Fitzgerald replied for Rovers.

In the Division 3A Power Cup Castle Utd advanced with a 6-3 win over Balla C. Alan Cronin, Shane Philpott along with a Colm O'Keeffe hat trick accounted for the winning scores. CJ Considine, Kyle Mannion and Glen O'Connor replied for Balla.

Sean Toomey and Luke Brosnan were on the mark for Northside but they conceded six to

Knockainey through A Buckley 2, A O'Riordan, L Enright, John Ryan and Eddie Winter.

In Youth football, Thursday evening’s big game saw leaders Holycross held to a 2-2 draw by Aisling. Oscar Fitzgerald and Eoin Williams netted for Aisling.

Jack Cregan and Adi O’Meara scored Aisling’s goals in a 2-1 win over Caherdavin in the U17 Premier League while in Division One S Hartigan, Paddy Casey and J Costelloe scored for Pike in a 3-0 win at Newport.