Five places up for grabs as FAI Junior Cup takes centre stage in Limerick District League

Sunday’s junior soccer weekend programme will determine which five teams will go on to represent the Limerick District League in the open draw stages of the FAI Junior Cup.

We have five mouth-watering ties on offer with all ten sides in action, well capable of progressing.

No doubt the highlight is the clash of current holders Fairview Rangers at home to Aisling Annacotty.

League form would suggest Fairview are strong favourites however the Blues will have in mind the fact that Aisling knocked them out of the Munster Junior Cup at the Fairgreen back in October of a 3-2 scoreline. 

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It was one of only two defeats suffered this year so Fairview will be treating this with the respect it deserves. 

After a disastrous start to the season, Declan Farmer has moulded his side into a tight unit and last week’s 3-2 MFA semi final win over Newmarket Celtic will have them buoyed up for Sunday’s game.

Fairview sit top of the table but needed a last-minute winner against Athlunkard Villa last weekend to maintain their advantage over Balla. It may well prove a good test for this game. 

Also on Sunday afternoon, Ballynanty Rovers welcome Mungret Regional in another potential thriller. 

The sides met already this season when Balla recorded a hard fought 2-1 win and you can expect an equally close encounter.

Balla have been the more consistent sides and come into the game on the back of six consecutive wins. Mungret have been blowing hot and cold but on their day are capable of mixing it with the best.   

On Sunday morning Regional Utd v Pike Rovers is another intriguing tie. Both sides had high hopes for league and provincial success this season but with those hopes dashed, they will be all out for a good run in the FAI.

On Sunday, Pike beat Nenagh 3-1 while Regional conceded a late equaliser to Janesboro. 

Pike have been using a number of this and last season’s youth squads and the players may take some time to settle in.

Regional still look to Kieran O’Connell in big games and he usually delivers. 

Geraldines v Janesboro is the fourth all-Premier tie and with both sides showing good form of late, we could have an exciting 90 minutes on offer. 

In the only meeting between the sides this season, Boro edged out a 3-2 win.

Last weekend both sides played out 1-1 draws and will have ironed out a few kinks by Sunday. 

The final game between surprise packets Kilmallock Utd who are favoured with home advantage against Premier side Corbally Utd. 

The second-tier outfit beat Summerville in the last round while Corbally needed extra time to see off Hyde Rangers. 

The difference in standings will count for nothing come Sunday. Corbally will enjoy a break from the pressure of their relegation battle while Kilmallock, who leapfrogged Star Rovers to the top of the Premier A league last weekend,  as underdogs have nothing to lose. 

There is one game in the Premier League and it is a real six pointer in relation to safety from the drop zone when Nenagh welcome Athlunkard Villa.

In the Premier A Healy-Webb Cup, league favourites Moyross travel to Southend Utd to battle it out for a place in the last four. 

There are three games in the Division 1A quarter finals. League leaders Herbertstown A host Caherconlish and second placed Shelbourne A welcome Ballylanders. In the final game Aisling Annacotty D take on Cappamore. 

FIXTURES

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

DIVISION 1A

Murroe A v Holycross, Murroe, 6.30pm

Corbally Utd B v Parkville A, Corbally, 6.30pm

DIVISION 1A O’HALLORAN CUP QUARTER FINAL

Herbertstown A v Caherconlish, Anthony Baggott Memorial Park, 6.30pm

Shelbourne A v Ballylanders, Shelbourne Park, 6.30pm

Aisling Annacotty D v Cappamore Celtic A, Aisling(Astro), 7pm

DIVISION 1B

Croom Utd v Pike Rovers B, Croom, 6.30pm

Nenagh B v Kilfrush Crusaders, Brickfields, 6.30pm

Lisnagry v Ballynanty Rovers B, Lisnagry, 6.30pm

Newport Town v Kilmallock Utd b, Newport, 6.30pm

DIVISION 3A

Castle Utd v Athlunkard Villa C, Castle, 6.30pm

Lough Derg B v Knockainey, Clarisford Park, Killaloe, 6.30pm

Murroe C v Shelbourne B, Murroe Wood Astro, 7.30pm

YOUTH DIVISION 1

Regional Utd B v Corbally Utd B, Regional (Astro), 7pm

Charleville v Aisling Annacotty B, Tim Fitzgerald Park, 7.30pm

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

FAI JUNIOR CUP 3RD ROUND

Regional Utd v Pike Rovers, Regional (Astro), 10.30am

Geraldines v Janesboro, Garryowen, 10.30am

Kilmallock Utd v Corbally Utd, 10.30am

Fairview Rangers v Aisling Annacotty, Fairgreen, 2pm

Ballynanty Rovers v Mungret Regional, Ballynanty Park, 2pm

PREMIER DIVISION 

Nenagh v Athlunkard Villa, Brickfields, 10.30am

PREMIER A HEALY WEBB 1ST ROUND

Newport Town A v Summerville Rovers A, 10.30am

PREMIER A HEALY WEBB QUARTER FINAL

Southend Utd v Moyross Utd A, Southill, 10.30am

DIVISION 2A

Abbey Rovers v Brazuca Utd, Abbey, 10.30am

Cappamore Celtic B v Castle Rovers, Cappamore, 10.30am

Lough Derg A v Herbertstown A, Clarisford Park, Killaloe, 10.30am

Hyde Rangers B v Newtown Rovers, Hyde, 10.30am

DIVISION 2A LIPPER CUP 1ST ROUND

Meanus v Coonagh Utd, Meanus, 10.30am

DIVISION 2B

Fairview Rangers B v Holycross B, Fairgreen(Astro), 10.30am

Mungret Regional C v Geraldines B, Mungret, 10.30am

Murroe B v Corbally Utd C, Murroe, 10.30am

Caherdavin Celtic B v Prospect Priory B, TUS Moylish Park (Astro), 10.30am

YOUTH PREMIER DIVISION

Pike Rovers v Corbally Utd, Crossgalla, 1.30pm

Geraldines v Fairview Rangers, Garryowen, 1.30pm

Murroe v Aisling Annacotty, Murroe, 1.30pm

Shelbourne v Regional Utd, Shelbourne Park, 1.30pm

Mungret Regional v Holycross, Cement Pitch, Castlemungret, 1.30pm

YOUTH DIVISION 1

Lough Derg v Pike Rovers B, Clarisford Park, Killaloe, 1.30pm

Pallas Utd v Lisnagry, Pallas, 1.30pm

Caherconlish v Herbertstown, Gerald Lyons Memorial Park, 1.30pm

TUESDAY, APRIL 21

DIVISION 1A

Caherconlish v Murroe, Gerald Lyons Memorial Park, 6.30pm

Herbertstown A v Parkville A, Anthony Baggott Memorial Park, 6.30pm

Shelbourne v Holycross, Shelbourne Park, 6.30pm

Aisling Annacotty D v Pallas Utd, Aisling (Astro), 7pm

Cappamore Celtic A v Corbally Utd B, Cappamore, 6.30pm

DIVISION 1B

Mungret Regional B v Glenview Rovers, Mungret, 6.30pm

Pike Rovers B v Kilfrush Crusaders, Crossgalla, 6.30pm

Patrickswell v Croom Utd, Patrickswell, 6.30pm

Kilmallock Utd v Lisnagry, Kilmallock, 6.30pm

DIVISION 3A

Shelbourne B v Athlunkard Villa C, LPYMA, 6.30pm

Castle Utd v Murroe C, Castle Utd, 6.30pm

Moyross Utd C v Lough Derg B, Moyross, 6.30pm

U17 PREMIER DIVISION

Mungret Regional v Pike Rovers A, Cement Pitch, Castlemungret, 6.30pm

U17 DIVISION 1

Lough Derg v Corbally Utd, Clarisford Park, Killaloe, 6.30pm

Newport Town v Regional Utd, Newport, 6.30pm

Aisling Annacotty B v Pike Rovers B, Aisling(Astro), 7pm

U17 DIVISION 2

Murroe B v Lough Derg B, Murroe 6.30pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22

U17 DIVISION 2

Aisling Annacotty C v Summerville Rovers, Aisling (Grass), 6.30pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 23

PREMIER DIVISION 

Mungret Regional v Regional Utd, Mungret, 6.30pm

Ballynanty Rovers v Janesboro, Ballynanty Park, 6.30pm

Geraldines v Fairview Rangers, Garryowen, 6.30pm

Aisling Annacotty v Corbally Utd, Aisling (Astro), 7pm

PREMIER A

Summerville Rovers A v Caherdavin Celtic, Summerville, 6.30pm

Moyross Utd A v Regional Utd B, Moyross, 6.30pm

Southend Utd v Carew Limerick Utd, Southill, 6.30pm

Charleville v Prospect Priory A, Tim Fitzgerald Park, 7.30pm

DIVISION 2A

Aisling Annacotty C v Abbey Rovers, Aisling (Astro), 7pm

DIVISION 2A LIPPER CUP 1ST ROUND

Lough Derg A v Castle Rovers, Clarisford Park, Killaloe, 6.30pm

Newtown Rovers v Moyross Utd B, Newtown, 6.30pm

Herbertstown B v Hyde Rangers B, Anthony Baggott Memorial Park, 6.30pm

DIVISION 2B REA CUP QUARTER FINAL

Mungret Regional C v Dromore Celtic, Cement Pitch, Castlemungret, 6.30pm

DIVISION 2B REA CUP SEMI FINAL

Corbally Utd C v Holycross B, Corbally, 6.30pm

YOUTH PREMIER DIVISION

Pike Rovers v Fairview Rangers, Crossgalla, 6.30pm