Limerick District League weekend junior soccer round-up

FAI JUNIOR CUP

Regional United 1 Pike Rovers 1
(Pike Rovers win 4-1 on pens, aet)

PIKE Rovers came out tops in the all-Limerick FAI Junior Cup quarter-final played at Dooradoyle on Sunday afternoon.
It was the fourth meeting between the sides this season and again there was but a kick of a ball between the sides.

The home side were quickest out of the traps and nearly opened the scoring within two minutes when Eduardo Almeida played Eoin Duff in around the Pike defence but the striker’s shot was saved smartly by Gary Neville who got down low to keep out.

The Regional man’s disappointment was short lived as he broke the deadlock on five minutes when put through by Ewan O’Brien and kept his cool to shoot past the advancing Neville.

Shortly after Pike went close to levelling. Shane Walsh’s short corner saw Conor Coughlan deliver to the back post where Shane Clarke headed just over the top.

Midway through the half a great run from Oleg Vysochan resulted in a corner kick from which Andy Cowpar’s header smacked off the Pike upright to safety. A snap shot from Duff was as close as either sise went before the break.

After the restart, Pike improved on their first half showing and went close in the opening minute when Clarke pulled the ball back for Coughlan whose goal bound shot was turned away full stretch by Clancy.

Pike got back on level terms after 50 minutes. Good work on the left by Conor Coughlan saw Shane Walsh play a ball into the area where Colin Daly got the touch past Finn Clancy in the home goal.

Minutes later, Daly went within a whisker of doubling hos tally when he was on the end of a Clarke knock down but Clancy pulled off a superb point blank save.

Clancy saved another couple of efforts from Coughlan and Clarke but the home side were struggling to break down the Pike rearguard.

Extra-time was rather tentative but just before the end, Pike had a great chance to win it when Clarke headed on Sean Madigan cross and the ball landed to the unmarked Shane Walsh whose volley beat Clancy but struck the upright and across goal to safety.

The Hoops proved more accurate in the shoot-out scoring all four, with Gary Neville again coming good with one save for the winners.

Pike reward is a home semi-final clash against Donegal side Cockhill Celtic in early April.

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Danny O'Neill; Sean Madigan; Pat Mullins; Adam Lipper; Shane Walsh; Steven Bradley; Colin Daly; Dylan Murphy; Conor Coughlan; Shane Clarke. Subs: Darragh Hughes; Kyle Duhig

Regional Utd: Finn Clancy; Eduardo Almeida; Joey Rushe; Andrew Cowpar; David Cowpar; Shane Carmody; Oleg Vysochan; Brian O'Connor; Kieran O'Connell; Ewan O'Brien; Eoin Duff. Subs: Andy Quaide; Ruairi Casserley.

MUNSTER YOUTH CUP

Aisling Annacotty 1 College Corinthians 1

AISLING Annacotty suffered the heartbreak of a penalty shoot out defeat in the penultimate stage of the Munster Youth Cup at Jackman Park on Sunday afternoon.

The home side were slow to get into their stride and went in at the break a goal down to the Cork visitors courtesy of a penalty kick converted by Jamie O’Brien.

Aisling were much better after the break and got a deserved equaliser just after the hour mark. Paul Canny’s delivery was flicked on by Cathal Downes and Davy Brennan fired to the roof of the net.
With ten minutes remaining, Alex Keating turned his marker but fired inches wide of goal.

In the final minute of normal time Keating was again in action, gathering from Brennan but his shot skimmed the upright.

Extra-time failed to separate the sides and the Cork lads kept their nerve in the shootout to advance to the final.

Aisling Annacotty: C Lane; Paul Canny; Matt Conway; Andrew Kearney; Rhys Meehan; Eoghan Brady; TJ McDonnell; Tommy Glynn; Cathal Downes; D Brennan; Alex Keating. Subs: T Lazo; S Guinane; S Dolan.

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Aisling Annacotty 8 Charleville 0;

Aisling Annacotty joined Pike Rovers at the top of the Premier League when they easily accounted for bottom side Charleville in Annacotty on Saturday evening.

John Lysaght’s men took the lead early on when a cracking shot from Leon Daly found the net.

Theo Joyce doubled the lead and two goals from Adam Foley killed off the contest.

Just before the break a fine cross from Daly was met at the back post by Adam O’Regan to make it 5-0 at the break.

After the break substitute Darren Coughlan scored twice Adam Foley completed the scoring to complete his hat trick.

Aisling Annacotty: Josh Coady, Raid Mouras, Adam O'Regan, Eliah Riordan, Tom Kelly, Theo Joyce, Paul Brennan, Tom Kidd, Leon Daly, Adam Foley, Kieran Jennings. Subs; Darren Coughlan, David Moloney, Sean Ezekannagha, Kian Barry.

ROUND-UP:

In other action, in Division 1A Caherconlish and Patrickswell played out a 3-3 draw.

Paudie Wixted (2) and Shane Byrne were on the mark for Caherconlish while Paul O’Brien (2) and Mark O’Halloran replied for the ‘Well.

In Division 3B Lough Derg moved to the top of the table by virtue of a 4-2 win at Caherdavin Celtic B on Saturday evening.

The Tipperary side were quickly out of the traps and raced into a two goal lead through Jay Collins and a James Frahill penalty kick.

The home side pulled on back but Dan Fogarty hit a beauty to make it 3-1.

Again, Celtic pulled one back but Collins, with his second of the night, completed the scoring.

In the Open Cup Shelbourne A lowered the colours of Munster Shield finalists Balla B on a penalty shoot-out after the side finished 1-1.

Dan Moloney scored for Shels while Barry Quinn claimed the Balla goal.

Shelbourne: Aidan Burke; Brian Fitzgerald; Darragh Curtis; Conor McGuane; Josh Leung; Dan Moloney; Alan Gill; Brandon Scahill; Aidan Ryan; Alan Carr-France; Rory Cullen. Subs: Tom Guinnane; Harry Cowton; Kyle Corkery; Josh McCoy.

Ballynanty Rvs B; Christy Lynch, Lee Boyle, Dessie Fitzgerald, Kenneth Meehan, Ger Higgins, Barry Quinn, David Donnan, Ger Meehan, Daniel Daly, Kevin Nolan, Dean O'Brien.