Limerick District League weekend junior soccer round-up

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Pike Rovers 3 Mungret Reg 0

PIKE Rovers took another big step towards retaining their Premier League crown when they took the three points on offer in their home game with Mungret Regional.

The results leaves Pike four points ahead of Aisling Annacotty with three games remaining, albeit with a game more played.
Conor Coughlan gave Pike the lead when his persistence paid off midway through the opening half.

The League’s top scorer, Dylan Murphy made it 2-0 with a well-placed shot from outside the box.
Pike added a third in the second half when Shane Clarke fired a beauty into the top corner.

Mungret Reg: James Roche; Mark Patterson; Gary Kelly; Aaron Long; Conor Myers; Hamza Selman Celik; Dean Shinners; David Conway; Eoin Kelly; Pat Aherne; Cian McNicholas.

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Danny O'Neill; Sean Madigan; Adam Lipper; Eddie O'Donovan; Colin Daly; Shane Walsh; Shane Clarke; Dylan Murphy; Conor Coughlan; Derek Daly. Subs: Darragh Hughes; Robbie Williams.

Coonagh United 0 Fairview Rangers 3

FAIRVIEW Rgs kept their outside hopes of the title on track with a 3-0 win at Coonagh United.
The result leaves Coonagh needing full points from their four remaining games if they hope to avoid the drop. Josh Quinlivan scored twice for the winners. Kevin Barry was also on the mark.

Coonagh Utd: Josh Sheehan; Luke Doherty; Rory Barry; Joey Sheehan; Niall Earls; Andrew Leydon; Sean Hartney; Ronan Ryan; Ian Considine; Darragh Peters; Ger Myles. Subs: Bryan Murray; Kieran Simmonds.

Fairview Rgs: Josh McCarthy GK; Jeffery Judge; Blake Curran; Jason Cross; Conor Kavanagh; Shane Duggan; Kane Connolly; Josh Quinlivan; Kevin Barry; Adam Dore; Brian Aherne. Subs: Jack Cross; Craig Madigan; Jake Dillon; Shane Tracy.

Nenagh AFC 0 Ballynanty Rovers 1
FOR the second week running Balla took the spoils by the narrowest margin beating Nenagh 1-0.
Darragh Rainsford was the Ballynanty marksman

Ballynanty Rovers: Stephen McNamara; Liam Byrnes; Aaron Power; Cian Lynch; Jack McGarry; Aidan Hurley; Eddie Byrnes; Sean Byrnes; Conor Keane; Darragh Rainsford; Adrian Power. Subs: Jack Horan; Seamus Moloney; Shane Dillon.

Nenagh AFC: Oisin Conacur; Eoin Coffey; Lee Mowatt; Colm Hayden; Kieran Barr; John O'Mara; Saeed Ryan; Alan Sheehan; Ryan Gilmartin; Eamon White; Cillian Scully. Subs: Mark McKenna; Kieran O'Brien; Adam Ryan; Harry Sheehy.

Charleville 1 Geraldines 4

GERALDINES picked up three important points on their trip to Charleville.

The result all but secures their position in the top flight. Conor Madden put Dines in the lead which was added to when Cian Brynes powered home a second.

The evergreen Conor Lynch scored after the break and Tony Mambuana made it 4-0 before Gerry O’Reilly netted a consolation for the home side.

Charleville: Lerenzo Alebo; Graham Tuohy; Dylan O'Donoghue; Frank Herr; Jason O'Hara; Joe Kavanagh; Gerry O'Reilly; James Horgan; Hichem Zouaoui; Igor Arriel; Calum Hickey. Subs: Tommy O'Neill; James O'Brien.

Geraldines: Cian O'Brien; Dean McNamara; Liam Chambers; Cian Byrnes; Conor Lynch; Ethan O'Sullivan; Ousman Darboe; Conor Madden; AJ Moloney; Tony Mambuana; Nathan Cross. Subs: Jason Mullins; Gary Kelly.

FAI YOUTH CUP FINAL:

St Kevins Boys 3 Pike Rvs 0

PIKE Rovers suffered the heartbreak of FAI Cup final defeat when they fell 3-0 to St Kevins Boys in the Youth final in Dublin on Saturday afternoon.

It was a brave performance by the Limerick side, half of whom are Under 17’s, against a more physical and clinical opposition.
Played in glorious sunshine on a fantastic playing surface the game started off with the Dublin side controlling the possession and although Pike sat back allowing Saints to move the back around without troubling the Pike goals.

An interception by Jamie Mitchell set Kaden Deegan Herlihy free in behind the St Kevins defence but a good recovery by the home side forced the Pike man to take a shot from a very tight angle which was saved by the keeper.

Pike’s game plan seemed to be working perfectly until disaster struck around 25th minute when Kevin’s pounced on a loose ball in midfield winning a throw in near the halfway line and a quick throw caught the Pike defence off-guard allowing Ilya Bednkovs to run clear through on goal and he duly buried his shot into the bottom corner.

Pike upped the tempo trying to get on level terms straight away but within minutes the Dubliners doubled their lead when a dangerous Pike attack was sniffed out and the ball was pick up by Idris Olafimiham on the right-hand side and he drove into the box and curled his shot into the far corner.

There was very little chances to note in the last 10 minutes of the half as the Dublin side’s physicality was dictating the game.
On the resumption, Pike began on the front foot with Jamie Mitchell bossing the midfield battle, winning loose ball and starting attacks. Mitchell nearly got on the scoresheet as his headed effort from Keelan Corbett’s corner struck the upright.

Deegan Herlihy had a half chance cleared off the line when Shane Franklin’s dangerous free kick into the box was not dealt with.

As Pike were all out trying to get back in the game, a mix-up at the back allowed Karl Hearns to get in behind the defence and he was brought down for a penalty which he stepped up and converted to seal the game for Kevins.

With a bit more luck on the day the scoreline may have looked different but the Dublin side ran out deserving winners. Every player gave their all with Jamie Mitchell, Josh Mullaney and Ethan Joyce particularly impressive.

Pike Rovers: Mariusz Palen, Ethan Joyce, Keelan Corbett, Josh Mullaney, Jamie Mitchell, Dara McNamara, Luke Keating, Shane Franklin, Kaden Deegan Herlihy, Cian Punch, Rhys Barry. Subs: Pa Steed, Aaron Cusack, Scott McGuire, Aaron Shinners, Jake Kiely, Sean McCallig, D Sheedy.

ROUND-UP

It’s as you were in the Premier A League with the top three winning again on Sunday.

Leaders Janesboro had to fight back when Marcus Hogan’s cracking goal gave Fairview Rgs B the lead. Graham Bourke levelled for ‘Boro and the ever-reliable Thomas Clarke scored the winner for Mike Ahern’s men.

Kilmallock beat Murroe 5-0 with goals from Jack McGuire (2), Bjorn Downes, Barry Sheedy and Kyle Tierney.

An Evan Shine penalty put Hyde Rgs in front versus Corbally Utd. Ben Kennedy scored a fine goal to double the lead and late on Calum Murphy sealed the win.

Edwin Saju and Rian O'Connell were on the mark for Caherdavin Celtic in a 2-0 win over Athlunkard Villa while Aisling beat Moyross 4-1. Alex Carragher scored twice for the winners with Alex Keating and Edward Ward making up the tally.

In the Open Cup, Pike Rvs B beat Geraldines B to reach the last four of the competition.
Jake Prendergast, Craig McMarlow & Shane Franklin netted for the Hoops.

In the Division 1A Cup, Ballylanders qualified for a semi final spot when they beat Caherconlish 3-0. Eamon O'Sullivan, Eamon O'Mahoney and Cathal Shanahan scored the winning goals.

Pallagreen had to work hard to earn their passage to a quarter final berth as the beat Cappamore 4-3. Vinnie Ryan and David Ryan scored two apiece for the winners with Ryan Deere netting all three for the visitors.

In the Division 1B Cup, Aisling continued to impress putting five past Kilfrush courtesy of Cian O'Brien, James Lane, Sean Reeves Wasik, Liam Danaher and Jason Lipper.

Pa Gallagher, Nathan Hartigan and Colin Coleman scored Newport’s goals in a 3-0 win at Nenagh while Mungret Reg beat Wembley Rvs 4-1. Adam O'Neill and Mike Nseka claimed two goals apiece for the winners, Luke O'Connell scored for Rovers.

Rian Barrett scored both goals for Corbally Utd B in a 2-1 win over Lisnagry A for whom Niall McGrath netted.

In Division 1A league action, Shelbourne kept up their bid to haul in leaders Herbertstown as they put five past Aisling Annacotty C courtesy of Matt DeCourcey 2, Andrew Egan 2 and Rory Cullen.

Conor Laffan 2, Tom O'Shea, Steve Twomey, Cian Shinnors, Zach Hayes and Pat O'Connor were on the mark for Croom Utd in a 7-2 win over Coonagh Utd B. Rory Barry and Sam Egan scored for the visitors.

Conor Hanley scored both for Kilmallock in a 2-0 win over Mungret Reg C while Garrett Higgins, Craig Casey and Darren Shine were on the mark for Hyde Rgs but they fell 6-3 to Meanus.

Moyross closed the gap on leaders Geraldines to just one point after they defeated Summerville 2-1 in Portland. Lee Quinn and a sweet free kick from Anthony Quinn accounted for the winning scores.

In Div 3B, Craig Whelan, Joe Ryan Mulina and Stephen Wallce scored for Cals in a 3-1 win at Corbally Utd C.

In the Youth Division 1 Cup, Aisling Annacotty A proved too strong for Murroe as Cathal Downes, Alex Keating, Tim O'Sullivan and Dave Brennan shared the goals in a big win.

Josh Alymer, Calum Kiely, Zak McInerney and Cualann Williams scored for Fairview Rgs in a 4-0 win over Newport while Regional won the local derby with Mungret Reg by two goals, scored by Ryan Scanlon and Darren Ekoucu.

In Division Two, Cappamore had no answer to a rampant Holycross. Alex Burchill, Rian McNamara, Cialann Feeley, Paudie Hennessy, Adam Cusack and Barry Callinan scored the winning goals.

Goals from Ozzie O'Donoghue 3, Ben McNamara 2 and Brian Carr helped Corbally past Herbertstown while the other two games were decided by penalty shoot outs.

Dylan McKenna and Brehon O'Donnell scored for Nenagh in a 2-2 draw with Charleville before emerging victorious.
Likewise, Cals who drew 2-2 with Aisling Annacotty B progressed on spot kicks.
Pat Nolan and Patryk Dimowski netted the Cals goals.

MIDWEEK GAMES:

PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES

Coonagh Utd 0 Ballynanty Rovers 1
BALLYNANTY Rvs scored a last gasp win over to dash Coonagh’s hopes of avoiding the drop. Eddie Byrnes scored the only goal of the game after 88 minutes.

Coonagh Utd: Josh Sheehan; Bryan Murray; Rory Barry; Luke Doherty; Andrew Leydon; Ronan Ryan; Mike Guerin; Darragh Peters; Ger Myles; Sean Hartney; Ian Considine. Subs: Ossama Saddudi; Joey Sheehan; Mark McGrath; Conor Duignan.

Ballynanty Rovers: Stephen McNamara; Jack Horan; Adam Costello; Cian Lynch; Seamus Moloney; Aidan Hurley; Shane Dillon; Cian Fitzgerald; Darragh Rainsford; Conor Keane; Eddie Byrnes. Subs: Adrian Power; Sean Byrnes; Thomas Byrnes; Liam Byrnes.

Mungret Reg 3 Newport 3

MUNGRET and Newport played out an exciting draw on Thursday evening.

Aaron Long (Mungret) and Peter O'Sullivan (Newport) traded goals to send the sides in level at the break.
Goals from Brian O'Sullivan and Christy Doyle had the Tipperary side well in control with ten minutes remaining. However, a great comeback saw Kieran Long reduce the deficit and Hamza Selman Celik score a beauty to ensure a share of the spoils.

Mungret Reg: Ronan McElligot; Mark Patterson; Jamie Enright; Aaron Long; Conor Myers; Craig Prendergast; David Conway; Kieran Long; Pat Aherne; Cian McNicholas; Hamza Selman Celik. Subs: Eoin Kelly; Ian Moore; Dean Shinners; Brian Cotter; Eoghan Ryan.

Newport: Seamus O'Regan; Eoin Looney; Drew McLean; Elliot Slattery; Pa Murtagh; Peter O'Sullivan; Darren Collins; Cillian O'Shea; Daniel Ryan; Brian O'Sullivan; Christy Doyle. Subs: Jay Ryan; Luke Ryan

Nenagh AFC 1 Geraldines 1

Another game that produced a share of the spoils was in Nenagh where the home side drew 1-1.

Tony Mambuana put the visitors in front but a quick reply from Saeed Ryan tied the game.

Nenagh AFC: Oisin Conacur; Eoin Coffey; Lee Mowatt; Colm Hayden; Kieran Barr; Conor McCormack; Kieran O'Brien; Alan Sheehan; Ryan Gilmartin; Eamon White; Saeed Ryan. Subs: Diarmuid Fitzpatrick; Dan O'Mara; John O'Mara; Marcin Kolkorst; Mark McKenna.

Geraldines: Cian O'Brien; Dean McNamara; Scott Kelly; Thomas O'Grady; Conor Madigan; Jason Mullins; Liam Chambers; Ethan O'Sullivan; AJ Moloney; Tony Mambuana; Nathan Cross. Subs: Will O'Neill; Rob Lowe; Gary Kelly.