Limerick District League round-up as Aisling Annacotty boost Premier Division title hopes

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Pike Rovers 0 Aisling Annacotty 1

THE 2023/24 Premier League has produced the most exciting title race in years.

On Sunday, we may have witnessed the final twist in the saga when Aisling defeated Pike Rovers to open up a tow point gap at the top of the table with two games remaining.

Whether it proves a changing of the guard or not will be determined by Aisling’s results in their final two games, but Sunday’s game, in glorious sunshine, certainly gave the air of side fully focused on capturing their first ever Premier Title.

An early goal from Adam Costello proved the difference between the sides but in truth the visitors were rarely threatened and in fact could have added another couple of goals but for a couple of superb saves from Pike keeper Gary Neville.

Going into the tie, many felt Pike’s experience would prevail but the Hoops struggled to contain the Aisling speedsters up front.

Leon Daly and Adam Foley on either wing never gave their opponents a minute’s peace.

The Aisling defence were rock solid with Adam O’Regan shining.

However, it was in midfield that Aisling dominated proceedings with Paul Brennan and Tom Kidd superb throughout.

Pike, having to field without a couple of key personnel were lethargic from the start and that couple with the visitor’s pace, meant they never got their game flowing.

By the end the Hoops had reverted to long hopeful balls, having been thwarted so often trying to play through.   

The game was only four minutes old when Aisling struck. An inswinging free kick on the right by Adam Foley saw Asam Costello lose his marker to head powerfully home from eight yards.

Minutes later Brennan picked out Costello in the area but his shot was well saved by Neville.

At the other end Eoin Hanrahan forced Josh Coady into a good save low at his post and minutes later headed inches over the top. Dylan Murphy was also too high with a header from Darragh Hughe’s cross while Clarke’s hot from close range was cleared off the line by O’Regan.

Costello looked to have evaded the Aisling defence Neville, racing from his line did enough to put him off, with the Aisling sideline baying for a penalty.

After the break Conor Coughlan went closest to getting Pike off the mark when he cut in from the end line and hit a rasper that was turned over the bar by Coady.

That was as good as it got for Pike whose main threat seemed to be from set pieces, all well policed by the visitors.

A food run by Brennan saw him exchange passes with Thoe Joyce to create an opening six yards out but his shot produced a stunning save by Neville.

Leon Daly went close with another couple of efforts late on but it mattered not as Aisling held on for the win.

Newport and Geraldines will be Aisling’s opposition in their remaining games while Pike, hoping for an Aisling slip up, have to play Fairview Rgs and Geraldines.

Aisling Annacotty: Josh Coady; Raid Mouras; Adam O'Regan; Kieran Jennings; Eliah Riordan; Paul Brennan; Tom Kidd; Leon Daly; Theo Joyce; Adam Costello; Adam Foley. Subs: Fiachra Cotter; Shane Donegan; Darren Coughlan.

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

Geraldines 1 Mungret Reg 3

Despite the game having little consequence, both sides went at it full tilt before Mungret took the points on offer.

Conor Madden put ‘Dines ahead before half time but the visitors responded with three late goals. Pat Aherne equalised from a penalty ten minutes from time. Kieran Long put Mungret in front and just before the end Aherne scored a second penalty kick to seal it.

Geraldines: Cian O'Brien; Dean McNamara; Thomas O'Grady; Conor Madigan; Ethan O'Sullivan; Conor Madden; Nathan Cross; Ousman Darboe; Tony Mambuana; Conor Lynch; Craig Collopy. Subs: Anthony Daly; Sean Langston; Mahdi Mirza.

Mungret Reg: James Roche; Jamie Enright; Mark Patterson; Conor Myers; Aaron Long; Darragh Killian; Hamza Selman Celik; Dean Shinners; Cian McNicholas; Pat Aherne; Kieran Long. Subs: Richie Burke; Ian Moore.

ROUND-UP

The big game in the Premier A League saw Kilmallock host Hyde Rgs with both sides chasing the promotion spot to the top flight.

Having lost in midweek to Caherdavin, Hyde were under pressure to get a result.

Kilmallock took the lead when Mark Hayes headed them in front before half time.

Alex Kiely headed the equaliser after the restart and Ben Kennedy sealed the win for Hyde with his 26th goal of the season.  

Janesboro are one win from a quick return to the top flight following a 3-0 win over Aodh O’hAnluain, Dion Lynch and Eoghan Burke were the winning scorers.

Murroe’s hopes a great escape are still alive following a 5-2 win over Moyross. Anthony McInerney scored all five for the winners.

Corbally Utd and Fairview Rgs B ended 1-1 with Jack Koyce netting for ‘View.

In a pulsating Div 1A cup tie, Star Rvs led league leaders Southend 3-2 deep in injury time when the referee was forced to abandon the game.

Two stunning goals from Emmet Hehir and one from Jake Downey had the home side 3-0 in front. Southend fought back and a brace of goals from Denis Brophy set up an exciting finish until it was spoiled by scenes that have no place on a football field.

In the Div 1A League, Regional Utd B clinched promotion when they beat closest rivals Pallasgreen 1-0 at the county venue. Ben Carew scored the only goal of the game.

Caherconlish and Granville Rgs played out a 3-3 draw. Mark Ryan scored all three for the home side. Jamie McNamara, PJ Holohan and an own goal accounted for Granville’s scores.

In Division 1B, Corbally Utd leaped to the top of the table following a 3-0 win over Nenagh B. Daire Cleary, David Madigan and Adam Prenderville scored the goals that give United a one-point lead over Aisling who have two games less played.

Gerry Fitzpatrick, Eric Sheehan and Tony Burns scored the goals for Lisnagry in a 3-1 win over Kilfrush while Glenview also won 3-1, away to Wembley with Josh Page (2) and Sean Keane netting.

In the Open Cup, Corbally C qualified for the semi finals following a 3-1 win at Hyde Rgs.

David Madigan, Nathaniel Zabatakis and his younger brother Thiseas netted for the winners.

Division 2A leaders Herbertstown hit Mungret Reg C for eight courtesy of Colm Bermingham (2), Kevin Meade (2), Mike Bob Ryan, Killian Reale, Tim O'Keeffe and Mike Bob Ryan.

Goals from Liam Kelly (2), Darragh Cunningham (2) and Rory Barry helped Coonagh Utd B to a 45-3 win over Abbey Rvs for whom Leonard Casey Plunkett bagged a hat trick.

Croom Utd kept pace with the leaders following a 3-2 win over Charleville. Tom O'Shea, Zach Hayes and Conor Laffan scored the winning goals while Pike beat Meanus 3-0.

Keelan Corbett scored one and Shane Franklin netted twice, bringing his tally across all teams for the season to a whopping 57 goals.

The top game in Division 2B saw Balla B edge out Brazuca Utd 1-0 to open a six-point lead with two games remaining. Balla scored the all-important goal in the first half when a crossed in ball was headed on by Kevin Nolan and David Donnan was on hand to direct it home and secure promotion for the Blues.

Newtown Rovers kept alive their hopes of pipping Brazuca for the second promotion spot with a big win over Mungret D. Nabil Kassam, Graham Power and Cillian O’Sullivan shared eight goals for the winners.

Moyross B beat Dromore Celtic 4-1 to keep alive their Division 3A promotion hopes live.

Dean Quinn, Korey Brown, Jody Llewelyn and Tyrone Fitzgerald scored for the winners

In the Youth Division One title race, Aisling hold a three-point lead over Pike Rvs with two games remaining.

On Saturday, the leaders ran riot against Mungret with Alex Keating, Cathal Downes, Timmy O Sullivan and Davy Brennan all on target.

In the semi-final of the Youth Div 2 cup, Corbally shocked league champions Holycross 2-0 to reach the decider versus Cals or Nenagh. Aaron Fahy scored both goals for Corbally.

RESULTS:

Div 1A League

Granville Rgs 2 Holycross 1

Caherconlish 1 Southend 4

Div 1A Cup

Patrickswell (off) Pallagreen, E Darcy

Div 1B League

Castle Rvs 1 Kilfrush 1

Aisling Annacotty D 4 Corbally Utd 0

Nenagh B 1 Wembley Rvs 1

Lisnagry A 2 Newport B 1

Div 2A League

Shelbourne (off) Croom Utd

Hyde Rgs B 0 Herbertstown 7

Abbey Rvs 3 Aisling Annacotty C 2

Meanus 5 Coonagh Utd B 4

Div 2B Cup

Ballynanty Rvs B 2 Cappamore B 1

Div 3A League

Carew Park B (off) Geraldines B

Youth Div 1 League

Pike Rvs 5 Mungret Reg 1

Murroe 4 Lough Derg 4

Youth Div 2

Shelbourne 0 Holycross 2

Kilmallock B 0 Pike Rvs B 2

Premier League

Coonagh 2 Geraldines 3

Premier A League

Caherdavin Celtic 2 Hyde Rgs 1

Moyross 6 Corbally Utd 6

Murroe (off) Janesboro

Athlunkard Villa 4 Summerville Rvs 1

Aisling Annacotty 2 Prospect Priory 2

Div 3A Cup

Summerville Rvs (off) Dromore Celtic

Div 3B League

Caledonians 0 Nenagh C 4

Corbally Utd C (off) Lough Derg

Under 17 Div One

Corbally Utd (off) Pike Rvs

Fairview Rgs 7 Lough Derg 1

Under17 Div Two

Shelbourne (off) Mungret Reg

Under 17 Div 3 League

Caherconlish (off) Geraldines

Holycross 8 Murroe 0

Div 1A Cup

Star Rvs 3 Southend 2 (Game abandoned 90 minutes)

Div 1A League

Caherconlish 3 Granville Rgs 3

Div 1B

Castle Rvs (off) Aisling Annacotty D

Corbally Utd B 3 Nenagh B 0

Kilfrush 1 Lisnagry A 3

Wembley Rvs 1 Glenview Rvs 3

Div 2A

Herbertstown 8 Mungret Reg C 1

Croom Utd 3 Charleville 2

Murroe B 0 Kilmallock B 2

Coonagh Utd B 5 Abbey Rvs 3

Pike Rvs B 3 Meanus 0

Div 2B

Brazuca United 0 Ballynanty Rvs B 1

Mungret Reg D 1 Newtown Rovers 8

Cappamore B 5 Athlunkard Villa B 3

Youth Div 1

Mungret Reg 1 Aisling Annacotty A 9

Pike Rvs (off) Lough Derg

Youth Div 2 Cup

Caledonians (off) Nenagh AFC

Corbally Utd 2 Holycross 0

Premier League

Geraldines 1 Mungret Reg 3

Newport (off) Charleville

Pike Rovers 0 Aisling Annacotty 1

Premier A League

Kilmallock 1 Hyde Rgs A 2

Murroe 5 Moyross 2

Janesboro 3 Caherdavin Celtic 0

Corbally Utd 1 Fairview Rgs B 1

Div 1A League

Pallasgreen 0 Regional Utd B 1

Open Cup

Hyde Rgs 1 Corbally Utd C 3

Div 3A

Dromore Celtic 1 Moyross B 4

Shelbourne B 6 Carew Park B 3

Summerville Rvs B 3 Geraldines B 0

Div 3B

Newtown Rgs B (off) Hill Celtic

Under 17 Div 1 Cup

Lough Derg 0 Corbally Utd 1

Pike Rvs 6 Fairview Rgs 0

U17 Div 2 League

Corbally Utd 0 Nenagh AFC 3