Limerick rivals face-off in exciting quarter-final derby at Kennedy Cup

LOCAL rivals, the Limerick District League and the Limerick Desmond League, will face off in a mouth-watering Kennedy Cup U14 inter-league quarter-final derby fixture at University of Limerick this Wednesday at the University of Limerick, 2pm.

Limerick District finished top of Group 5, winning all three of their round robin fixtures, to advance to the quarter-finals. 

The Desmond League topped Group 7, their passage to the Kennedy Cup quarter-finals following their impressive 1-1 draw with traditional competition heavyweights the Dublin District Schoolboy League (DDSL).

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Limerick District, who had beaten the Inishowen League in their opening group game on Monday, followed up with two further wins on Tuesday.

District opened their Tuesday fixtures with a 3-0 win over the Mayo League. The goals came from Ciaran Maher, of Fairview Rangers, and a brace from clubmate Craig Sheehan.

Limerick District then led Wexford 3-1 at half-time in their second game on Tuesday. Adam O'Shea's classy opener was cancelled out by a Wexford counter attack. However, two goals from Luke Gleeson, of Pike Rovers, put District back in control, while O'Shea, of Newport, also went on to grab a second goal before full-time.

Meanwhile, Limerick Desmond, who had opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over the West Waterford/East Cork Legaue thanks to a hat-trick from Precieux Malonga, of Newcastle West Town, on Monday evening, returned to action on Tuesday with a fixture against the Dundalk League.

The game ended in a 4-0 win for the Desmond side with Precieux Malonga back among the goals, while his clubmate Darragh Collins, Kyle Smith, of Abbeyfeale, and Joey O'Regan, of Shountrade, was also on traget.

Desmond then faced the DDSL in a crucial final round fixture on Tuesday evening. 

After the Dublin side hit the front, Malonga struck for his fifth goal of the group stages to secure a precious equaliser for the Desmond side. 

The share of the spoils saw Limerick Desmond edge out the DDSL for top spot on goal difference and so secure their place in Wednesday's Kennedy Cup quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, the Limerick County Schoolboy side are in Kennedy Cup Shield quarter-final action today, Wednesday, at UL, 4pm.

Limerick County will take on the Dundalk League.

Limerick County were in three-team Group 4 for the competition. After their defeat to an impressive Cork side on Monday evening, County lost out 4-2 to the Kildare League on Tuesday.

The Limerick County goals were scored by Gearóid Maguire, of Cullen Latin, and the second a penalty from Olaf Karulski, of Croom, following Billy Ryan’s persistence.

2025 SFAI Kennedy Cup Squads:

Limerick District: Ryan Twomey (Pike Rovers), Joseph Cronin (Corbally), Mark O'Grady (Aisling Annacotty), Kareem Mohamed (Fairview), Shay McGuire (Pike Rovers), Casey Doran (Caherdavin), Luke Gleeson (Pike Rovers), Ciaran Maher (Fairview), Mudathir Alkahafu (Aisling Annacotty), Adam O'Shea (Newport), Craig Sheehan (Fairview), Noah Cassidy (Aisling Annacotty), Aden France (Fairview), Jack Houlihan (Mungret), Shane McAnulty (Newport), Samuel Crowley (Fairview), Kacper Poprawski (Shelbourne), Mohamad  Gabyow (Fairview), Oliver Galecki (Shelbourne), Lee Ryan (Pike Rovers)

Management: Cillian Finn (Geraldines AFC), Terry Waters (Fairview Rangers), Noel O'Connor, Aidan Ryan, Sean Heaney, JJ Hartigan

Limerick Desmond: Michael Giltenane (Shountrade), Kian Brosnahan (Abbeyfeale), Adam Mulqueen (Ballingarry), Harry Smith (Breska Rovers), Darragh O'Connor (Newcastle West Town), Ronan Magner (Abbeyfeale), Darragh Collins (Newcastle West Town), Dan Healy (GB Rovers), Precieux Malonga (Newcastle West Town), Joey O'Regan (Shountrade), Kyle Smith (Abbeyfeale), Joseph Carr (Newcastle West Town), Liam Gibourne (Newcastle West Town), Sean Walsh (Creeves Celtic), Conor Mullenger (Newcastle West Town), Eamon Kirby (Adare), Conor Geary (Shountrade), Jimmy Mullane (GB Rovers), Dan Phillips (Newcastle West Town), Stephen Pierce (Broadford Utd)

Management: Dean Muane (Rathkeale), Caragh Kelly (Kilcolman Rovers), Alasdair MacInness (Ballingarry), Tom Healy (Glin Rovers)

Limerick County: Jamie Ryan (Charleville), Marko Boyle (Charleville), Adam McLoughlin (Charleville), Adam O'Mahony (Charleville), Tadgh McMahon (Charleville), Lucas Lira (Charleville), Sean Whelan (Kilmallock), Dati Curley (Kilmallock), Conor Ryan (Kilmallock), Tom O'Mahony (Kilmallock), Conor Philpot (Castle United, Cormac O'Farrell (Castle United), Conor Kiely (Cullen Latin), Gearoid Maguire (Cullen Latin), Billy Ryan (Cullen Latin), Dan Ryan (Murroe), Tom O'Brien (Murroe), Alex Sibert (Herberstown), Olaf Kuruski (Croom), Alfie Donnegan (Holycross)

Management: JP McLoughlin (Charleville), Paul Philpot (Castle United), Tom Brady (Kilmallock), Sandra Boyle (Charleville)