Limerick Desmond League round-up as Athea United earn promotion to Premier Division

LIMERICK DESMOND U17s CUP FINAL:  

Broadford Utd (0) 1 (Turlough O’Neill 71 mins)

Newcastle West Town (0) 0 

LAST Friday evening at Mick Hanley Park, Clounreask Broadford Utd, under the management of Joan Croke lifted the Limerick Desmond U17 Cup with a 1-0 win over defending champions Newcastle West Town. It wasn’t a game that wouldn’t enthuse the football purists, especially in the first half but that wont bother Broadford too much.

The first half was a cagey affair with no real clear-cut chances to shout about. Donnadh Daly had a good position just inside the Broadford area but he dragged his effort wide of the far post. At the other end Broadford had three corners in quick succession but nothing came of them.

Ciaran Dore had a half chance when he got onto a ball over the top but he was stretching to make a good connection on the ball but wasn’t able to do so. Town keeper Mariusz Palen then gathered a Turlough O’Neill free kick from near the end line on the left as the game moved into the second quarter.

From a Broadford corner at the other end an effort from Jack Hogan was deflected away while good play down their right saw A O’Kelly send an inviting delivery across the six yard box but no Broadford player was able to get on the end of it. 

Gerard O’Callaghan then made a great block on Ciaran Dores effort after some hesitancy in the Broadford area while the last meaningful action of the half saw an effort from Dore skim the Broadford crossbar.

Half time 0-0. 

The second half began with the same pattern emerging and it wasn’t till past the hour mark that the game began to open up. It was Broadford that were starting to carry the greater threat with right sided midfielder Alan O’Kelly very prominent as was Jack Hogan in midfield.

On sixty-two minutes Turlough O’Neill had a shot across goal go a foot wide while a few minutes later a goalmouth scramble in the Town box needed two last gasp blocks as well as an effort taken off the line. More determination by Hogan saw him win a free near the corner flag while at the other end a super timed tackle by Adam Leahy denied Josh Joyce a clean run on goal. On seventy-one minutes came the game’s only goal.

A free kick just inside his own half by Shane Geary broke behind the Town defence for O’Neill to drill a half volley across the keeper and nestle in the bottom right corner.

The Town response was positive and Dore had a great strike from twenty-five yards tipped over the bar by Naoise O’Connor with the resultant corner been spilled by the keeper before eventually being cleared. Not long after a Town corner on the right was only half cleared with the ball coming to Dan Cullen whose low shot was deflected just past the left post.

Broadford were determined not to concede and centre half Leahy twice got great defensive headers away which epitomised his sides desire not to concede a late goal. It wasn’t going to be Town’s night even with a fine effort late on from Cathal Hayes after he had come through the middle with a strong run whose finish was just over the bar.

After the match Pat Mulvihill of the LDFL presented Broadford Utd captain Jack Hogan with the U17 trophy.

Player of the match Alan O’Kelly (Broadford Utd)

Broadford Utd: Naoise O’Connor, Gerard O’Callaghan, Adam White, Sammy Egan, Shane Geary, Adam O’Kelly, Jack Hogan, Ben Croke, Ryan Sheehan, Turlough O’Neill, Adam Leahy. Subs: Ronan O’Sullivan, Tristen Hamilton, Sean Walsh, Robert Jefferies, Gavin Farrell, Eoin Walsh.

Newcastle West Town: Mariusz Palen, Illya Stashak, Jack O Sullivan, Dylan Browne, Cathal Hayes, Fionn McNamara, Donnadh Daly, Ben Asante Amoah, Ciaran Dore, Josh Joyce, Dan Cullen. Sub used: Paul Logue. Also, Joe Mullenger, Robert O’Grady, Sean Lyons, Jack Hurley, Lewis Mulqueen, Maciek Swidzinski 

Referee: Ger O’Connor, Referee Assistants Sean Hartnett, Pat O’Donnell.

DIVISION 1: 

Athea Utd are promoted to the premier division after they secured back to back promotions after a six one win at home to Rathkeale B.

The title was secured after their win on Sunday and Shannonsides failure to win away to St Itas which would have kept the season alive going into the last round of fixtures nest weekend. Kevin Murphy headed Athea ahead on fifteen minutes after a cross from brother Darren while six minutes later Andrew O’Riordan drilled home their second.

Another Murphy header made it three nil before the Division 1 player of the year grabbed another hat trick, this time from the penalty spot after a foul on O’Riordan. Five minutes from half time Mark Horgan made it five with a finish from a tight angle to leave the home side firmly in the driving seat.

Into the second half and not as many goals but Darren Murphy made it six before Rathkeale got a consolation. After the final whistle news filtered through to The Vales that Itas had won one nil with a second half goal from Darragh Lane. Athea Utd will be presented with the league trophy next weekend after their game away to Shannonside.

These two results have implications at both ends of the table as Rathkeale B slip into the bottom three. Going into next weekends final series of games Itas are on 19 points.

Askeaton are on 18 points and Rathkeale B are on 17 points and all three sides play sides that are either relegated already or can’t improve their league position. So, a nerve wrecking weekend ahead in division one.

Elsewhere in division one there were goals aplenty at Pairc Eas Geitne on Sunday with Askeaton playing host to already relegated Shountrade and needing to win to keep their place in division one alive. The visitors opened the scoring but Matt Moane soon had the home side level and it wasn’t long before Jeff Duggan fired Askeaton in front.

Sam Duggan stretched their lead before Shountrade got one back before half time. After the break Cian Smith fired to the net after capitalizing on a shot that was parried by the keeper to make it four two.

The hosts added two more goals from Jeff Duggan and Niall Barry before the visitors got a third late on. Dromore Utd received a walkover from already relegated Newcastle West Town Reserves. 

PREMIER DIVISION: 

It’s as you were in the premier division but the top two sides Broadford Utd and Rathkeale will rue missed opportunities over the weekend with both sides dropping points in draws with

Breska Rovers and Ballingarry respectively. Rathkeale were away in Ballingarry and it was looking good for the sky blues when Timmy Hogan put them ahead in the first half and they held this advantage all the way to the last minute when Dean Clancy equalized with a last-minute penalty.

That draw put them level with Broadford who were away to Breska Rovers on Sunday morning but the game in Clarina ended scoreless and so Broadford nudge a point in front again.    

It looks like Glin Rovers have done enough to secure their top-flight status for another season with two wins at the weekend. On Friday night they beat Abbeyfeale Utd two nil with second half goals from Shane Culhane and Zack Behan.

Then on Sunday they were four nil winners at home Kilcornan with goals from Gary Culhane (penalty), Zack Behan with a brace and Tadgh Culhane. Kilcornan are relegated as a result if this loss.

The situation at both ends of the table remains intriguing. At the top Broadford lead Rathkeale by a point with both sides having four games left to play and a pivotal game takes place this Friday night when Rathkeale host Broadford in Holycross. It may not decide the title but the winner will be ai a good position.

Then again, the sides may cancel each other out. At the bottom end of the spectrum Kilcornan will join Granagh Utd in division one next season. Ballingarry remain in the bottom three despite that point picked up against Rathkeale while above them Creeves Celtic, Abbeyfeale Utd and Newcastle West Town are not out of the woods either.  

RICHARD HOGAN CUP: FIRST ROUND: 

There were four first round ties in the Hogan Cup down for decision at the weekend. Ballingarry B were convincing 7-0 winners at home to Dromore Utd B having led by six goals at half time from Brian Fitzgerald, Francis Kiely, Darren Geary (2) and Jamie Ryan (2) with the latter also scoring in the second half.

In form Glin Rovers B accounted for visitors Shannonside B with James Broderick, Ger Riordan, Edmond Horan, Cian Culhane and Darragh McKenna their scorers in a five-nil win. 

Glantine were three nil winners over Knockaderry while Carrig Celtic got a walkover from Feenagh.

Richard Hogan Cup Quarter Finals  

Broadford Utd B V Glantine  

Breska Rovers B V Mountcollins/Abbeyfeale Utd B 

Ballingarry B V Carrig Celtic 

Ballysteen V Glin Rovers B