Limerick Desmond League junior soccer round-up

IT WAS another very busy weekend in the Desmond League as the junior soccer season comes to its conclusion. Find all the information below.

Premier Division

We now we have a Premier Division play-off for the title after Rathkeale and Broadford Utd finished the regular season level on 42 points.

The last such playoff was in 2018 when Abbeyfeale Utd defeated Rathkeale 3-0 with goals from Cormac Roche, Darren Keane and Pakie O’Connor and the sky blues will be looking for a better outcome in a few weeks time.

Broadford used their game in hand at home to Glin Rovers to move level with Rathkeale on 39 points, Mathew Daly with a brace and Jack Pierce their scorers in a 3-1 win. So, it was down to ''Super Sunday' with Rathkeale facing a tricky game away to Breska Rovers with Broadford away to already relegated Ballingarry. 

Broadford did their part with a 6-2 win at The Paddocks. They led four nil with a brace from Derry McCarthy and one each from Alan Fitzpatrick and Jack Pierce before Eoin Lynch got one back before half time.

Premier player of the year Michael Brosnan made it five one before McCarthy completed his hat-trick. A Cian McGoey penalty near the end was a mere consolation for the home side in what was a very disappointing season.

Rathkeale, for their part had a trickier assignment against a Breska Rovers side who have adapted very well to life in the top flight, their ten league wins being proof of this.

It was a tough game for Rathkeale but the sky blues controlled the game with Eoin Barry and Sean O’Shea marshalling their defence effectively. Alan O’Shea and Jack Hennessy were linking well on the left flank while midfielder Thomas Quilligan was equally effective in midfield.

Indeed, Quilligan has been the creator of a number of goals for his side over the last number of games and on Sunday almost set up Timmy Hogan on two occasions but at half time the game remained scoreless.

The sky blues kept up the pressure and it finally paid off when Hogan rose highest to powerfully head the ball to the roof of the net from a Gary Enright corner from the left.

A minute later the influential Quilligan took a shot from half way after spotting the keeper off his line only for the ball to come off the crossbar.

Breska, in fairness pushed forward when they could and put pressure on the visitor’s defence but the visitors were able to deal with this. Eoin Kelly had a good chance late on but was denied by a fine save from the Breska keeper.

And so, we are all set for a playoff which will take place in Mick Hanley Park, Clounreask. Who will be crowned champions is anybody’s guess and is much too close to call but I’m sure there will be plenty of debate on the merits of who will lift the league title.

The remaining games saw Creeves Celtic win 3-0 at home to Kilcornan with Newcastle West Town drew one all with Abbeyfeale Utd.

Division 1 

There was big disappointment for Rathkeale B last night week as a two one loss at home to Desmond Cup winners Dromore Utd meant that their 11 year stay in division one is at an end.

Like Ballingarry in the Premier Division, the restructuring of the divisions this season has gone against Rathkeale B They needed to win against Dromore to force a relegation playoff with St Ita's but it didn’t pan out that way. 

Evin Kelly put the visitors ahead when he slotted home after some great work from his brother Oran on the right wing. The evergreen Ray Hogan equalized with twenty minutes to go but it was Dromore who would score next when Kelly got his second from the penalty spot after a foul on Eoin Mulvihill.

This was Ray Hogans last goal for Rathkeale in his last game for his club after playing junior soccer for 27 years and 40 years playing with his club.

Ray has won every trophy from all divisions bar the Desmond Cup when Rathkeale were runners up three times. It goes without saying that all involved with soccer in the Limerick Desmond Football League the very best for the future.

Riedy Cup semi-final

Division Two champions Glin Rovers B will have a trip to Mick Hanley Park to look forward to when they will contest this seasons Riedy Cup Final after a two one win at home to Ballingarry B last Thursday night.

The inform Cian Culhane scored after only ten minutes and they held this lead to the break. Five minutes into the second half and Ballingarry were level but with five minutes left Ger Lyons hit the winner for Glin.

In the final Glin will play either Dromore Utd or Glantine who won their respective quarter finals over the weekend. Dromore were at home to Shountrade who took the lead with a 30-yard screamer from their centre forward but by half time Dromore wee ahead thanks to goals from Ciaran Deegan and a Shaun Barry penalty.

A second half hat trick from Oran Kelly as well as goals from Ciaran Barry and Evin Kelly saw the hosts comfortably through. Meanwhile Glantine were two one winners at home to Mountcollins on Saturday night.

Richard Hogan Cup quarter-final

The 2023 Richard Hogan Cup Final will be an all division two affair. Abbeyfeale Utd B were away to Breska Rovers B in the last quarter final and won 5-2. The visitors were three up at half time, Dylan Murphy with a brace and Dylan O’Connor getting their goals.

By the midway point of the second half goals from Tom Clancy and Conor O’Neill half narrowed the gap but Abbeyfeale finished strongly and added two more goals from Jack Quinlivan and Cathal McCoy.

RESULTS

Tuesday, May 23

Premier Division 

Broadford Utd 3 Glin Rovers 1 

Division 1 

Rathkeale B 1 Dromore Utd 2

Thursday, May 25 

Riedy Cup semi-final

Glin Rvs B 2 Ballingarry B 1 

Saturday, May 27 

Riedy Cup quarter-final 

Glantine 2 Mountcollins 1 

Sunday, May 28  

Premier Division 

Ballingarry 2 Broadford Utd 6 

Breska Rvs 0 Rathkeale 1 

Creeves Cel 3 Kilcornan 0 

Newcastle West Town 1 Abbeyfeale Utd 1 

Riedy Cup quarter-final  

Dromore Utd 7 Shountrade 1 

Richard Hogan Cup quarter-final 

Breska Rvs B 2 Abbeyfeale Utd B 5

FIXTURES

Friday, June 2  

Richard Hogan Cup Semi Finals (et & pens) 

Glantine V Glin Rovers B 7pm (E. Barrett)  

Ballingarry B V Abbeyfeale Utd B 7pm (G. O’Connor) 

Monday, June 5 

Riedy Cup semi-final (et & pens) 

Dromore Utd V Glantine 7pm (E. Noonan) 

Friday, June 9 

Premier Division League Title Playoff (et & pens) 

Broadford Utd V Rathkeale (TBC) 7pm 

Saturday, June 10 

Richard Hogan Cup Final (et & pens) 

Ballingarry B/Abbeyfeale Utd B V Glantine/Glin Rovers B 6pm 

Sunday, June 11 

Division 3 

Dromore Utd B V Breska Rovers B in Clarina  

Tuesday, June 13 

Division 2  

Mountcollins AFC V Glin Rovers B (provisional) 

Knockaderry AFC V Ballingarry B (provisional) 

Abbeyfeale Utd B V Glantine (provisional) 

Friday, June 16 

Riedy Cup Final (et & pens) 

Dromore Utd/Glantine V Glin Rovers B 7pm