Limerick District League weekend junior soccer round-up

FAI Junior Cup:

Old County FC 0 Ballynanty Rvs 1
Ballynanty Rvs travelled to Brickfields Park in Driminagh on Saturday to take on new boys to the FAI Junior Cup, Old County, in front of a huge attendance and did the business to reach the quarter finals of the FAI Junior Cup. 

Aidan Hurley’s headed goal on the hour mark was enough to see off a dogged Old County side who ended the game with nine men. 

Ballynanty started on the front foot and forced a succession of corners in the first quarter but failed to make the break through. 

It was the home side who, with their first real attack of substance, that came closest when danger man Callum Keane headed wide of Stephen McNamara’s far post after escaping the clutches of Josh Adam’s. 

As the half progressed James Fitzgerald became more influential and was a constant threat to the County back four, drawing numerous fouls but still Ballynanty found it hard to really trouble the goal meaning we had stalemate at the break. 

Rovers looked at different outfit right from the start of the second half, and only a  last ditch block stopped Thomas Byrnes from finding the net after been put away by a great ball from Darragh Hughes. 

Shortly after, the big moment of the game occurred when the referee, deemed the Old County midfielder to be guilty of a bad  tackle and issued a straight red. 

It was the queue for a Ballynanty onslaught. The breakthrough came just after the hour when Aidan Hurley got on the end of James Fitzgerald inswinging corner and headed home much to the delight of the couple of hundred who made the journey to the capital.

Balla had plenty of chances to put the result beyond doubt, with Conor Keane going close twice and Habideen Gbadebo forcing the Old County custodian into a smart safe. Having not tested the Ballynanty goal for the whole second period, the home side forced a late corner in the 93rd minute, which Callum Keane squeezed home at the back post, but much to relief of the visitors the referee had blown for an earlier infringement. 

Ballynanty have turned in much better performances this season but they will take heart from their ability to see out a game that sees them into the last eight of the tournament. 

Ballynanty Rvs: Stephen McNamara, Darragh Hughes, Adam Costello, Josh Adams, Thomas O'Connor, James Fitzgerald, Aidan Hurley, Thomas Byrnes, Cian Fitzgerald, Gbadebo Habideen, Adrian Power, Subs; Conor Keane.

Gorey Rgs 2 Fairview Rgs 1 (aet)
There was bitter disappointment for Limerick soccer on Sunday afternoon when Fairview Rangers crashed out of the FAI Junior Cup, going down 2-1 to Gorey Rgs after extra time. 

Following Ballynanty’s victory on Saturday there was high hopes that we might have two LDL sides in the last eight. Unfortunately, Gorey had other ideas and went on to cause the shock of the round. 

Things looked to be going to plan for Paul Danaher’s men when Jason Cross rose highest to head home at the far post from Shane Tracey’s free lick. 

The home side responded well and were denied an equaliser by the crossbar before Aaron Savage made a fine save to deny Stephen Moloney. 

Sound defending by the visitors ensured they carried the lead in at the break.

The home side emerged after the restart in determined mood and got their reward on 53 minutes when the dangerous Moloney found the target. 

Shane Duggan looked to have restored Fairview’s advantage but the officials spoiled the celebrations, ruling out the effort.
The remainder of the 90 minutes was a tense affair with the home side posing a threat from a number of in-swinging corner kicks. 

The home side took the lead in extra time thanks to an own goal and to compound Fairview’s bad luck, Jeffery Judge looked to be fouled in the area with time running out but the officials deemed it 'simulation' which saw them finish the game with ten players.   

The Blues will have to wait another year to try capture their tenth win of the competition but in the meantime, they have plenty still to play for this season. 

Fairview Rgs: Aaron Savage; Jeffery Judge; Scott Kirwin; Jake Dillon; Jason Cross; Shane Tracey; Shane Duggan; Brian Aherne; Jack Arra; Conor Coughlan; Darragh Rainsford, Subs Wayne Colbert, Conor Ellis, Sean Oyibo.

Premier League Games:

Pike Rovers 3 Nenagh AFC 0
Two teams who must be sick of the sight of each other clashed when Pike Rovers hosted Nenagh at Crossagalla on Sunday. 
With little between the sides in a couple of their four outings to date, Pike were keen to take advantage of their game in hand on the chasing pack and they achieved their goal with a professional like display to win 3-0. 

The result gives the Hoops a four-point advantage at the top of the table with nine games remaining. 

The opening goal arrived on eight minutes. Nathan O’Callaghan’s delivery to the front seemed to be keeper Eoghan Tinkler’s ball but Shane Clarke’s leap saw him flick the ball away from the keeper and into the net off the unfortunate Kieran Barr. 

A superb move by the visitors would have levelled the tie but for a superb save by Gary Neville to deny the excellent Saeed Ryan. 

Pike doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Colm Walsh O'Loughlin took advantage of a poor back pass to chip over the advancing keeper. 

Nenagh continued to ask questions of the home side but the contest was ended after the break when Shane Clarke headed in from Danny O’Neill’s delivery. 

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Danny O'Neill; Sean Madigan; Pat Mullins; Nathan O'Callaghan; Shane Walsh; Eddie O'Donovan; Colm Walsh O'Loughlin; Colin Daly; Aaron Murphy; Shane Clarke, Subs: Steve McGann; Adam Lipper; Kevin Barry; Kyle Duhig; Derek Daly.

Nenagh AFC: Eoghan Tinkler; Lee Mowatt; Saeed Ryan; Bryan McGee; Kieran Barr; Eoin Coffey; Adam Ryan; Dylan Morrison; Aidan White; Matt Spain; Nathan Kelly. Subs: Devlyn Courtney; Dan Ryan; Matt O'Gorman; Colm Hayden.

Janesboro 1-2 Coonagh United 
A bitterly cold morning for the game provided plenty of entertainment for the faithful fans of Boro and Coonagh at Pearse Stadium. 

Coonagh started brightly and created a few half chances but the home side took the lead against the run of play when the ball fell to Karl Turner on the edge of the box and he finished well into the top corner from outside the box giving Josh Sheehan no chance in goal. 

The visitors battled on and on levelled the to on the half hour mark. A foul on Ger Myles gave the striker the chance to dust himself down to convert the resulting spot kick. 

Coonagh continued to put the pressure on the home side and on seven minutes before the break they won a corner, expertly delivered by Ian Considine and Joey Sheehan headed home

The second half was a lively affair helped by referee Dermot Broughton, albeit without many clear-cut chances.
Both teams defended soundly for the rest of the game as Coonagh held on for a memorable win. 

Coonagh Utd: Josh Sheehan; Luke Doherty; Ian Considine; Niall Earls; Andrew Leydon; Joey Sheehan; Gordon McKevitt; Ger Myles; Ossama Saddudi; Eoghan O'Neill; Daniel Ikoghode, Subs: Ronan Lynch; Sean Hartney; Rory O'Neill.

Janesboro: Finn Clancy; Tom Clarke; James Power; Eoghan Burke; Jack Horan; Hugo O’hAnluain; Niall McNamara; Bradley McNamara; Conor Artur; Dylan Higgins Kelly; Karl Turner.
 

Charleville 2 Mungret Reg 0
Another crucial game in the relegation fight saw Charleville add to Mungret’s woes with a 2-0 win.

Paudie Murphy scored both goals for the Cork side to give them the perfect preparation for next weekend’s crucial Munster Junior Cup game. 

Lawson Cup:

Star Rvs 1 Aisling Annacotty 2
Premier side Aisling Annacotty were a relieved side at the sound of the final whistle in Lee Estate on Sunday when Division 1A side Star Rvs put up a great fight in their Lawson Cup bout before bowing out by the odd goal in three. 

Aisling have been in fine form of late and things seemed to be going to script when Liam Quinn had the visitors ahead at the break.

However the home side showed plenty of grit and determination and got an equaliser with a wonder strike from Jason Daly.  
The game was evenly poised when Aisling were awarded a free kick 25 yards out an a cleverly worker set piece saw Tony Whitehead drill a low shot past the excellent, former Brazuca keeper, Guilherme Texira.   

The Premier side had to bring all their experience to the fore to keep Star at bay to advance to the next round. 

Aisling Annacotty: Brian O'Connor; Sean O'Haodha; Gavin Dillon; Richkov Boevi; Eliah Riordan; Mike Green; Theo Joyce; Tony Whitehead; Adam Foley; Liam Quinn; Joel Coustrain, Subs: Paul Brennan; Ciaran Barry; Edward Ward; Darren Coughlan; Colin Scanlon.
 
Regional Utd 7 Lisnagry 1
Regional will play Aisling Annacotty in the quarter finals of the Lawson Cup following their easier than expected 7-1 win over Lisnagry on Sunday. 

Following their FAI exit last weekend, we waited to see how the Premier outfit would react but they did so in style. 

Eoin Duff chipped in with a double while Paudie Hartigan, Ewan O'Brien, Joe Lavan, Kieran O'Connell and Felipe Mostowy made up the tally. 

Regional Utd: Rob Shier; Luke Ryan; Joey Rushe; Andrew Cowpar; Rhys Foley; Shane Carmody; Paudie Hartigan; Kieran O'Connell; Joe Lavan; Brian O'Connor; Felipe Mostowy, Subs: Eoin Duff; Ewan O'Brien; Eduardo Almeida; Tom Frawley.