Limerick Desmond League junior soccer round-up

DESMOND CUP FIRST ROUND:

Shannonside B 3 (Mike Behan 2, AJ Moroney);

Granagh Utd 1 (Pa O’Donoghue)

THE shock result in the opening round of the Desmond Cup was in Horgan Park where Shannonside, bottom of division three knocked out premier side Granagh Utd.

Both sides are currently propping up their respective divisions with just one league win between them but nevertheless this was a huge upset. After a scoreless opening half veteran striker Mike Behan put Shannonside ahead with a fine effort from outside the box into the top corner and he then doubled the home sides lead from the penalty spot.

Shannonside were now full of confidence and made it three nil when AJ Moroney chipped the keeper from thirty yards. Granagh pulled one back when a Pa O’Donoghue cross ended in the net.

Ballingarry B (0) 3 (Denis Hayes, David O’Hanlon 2)

Shountrade (2) 4 (Sion Hickey 2, Calum Hourigan, David Nitzlander)

PLAYED under lights at The Paddocks last Friday night Shountrade edged out hosts Ballingarry B by the odd goal on seven but the result was more clear cut than the score line suggests as the visitors were four up.

Calum Hourigan opened the scoring for Shountrade with Sion Hickey doubling their lead and the latter made it three nil after the break from a free kick. Sub David Nitzlander got in on the scoring act before Ballingarry fought back with a brace from David Hanlon as well as a goal from Denis Hayes.

It was too little too late for the hosts as the four-goal deficit was just too much to overcome.

Glantine (1) 1

Askeaton (1) 3 (Caolan Rushe, Jeff Duggan, Niall Barry), AET

DIVISION one side overcome lower division opposition in Glantine with an extra time win on Saturday night. Askeaton started well but it was the home side who opened the scoring while before the goal Kieran Walsh nearly put the red and black ahead only to be denied by a classy save from keeper Patrick O’Connor.

Askeaton responded though and a Caolan Rushe goal had them level by half time.

No goals in the second half but Askeaton came very close, Jeff Duggan being very unlucky to see his header come back off the woodwork. On to extra time where two quick goals from Duggan and Niall Barry eventually saw Askeaton over the line.

Breska Rovers B (0) 1 (Orin Garvey)

Dromore Utd (2) 2 (Evin Kelly, Eoin Mulvihill)

It was division three against division one in Clarina as Breska Rovers B hosted Dromore Utd A. Scoreless until the hour mark two quick goals from Evin Kelly and Eoin Mulvihill put the away side on their way before a late goal from Breska sub Orin Garvey put a nice gloss on the score line for the Bs.

Ballysteen (0) 1 (Paul O’Shaughnessy)

Shannonside (2) 4 (Adam Bennett, Dave McDaid, Jack Hartnett, Pedro Tavares)

Two inform sides met in Ballysteen on Sunday where the division three leaders hosted second in division one Shannonside A. on the day it was the visitors who went into the hat for the second-round draw.

They were two goals to the goal at half time through Adam Bennett and David McDaid with Jack Hartnett extending the lead after half time. Sub Paul O’Shaughnessy reduced the deficit only for Pedro Tavares to restore Shannonsides three goal cushion.

Broadford Utd B 1  (Kenny Lynch)

Glin Rovers A 6  (Zach Behan 3, Jack Boland 2, Paul Sheahan (pen) 

SINCE the draw was made this was always going to be a tough task for division three side Broadford Utd B against premier opposition and so it transpired. Despite dominating possession Glin had only one goal to show for their efforts and that coming from Zach Behan right on half time.

Glin got out of the traps fast in the second half and in the space of an eight-minute period tacked on three goals from Jack Boland, Paul Sheehan from the penalty spot and another from Behan. Kenny Lynch got one back for Broadford but Glin added two more, Boland with his second and Behan again for his hat trick.

Rathkeale B (0) 0

Newcastle West Town A (1) 3 (Jamie Keane, Darren Lawlor, own goal) 

2022 finalists Newcastle West Town A will be aiming to go one better this season and they got over a potential banana skin with a solid three nil win away to Rathkeale B.

It was one nil to Town at half time thanks to Jamie Keane’s seventeenth minute opener. Two goals followed in the second half from Darren Lawlor and an own goal.

Carrig Celtic (0) 0

Feenagh (0) 0 

AET, Feenagh won 3-1 on pens

THE expected close game in the all division three tie panned out with penalties needed to separate Carrig Celtic and Feenagh, the latter winning three one on spot kicks, their scorers from the spot were Billy O’Sullivan, Cian O’Connor and Colm Daniels who scored the decisive penalty.

Kilcornan (0) 1 (Patrick Ivess pen)

Athea Utd (0) 1 (Steven McEnery)

Kilcornan won 3-1 on pens

LAST seasons semi-finalists Athea Utd will now focus on the division one league after the unluckily exited the Desmond Cup on penalties away to premier side Kilcornan. There was little to choose between the sides in the opening half and it remained deadlocked at half time.

Ten minutes into the second half defender Steven McEnery put the division one leaders ahead following a free kick but Kilcornan were level ten minutes later when Patrick Ivess converted a penalty.

The remainder of the second half was equally close and with no further goals it was onto extra time, no goals here either and so spot kicks were needed and here Kilcornan prevailed three one. Hero for the premier side was Keel Moloney who saved three Athea penalties. 

Rathkeale A (3) 5   

(Thomas Quilligan, Mikey Hickey, Eoin Barry, Timmy Hogan, Jack Hennessy)

Dromore Utd B (1) 2   

(Ethan O’Brien, Kieran Bourke)

NOT much trouble for premier division leaders Rathkeale A who had a solid five two win over Dromore Utd B. Goals from Thomas Quilligan and Mikey Hickey had them two up before Ethan O’Brien got one back for the division three side.

However, Eoin Barry restored their two goal cushion before half time. Into the second half and Timmy Hogan and Kieran Bourke exchanged goals to have the score at four two before Jack Hennessy rounded off the scoring with the sky blues fifth goal.

St Itas 0

Broadford Utd 4 (Sean Brosnan 2, Derry McCarthy, Alan Fitzpatrick) 

A LOCAL derby in Ashford with St Itas hosting premier side Broadford Utd A and it was the experience of the away side that saw them ease into the second round.

Sean Brosnan and Derry McCarthy had them two up at the break with Brosnan getting his second after the break before defender Alan Fitzpatrick rounded off the scoring.

Knockaderry (0) 0

Abbeyfeale Utd B (2) 3 (Liam Horgan, Cathal McCoy, Jack Quinlivan)

IN the all division two clash it was visitors Abbeyfeale Utd B who prevailed away to Knockaderry on a three nil score line. Abbeyfeale opened the scoring in the first half with a cracking strike from Liam Horgan and by half time it was two nil thanks to Cathal McCoy.

The home had chances in the second half but it was Jack Quinlivan who made it three nil and send his side into the next round.

Glin Rovers B (1) 1 (Ronan Culhane)

Abbeyfeale Utd (1) 2 (Jamie O’Connor, Dylan Murphy)

A POTENTIAL banana skin avoided for Abbeyfeale Utd A at St Josephs on Sunday morning with a narrow two one win over Glin Rovers B.

The premier sides starting line up containing just six players who were regular starters in last seasons double winning side with a number of B players now staking claims for places.

Jamie O’Connor put the holders ahead with Ronan Culhane levelling near half time. In the second half Abbeyfeale were on top and got the winner from Dylan Murphy.

Creeves Celtic (0) 0

Ballingarry (1) 3 (Dean Clancy 2, Declan Nash)

The only all premier game was in Newbridge where it was visitors Ballingarry that prevailed with a three-nil win over Creeves Celtic. An early Dean Clancy penalty gave Ballingarry a great start and the same played made it two nil from a free kick in the second half.

Declan Nash ensured their safe passage with the last kick of the game.

YOUTHS ACTION

Youths Division 1 

Only one game in division one and that was a two all draw between Breska Rovers and Newcastle West Town. Bobby Smith and Oran McNicholas the scorers for home side Breska.

Youths Division 2 

Glin Rovers join Shannonside at the top of division two after a fine three two win away to Kilcolman Rovers. The home side opened the scoring on fifteen minutes and missed a penalty to make it two nil.

Glin profited from this to equalize through Aidan Healy and then take the lead before half time with a Breen Cunningham goal. Eight minutes into the second half Healy made it three one but on seventy minutes Kilcolman scored a second to leave the game delicately poised.

However, the penalty curse struck again when the home side missed a second penalty on eighty-two minutes.

The other game was a derby game with Granagh Utd hosting Ballingarry and it was the visitors who won one nil with a goal from Cillian McMahon. 

Youths Division 3 

Feenagh have moved onto nine points and a share of the lead with Askeaton and Shountrade after a four one win at home to Rathkeale.

It was one all at half time with Rhys Dillon the Feenagh scorer. In the second half Feenagh pulled away with goals from Gary Donegan, Billy O'Gorman and Tomas Galvin from the penalty spot

Glantine youths turned the form book upside down at Pairc Eas Geitne last Saturday afternoon with a three one win against the league leaders. When the sides met in the reverse fixture back in November Askeaton won eight one while Glantine have been bottom of the table since.

On ten minutes Glantine were ahead with a fine finish from Seamai Kenny, a lead they held to the break and the same player made it two nil early in the second half. It was no surprise when Seamai finished the day with a hat trick before Luke Kelly got a late consolation for Askeaton.