Limerick Desmond League weekly junior soccer round-up

Premier Division:

Abbeyfeale Utd (2) 3 (Tommy Smith, Jamie O’Connor, Liam Collins) 

NCW Town (0) 1 (Darren Lawlor)

ABBEYFEALE Utd have won back to back league games for the second time this season and a third in a row in all competition after another impressive display at home to an in-form Newcastle side.

This was a repeat of last season’s Desmond Cup final where Abbeyfeale won two nil with goals from Chris Carey and an own goal. It’s also the first meeting between the sides since they met in the league cup back in September when they drew one all in The Demense.

It was a tense opening twenty minutes with both defences' standing firm. In terms of creativity Thomas Smith has been one of Abbeyfeale's promising players but on Sunday he turned finisher to put the home side ahead.

A moment of magic from Mike Kelliher who placed a perfect ball at the feet of Smith inside the box and with the keeper to beat he made no mistake to put the home side in front.

Ten minutes later and that lead was doubled when Jamie O’Connor blasted the ball through a crowded goal-mouth and thanks to a slight deflection sent the ball to the top left-hand corner. There were no more additional scores before half time with Abbeyfeale two goals to the good.

Two minutes into the second half Town were back in the game. Darren Lawlor received the ball about twenty-five yards from goal and took on two players and from just inside the box he placed the ball into the far corner. Despite a poor second half start, the home side stepped up a gear inside the closing half hour.

With twenty minutes to go Liam Collins was the unlikely hero, coming forward from defence to steer a powerful header home and restored the two-goal cushion after a great delivery by Smith. In the closing stages Abbeyfeale were the most likely to score again and they were full value for their 3-1 victory when the final whistle went.

Overall a good and important three points for Abbeyfeale and they will be looking to carry this form into next Sundays Weekly Observer Desmond Cup tie at home to Dromore Utd. Town are also in Desmond Cup action with a tricky home tie against Breska Rovers.

Abbeyfeale Utd: Shane O’Connell, Mike Kelliher, Conor Mullane, Oisin Woulfe, Liam Collins, Rory O’Brien, Dylan Murphy, Eoghan O’Connell, Jamie O’Connor, Thomas Smith, Dylan Quirke. Subs used TJ Lane, Ted Moloney, Joe Flaherty, Joe weir. Also Thomas Ward, Kieran Wynne.

Newcastle West Town: Andrew Ruddle, Joey Healy, Jamie Baynham, Donnacha Woods, Michael O’Keeffe, Leon Barry, Darren Lawlor, Darragh McCarthy, Jamie Keane, Shane Stack, Aaron Mullane. Subs used Alan Murphy, Ray Brouder, Dylan Singh. Also Scott Hurley, Jake Power, Noel Callanan, Ronan St John.

Referee: Ger O’Connor

RIEDY CUP FIRST ROUND:

The game of the weekend was in Woodfield where Newcastle West Town Reserves hosted fellow division one side Shannonside and progressed after an eventful afternoon’s football.

It certainly was a case of déjà vu for the hosts after the extra time and before the penalties when you think back to their league cup semi-final meeting against Athea Utd in Clounreask. On that night Athea went through on penalties after another five all draw.

Shannonside opened the scoring on twenty minutes with a goal from Mike Aherne before Charlie Power levelled the game up for the hosts before two goals in a five-minute spell from Pedro Tavares and Eoin Tucker put Shannonside three one up at the interval.

Into the second half and the Reserves pulled one back with a goal from Seoirse Joyce and the same player then levelled matters soon after. The topsy turvy nature of the game continued and player manager Chris Reidy put his side ahead before Shannonside’s Aaron Hanlon sent the game to extra time.

The drama was far from over. On to extra time and in the first period Ray Flaherty put Shannonside back in front but the Reserves showed character to equalize in the second period.

Josh Joyce joining his father on the score sheet to make it five all and send the game to penalties. After five penalties each it was 4-4 and the key to the Reserves advancing was keeper Kevin Mee whose save in sudden death which proved pivotal.

St Itas were comfortable winners at home to a game Breska Rovers B side on Sunday afternoon. The saints were three up at half time with goals from Aaron Kelly, Seanie Curtin and an own goal and in the second half from Michael Nolan and Michael Begley added two more. Conor McMahon, on his junior debut scored a fine goal for Rovers.

Division one league leaders Athea Utd, one of the strong fancies to win this competition will have to wait awhile longer after a shock one nil defeat away to Mountcollins who are bottom of division two and without a league win. Sean Lane was the Mountcollins hero when he scored the game’s only goal with ten minutes left. 

There was a goal too in Knockaderry in their all division two clash with Glantine and it was the away side who progressed with a last-minute penalty. 

Premier Division:

League leaders Rathkeale fell to their second loss of the season on Sunday morning with a one nil loss at home to Breska Rovers. The sky blues will admit that they played well below par but credit to Breska for their workman like performance and when they got the lead were able to defend it for the next hour or so.

The only goal came on twenty-nine minutes when their usually reliable Rathkeale defence got in a tangle to such an extent that a defender, in trying to make a tackle handled the ball in the box. Keeper and penalty taker James Purcell went the length of the pitch to take the spot kick which he rolled into the bottom right corner of the net.

Rathkeale will be disappointed that they didn’t really carve out any decent chances as Rovers held on for a very good win which moves them on to sixteen points and remain level with Glin Rovers.

Broadford Utd took advantage of Rathkeale’s loss to close the gap to the league leaders down to four points with two games in hand after their three one home win over Ballingarry.

Michael Brosnan put the home side ahead early on with Adam Hickey levelling matters by half time. Broadford did most of the pressing in the second half and came close on numerous occasions before Ray Lynch put them back in front before a third goal from a Michael Brosnan free kick sealed the win for the home side.

Glin Rovers stay level with Breska Rovers after their come from behind win away to Granagh Utd. The hosts went ahead from the penalty spot but Glin were soon level with a typical Tadgh Culhane header from a well delivered corner by his brother Gary.

Ajay Behan then finished well to leave Glin ahead at the break before adding a third in the second half, another Tadgh Culhane header from another corner by brother Gary.

Division 1 

Just the one game in division one and here Dromore Utd were two nil home winners against Askeaton with a goal in each half from Ryan Kelly and Ciaran Galvin. 

Division 2 

Leaders Ballingarry B lost for the second league game running when going down one nil away to Abbeyfeale Utd B on Saturday night, Olan Quigley with the game’s only goal. 

Munster Youths Cup Quarter-Final:

There was no joy for Granagh Utd away to Middleton Utd on Sunday in the quarter finals of the Munster Youths Cup.

Youths Division 1 

After losing at home to Newcastle West Town last week leaders Dromore Utd are back on winning ways with a four nil win away to Broadford Utd.

They were a goal to the good at half time with a goal from Ciaran McMahon who then completed his hat trick in the second half before Daniel Hickey rounded off the scoring.

Youths Division 2 

Joint leaders Shannonside lost in the league for the first time at the weekend when going down two one away to Ballingarry. Adam Bennett had given the leaders the lead in the first half with Ballingarry coming back to lead at half time and that’s how the scoring finished.  

Youths Division 2 

It’s getting very interesting at the top of division three with Feenagh and Shountrade locked together on twelve points with both sides having two more games left to play.

The previous week Shountrade won two one at home to Feenagh but in the reverse fixture last Saturday Feenagh came out on top. A tight first half remained scoreless at the break and the second period followed the same pattern for the most part.

Eventually the deadlock was broken on seventy-eight minutes and in tremendous style by Tomas Galvin whose half volley flew into the roof of the net.

A second from Galvin on eighty-five minutes effectively won the game for Feenagh and a really exciting conclusion to the league awaits us.