Limerick Desmond League and Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Leagues soccer round-up

Youths Division 2:

SHANNONSIDE got the point required to win the youths division two title after a one all draw at home to Kilcolman Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

Phillip Kearney had the home side ahead at the break with Kilcolman earning a point through a converted penalty in the second half.

After the game Timmy King from LDFL presented the Shannonside captain with the league trophy.

Youths Division 3 

FEENAGH are division three champions after a four nil win away to Glantine on Saturday night and the clubs first title at youths’ level. Earlier in the day nearest challengers Shountrade lost away to neighbours Rathkeale so Feenagh just needed a draw but won the league in style with a convincing four nil win.

Feenagh were on top throughout but had to wait until the twenty sixth minute to take the lead after a surging run from Billy O'Gorman ended with him picking out Tomas Galvin to slip the ball past the advancing keeper.

On forty minutes Feenagh were firmly in the driving seat when they added a second, opening goal scorer turning provider on this occasion as Galvin picked out Bobby Donegan to finish to the Glantine net. Into the second half and Feenagh continued to press and were rewarded when Donegan converted from the penalty spot following a foul on Aidan McInerney.

It was game, set and match when Ewan Keating completed the scoring with a close-range finish on eighty-two minutes.

Feenagh Squad: Thomas Walsh, Jack Morrissey, John O'Leary, Ruairi O'Connor, Aidan McInerney, Bryan Murray, Bobby Donegan, Billy O'Gorman, Tomas Galvin, Jack Lawlee, Ewan Keating, Gary Donegan, Michael Heenan, Thomas Ryan, Killian O'Sullivan, Josh Aspinall.

Earlier in the day Rathkeale defeated neighbours Shountrade five two with a brace apiece for Oscar Markham and Liam Gillard while Cian Costelloe was their other scorer.

Youths Division 1 

IN division one Newcastle West Town were home winners against Broadford Utd, their goals coming from Dan Cullen (2), Ciaran Dore (4), Prince and an own goal.  

PREMIER DIVISION 

Glin Rovers (0) 2 (Zach Behan, Tadgh Culhane)

Creeves Celtic (2) 3 (Tommy Dillane, Bryan Meade, Seamus Mangan)

GLIN Rovers lack of consistency has seen them drop to a midtable position after a promising start to the season while Creeves Celtic are battling hard to move away from the trap door to division one. Last Sunday Creeves got into an early two goal lead and extended it a quarter of an hour or so into the second half. The Glin fightback yielded two goals but brave defending allowed the away side to get an invaluable three league points.

Creeves are now just two points behind Ballingarry with a game in hand and the sides have yet to meet in Newbridge so it will be a very interesting month or so to see who will retain their premier status.      

From the kick off the away side showed their intentions with a well struck shot from Seamus Mangan that Mike Stack in the Glin goal held on to. On five minutes a chance for the home side when youth’s player James Broderick was played in behind the Creeves' defence but was fouled just outside the box by keeper Rob Bradley who escaped with a yellow card.

Up stepped Gary Culhane with the free kick that Bradley palmed away at his left post.  on eleven minutes Creeves were ahead when a corner from the right was headed on at the near post by skipper Tommy Dillane and found the roof of the Glin net.

It was nearly two nil five minutes later only for brave goalkeeping by Stack to deny Andrew White and Bryan Meade in quick succession.

Apart from the early free kick Glin didn’t create much and they looked a bit out of sorts and this was reflected in the second Creeves goal.

The home side had a couple of chances to clear the ball and a loose pass out of defence was seized upon by Meade to curl the ball past the keeper and inside the right post. Indeed, Meade nearly got a second for himself soon after with a curling effort that wasn’t too far away from the far corner.

The chances kept coming for Creeves with Mangan and Meade both going close. At the other end a good pass from Broderick put Zach Behan in behind the Creeves defence but Bradley was off his line quickly to smother the ball at the edge of the area.

Glin were at last starting to put some good moves together and a great cross from the end line by left back Conor Shine went to the back post where a defender got the ball clear under pressure from James Wallace. Meade had the last chance of the half after good work involving White and Adam Kearns. Half time it was all to do for Creeves who were two down and lost Gary Culhane to injury.

Playing into their favoured town goal for the second half a surge from Glin was expected. We had to wait seven minutes for an effort on target and that came from Gary Kelly whose header from a Behan corner on the left was just over the bar.

Two minutes later another foul on Broderick on the edge of the box, another free kick, this time Paul Sheehan took it and it was on target but Bradley got down to scramble the ball away at his left post.

There was a scramble of sorts at the other end soon after when keeper Stack received a back pass and somehow took the ball around a Creeves player before clearing the ball to safety. Certainly, high risk. It got worse for Glin on the hour mark when Mangan curled home a free kick from the edge of the box after a foul on Meade.

Certainly, a score line nobody expected but it changed four minutes later with a deft header from Behan had the home side back in the game. Ten minutes later it was definitely game on when a Kelly free kick just inside the Creeves half was floated in by Kelly was met by Tadgh Culhane who sent a looping header to the roof of the net.

Creeves nearly restored their two when a corner from their right was headed goalwards by Darragh O’Connor only for a defender to block it and when the ball came back to O’Connor his second attempt hit the butt of the post. Sub Billy Hogan then had a great chance for Glin when he was played in from the right side of the box but didn’t trouble the Creeves keeper.

Glin put on pressure in the closing stages but couldn’t find the net a third time. Full time Glin Rovers 2 Creeves Celtic 3.

Glin Rovers: Michael Stack, Brian Donovan, Conor Shine, Gary Culhane, Tadgh Culhane, Marty McSweeney, Zach Behan, Gary Kelly, James Broderick, Paul Sheehan, James Wallace. Subs used Jack Boland, Billy Hogan.

Creeves Celtic: Rob Bradley, Darren Kearns, Anthony Mullins, Tommy Dillane, James O’Connor, Darragh O’Connor, Jerome O’Connor, Andrew White, Adam Kearns, Bryan Meade, Seamus Mangan. Subs used David Dunne, Ray Brouder. Also, Jack Enright, Brian Nash, Evan Fitzgerald.

Referee: Pat King.

Elsewhere in the premier division it’s a case of two points dropped for premier division leaders Rathkeale after a one all draw away to Newcastle West Town on Sunday morning.

It was one all at the break, Noel Callanan putting Town ahead and for Newcastle West player Thomas Quilligan equalizing for the sky blues. Breska Rovers continued their decent league form with a win away to Kilcornan. Kevin Foster opened the scoring for the away side before Anthony Cregan replied from close range for Kilcornan.

By half time Breska had a two-goal cushion with goals from Karl Buckley and Bobby Smith. Breska added four more after the break from TJ O’Connor, Bobby Smith, Darragh O’Sullivan and Niall Quane to send Rovers into second place.

With the withdrawal of Granagh Utd the Premier Division table has been adjusted. As things stand Rathkeale lead Broadford Utd by two points though the leaders have played two games more.

A further point back is Breska Rovers who are having a fine season after their long-awaited return to the top flight. Who will win the premier is still anybody’s guess but the meeting of Rathkeale and Broadford Utd later on in the season in Holycross could be pivotal to the destination of the league title.

Riedy Cup Second Round

In the local derby game Glantine showed great battling qualities to come from two down to win three two away to Abbeyfeale Utd B. The home side were two up at half time but second half goals from Brian Sheehan and Alan Kelly forces extra time where Mikey Gavin got the winner for Glantine.

Dromore Utd could be on for a second final appearance at Mick Hanley Park as they progressed to the last eight of the Riedy Cup with a three one win at home to Rathkeale B. A Shaun Barry penalty had them ahead at half time with the visitors levelling early in the second half.

However, Dromore finished strongly and goals from Ryan Kelly and Ciaran Deegan put them through on the day. Ballingarry B were away to Carrig Celtic and were convincing four nil winners. They were three up at half time with goals from Darren Geary, Jamie Ryan and Alan Cronin with the experienced Francis Kiely adding a fourth in the second half.

After their surprising one nil win at home to Athea Utd in the first round it was much more plain sailing for Mountcollins on Sunday. On this occasion it was a convincing six one win at home to Shannonside B with goals from James Brouder (2), Jamie Lenihan, Evan Lacy, Seamus Murphy and Tom McCarthy. 

Shountrade got a much-needed boost with a come from behind win over Ballysteen. Played in the Manor Fields Shountrade did it the hard way when coming from three down to win on penalties. Scorers for Shountrade were Callum Hourigan, Evan Fitzgerald and Stephen Conway with the Ballysteen scorers being Paul O’Shaughnessy with a brace and Colm O’Flaherty.

The remaining tie saw Glin Rovers B receive a walkover from Feenagh.

SFAI U14 INTERLEAGUE ALL-IRELAND CUP FINAL: 

Limerick Desmond (1) 3 (Tiernan Kelly, Brooklyn Delahunty 2)

Kerry League (1) 2 (After extra time)

IN last week’s notes manager Niall O’Connor concluded his preview by saying 'Let’s bring home the Cup' and that is exactly what Limerick Desmond did with a 3-2 extra time win over Kerry played in the splendid setting of University of Limerick on Saturday last.

We witnessed history in the making as Limerick Desmond captured the inaugural SFAI U/14 Boys Inter-League All-Ireland Cup with a spirited and extremely hard-earned win over a good Kerry side. Finals can be tense but this is an understatement as far as last Saturday is concerned and definitely wasn’t for the faint-hearted supporter or indeed manager. 

The management team of Niall O’Connor, Tommy O’Connor and Kevin Taylor gave a vote of confidence to the team that started the semi-final against NEC two weeks previous for the biggest game in the league’s history since 2016 when our U15 Boys beat NDSL 3-2 in Cahir.

There was big support for the boys on the day and they gave plenty vocal encouragement throughout. We played with the breeze in the first half and dominated the possession stakes as a result of this. We started on the front foot and a good ball down the right came to the over lapping Ryan Foley who sent over a sweet cross to the back post where Dylan Buckley just failed to get a telling strike on goal.

A Kerry attack was then halted by splendid covering by eft back Aaron Murphy. Back came Limerick Desmond and another foray forward by Foley saw him get to the end line and this time he sent over a volleyed cross which again came to Buckley but a Kerry defender was able to clear any potential danger.

The play switched to the other end and the Kerry number eight got behind our defence and his low shot left footed that keeper Zach Bennis got his finger tips to the ball to make sure even though it looked like the ball was going out of play.

The game was beginning to open up now and a cross by the Kerry right winger was acrobatically put behind for a corner by Ben Hough which was punched clear by Bennis.

We than had a good few minutes where we got on top and Sean O’Flynn brought a very good save from the Kerry keeper with the follow up by Eamon O’Sullivan blocked by their centre half.

On fifteen minutes and against the run of play Kerry opened the scoring when a stray pass was seized upon by the Kerry left winger who powered into the area and his sweet strike with his left foot across the keeper and into the top right corner.

Limerick Desmond now faced a mental challenge as it was the first time that they have fallen behind in a game but there is great character in this side and this was reflected when we equalized eight minutes later.

Between the Kerry goal and our equalizer, we had a good chance when a surging run by Brooklyn Delahunty took the ball from inside his own half and went past a number of Kerry players before hitting a rasper that the Kerry keeper could only parry but he gathered the ball at the second attempt.

On twenty-three minutes we were level. A cross from the right wasn’t dealt with by the Kerry defence, their number four seeing his attempted clearance get altitude more than distance, Brooklyn Delahunty back headed the ball to Tiernan Kelly. The Newcastle West Town player still had lots to do as he swivelled on the proverbial sixpence and wrapped his right foot around the ball and placed the ball low into the bottom right corner for his fourth goal in the competition.

Kerry almost took the lead when their number seven came down the right and cut into the area but a great leg save by Bennis kept the sides level. Just before half time another Bennis save, this time Kerry broke in from the left with the keeper getting down well to parry the ball away at his near post and when the ball was played back in from the end line the keeper gathered the ball to bring the first half to a conclusion. Half time 1-1.

The second half started with Kerry doing the early pressing and using the breeze to good effect but our defence stood up manfully and rode out that early surge by Kerry.

We responded and great work down the inside left channel by Dylan Buckley won us a corner but the corner was poor and gave Kerry the chance to break but nothing came of it on this occasion.

There was a let off for Kerry eight minutes into the second half when a ball from Eoin Hennessy put Buckley behind the Kerry defence and he lobbed the keeper only for their number four to hook the ball over his head and clear the ball and their luck was in again when the ball bounced into the keeper’s hands.

Fifteen minutes into the second half and Kerry were back in front. An attack down their right was whipped in low by their number seven, John Ross O’Reilly did well to cut out the ball but it only came to number six who squared the ball for the Kerry number ten to drill the ball low into the bottom left corner.

Another test of character for our boys and they didn’t drop their heads even though it looked like Kerry were getting the rub of the green.

With twelve minutes left we were back level, a Kerry attack was broken up and the ball was played to Tiernan Kelly, who took the ball from deep in his own half and shrugged off two Kerry players before playing a delightful through ball to Brooklyn Delahunty who showed some deft skill to shift the ball onto his left foot and roll in past the advancing keeper.

Game on again and soon after we had a great chance to go ahead for the first time when Buckley wriggled himself into space and brought a fine stop from the Kerry keeper.

Play then swept down field and the Kerry number seven, and not for the first time in the game put in a great cross from the right but keeper Bennis grabbed the ball in the air when under pressure in a crowded goalmouth.

And so, onto extra time and as happened many times before extra time can lack the intensity and endeavour of normal time and this proved the case in the first period of extra time especially. The second period had everything, goalmouth scrambles, last gasp tackles, inspirational blocks and one fantastic chance that went abegging. Thankfully it was the latter that let us off the hook. 

The first four minutes or so were dominated by Kerry as our defence led a charmed life on more than one occasion. A run from midfield by the Kerry number six saw him shoot low from outside the area, Bennis parried his effort before their number eight played the ball into the six-yard box where a combination of John Ross O’Reilly and Ben Hough somehow managed to clear the ball to safety.

Another Kerry attack from their right saw the ball crossed in, sub Sheagh Mulvihill couldn’t clear the ball and when it bounced behind him their number eleven volleyed the ball well over the crossbar.

Then came the moment of magic which reverberated across the soccer fields of West Limerick and I still think you can hear the cheering and celebrating.

Not for the first time in the game Tiernan Kelly was involved in the build up when he skipped past a Kerry player and took the ball on a few paces before clipping a diagonal ball behind the Kerry defence, Delahunty got onto it and chipped the ball over a defender before going past another defender and as the ball touched the ground the striker drilled the ball to the Kerry net. Cue pandemonium.

After this Kerry threw everything at the Limerick Desmond defence in a bid to level the game up but our defence was resolute.

And so that concluded the action in UL on Saturday as Limerick Desmond U14s were crowned inaugural SFAI U/14 Boys Inter League All Ireland Cup Champions.

Limerick Desmond: Zach Bennis (Dromore Utd), Ryan Foley (Breska Rvs), Aaron Murphy (Abbeyfeale Utd), John Ross O’Reilly (Breska Rvs), Ben Hough (Creeves Celtic), Rowan Collins capt, (Shountrade), Eamon O’Sullivan (Shountrade), Eoin Hennessy (Breska Rvs), Tiarnan Kelly (NCW Town), Seán O’Flynn (Broadford Utd), Dylan Buckley (GB Rvs), Brooklyn Delahunty (Dromore Utd), Michael Kirby (Shountrade), Charlie McCarthy (Shountrade), Sheagh Mulvihill (GB Rvs), Mikolaj Pater (NCW Town), Thomas McMahon (Dromore Utd), Andrew Johnson (Shountrade), Cian Barry (Dromore Utd), Matthew Walshe (NCW Town).

Management: Niall O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Tommy O’Connor (Dromore Utd), Kevin Taylor (Breska Rvs)