Limerick Desmond League junior soccer round-up

Desmond Cup Quarter-Final

THE biggest shock in recent seasons and the definitely the biggest shock since I took over this position came in the leagues blue riband competition last Sunday afternoon.

The venue was Feenagh, the occasion the Desmond Cup quarter final-when second in division three side Feenagh knocked out second in the Premier Division and title chasing Broadford Utd on penalties after a one all draw. In a historical context this will be Feenaghs first time reaching the semi-final of the competition.

Broadford were odds on favourites but this is the joy of cup football which has a habit of levelling the playing fields at times. Plenty of endeavour from both sides but no goals in the ninety minutes.

The premier side took the lead midway through the second half of extra time through Liam O’Shaughnessy but with the last action of the game Feenagh levelled when Cian O’Connor coolly lobbed the keeper from a Luke Ryan pass. Both sides converted their first four spot kicks, Feenaghs ones coming from Ger O'Gorman, Luke Ryan, Bobby Donegan and Ryan O'Gorman.

Cian O'Connor made it 5-4 before keeper Dan Gayer took centre stage, diving to his right to save Broadford’s fifth spot kick and sent the strong Feenagh support into raptures.

Feenagh: Dan Gayer, Michael O'Flynn, Patrick O'Doherty, Billy O'Sullivan, David Ryan, Cian O'Connor, Daire Hannigan, Maurice Fitzgibbon, Ger O'Gorman, Bobby Donegan, Luke Ryan. Sub used Ryan O’Gorman. Also, Colm Daniels, Ruairi O’Connor, Shane Ryan, David Ryan, Conor Heenan, Jonathan Leary.

Broadford Utd: Patrick Stack, Alan Fitzpatrick, Jack Hogan, Liam O’Shaughnessy, Alan Power, Jack Pierse, Sean Brosnan, Joe McAuliffe, Ray Lynch, Michael Brosnan, Derry McCarthy. Sub used Dean Prunty. Also Gearoid Greaney, Martin Daly.

Referee: Eugene Noonan.

Premier Division: 

It was a big game and a big result for leaders Rathkeale on Sunday morning when they travelled to play Glin Rovers and came away with a comfortable three nil win. Eoin Kelly put the sky blues ahead on seven minutes as the league leaders limited Glin to chances from set pieces and at the break it was one nil.

The second half continued in the same trend as Rathkeale managed the game well, only weathering attacks again from set pieces. It was from just a situation that Glin almost equalized, only for keeper Aaron Hogan to pull off an unbelievable save from a Gary Culhane free kick on sixty-five minutes.

Mikey Morrisey and Jack Hennessy than saw good headers saved by Michael Stack as Rathkeale continued to press. Eventually the visitors got their second when Hennessy curled a left footed shot into the bottom corner with fifteen minutes left on the clock.

Victory was put beyond doubt in the last minute when Eoin Barry headed home from a Gary Enright corner. So Rathkeale return to winning ways

Breska Rovers fine season in the premier division continued on Sunday with a two one win at home to Newcastle West Town. After a scoreless opening half two goals in a five-minute spell early in the second half from Keith Punch and Sean Coughlan, both set up by Karl Buckley nudged Breska into a good position.

Town got back into the game when Shane Stack send a half volley past James Purcell. However, the home side defended resolutely to the finish.  

After two wins and two draws in their last four games Creeves Celtic were away to Kilcornan on Sunday morning where their unbeaten run came to an end with a three one loss.

Alan Ryan gave Kilcornan the lead on seven minutes with Creeves levelling matters not long after but the home side were back in front before half time with a goal from the in from Patrick Ivess. Into the second half and a red card for Kilcornan and a penalty for Creeves and what was to follow was a definite sense of déjà vu as Keel Moloney saved the resultant spot kick.

This was their third penalty miss in two games after they failed twice from the spot the previous week away to Abbeyfeale Utd in a nil all draw. This miss was compounded when Mark Curran insured the points for the home side with two minutes left on the clock.  

Division 1 

Dromore Utd went from third from the bottom to joint third after a three one win away to Newcastle West Town Reserves in a see-saw season. Evin Kelly put Dromore ahead on the half hour when a Ciaran Deegan shot fell kindly for the striker to score from close range.

Despite having good chances, it remained one nil at half time to the visitors as Ethan Kirwin, in his first game in goals for the Reserves made some good saves. The Reserves battled away and levelled matters on the hour mark when a pass from Josh Joyce found Patrick Noonan on the right side of the penalty area and his low right foot shot went into far corner. Up the seventy fifth minute it was anyone’s game but Dromore brought on three substitutes and the fresh legs gave them fresh impetus.

Three minutes later Dromore were back in front when Shaun Barry set up Ryan Kelly to shoot low to the corner. It was game over five minutes after their second goal with Ryan Kelly fired a rebound to the net after the keeper parried another Deegan effort.

Division 2 

Glin Rovers B are in a good position when they moved three points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand after a three-nil win at home to Mountcollins.

It was scoreless at half time and it remained this way till midway through the second half when Ger Riordan made the breakthrough for Glin. Another Cian Culhane penalty put the home side two up before a Ger Lyons free kick wrapped up the points for Glin. 

Knockaderry stay in third and two points ahead of visitors Abbeyfeale Utd B after the sides drew two all on Sunday afternoon. Keith Danaher put the home side ahead right on half time with Abbeyfeale drawing level on sixty-five minutes. Rob Egan then put Knockaderry back in front again with a superb goal to the top right corner with Abbeyfeale drawing level with two minutes to go.

Division 3 

Action was confined to the bottom half of the table on Sunday. Carrig Celtic were three two winners at home to Dromore Utd B. A Sean Dwyer penalty opened the scoring for the home side with Seanie King doubling the lead before half time. Into the second half and a second goal from King put the hosts well in control but an Ethan O’Brien penalty was just reward for the Dromore efforts.

Then with ten minutes left another penalty for Dromore which O’Brien again converted for his fifth goal in two games. The last game to be reviewed was in Clarina where Breska Rovers B and Shannonside B drew two all. Breska led two nil inside the opening twenty minutes with goal from Diarmuid O’Connor and Evan McGregor on target. Mike Behan’s late penalty gave the visitors hope and the hope turned into a point when AJ Moroney pounced with a low finish to secure a point for the visitors.

Limerick Desmond Youths Cup 1st Round

At The Paddocks on Saturday Ballingarry progressed to the last eight after a penalties win over Broadford Utd. Tristen Hamilton put Broadford ahead in the first half with the hosts equalizing in the second half with a goal from Cathal McMahon.

With no goals in extra time it was on to spot kick where Ballingarry won four two where home keeper Sam Faulkner saved the vital penalty. In the quarter finals Ballingarry will be at home to wither Glantine or Shannonside.