Limerick District League round-up on dramatic weekend of junior soccer action

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Aisling Annacotty 3 Fairview Rangers 1
(Match abandoned 80 mins)

SATURDAY evening's crucial Premier League game between Aisling and Fairview in Annacotty turned into an evening of high drama for those present.

Despite clashing with Argentina v Australia in the World Cup, a fine crowd turned out and the only disappointment was that the game did not finish.

The match referee called a halt to proceedings on 80 minutes with Aisling leading 3-1, citing verbal abuse from the sidelines.

The sides must now wait for the council to decide the destination of the three points.

Aisling came into the tie having lost the services of Shane Clarke, Thomas Clarke, Shane Tracy and Blake Curran at the start of the new transfer window.

The Annacotty side now look set to revert, in the main, to fostering their own youngsters from a huge annual batch of talent coming through their ranks.

Judging from their performance on Saturday they need not worry. Granted, it is early days but there is plenty for the management to work with.

With the focus surrounding Aisling's defections, the concession of an early goal suggested that the worst predictions might come true.

However, the home side showed tremendous character and spirit along with some superb football to turn the tie around.

Fairview forced a number of corner kicks before taking the lead within minutes of kick off. Conor Coughlan's delivery was headed in by Jack Cross.

Led by the superb Chris Smith, Aisling kept their composure and got back on level terms when Theo Joyce was upended in the area and new signing Joel Coustrain slotted home from the penalty kick.

Level at the break, Aisling took the lead ten minutes into the second half when Coustrain raced onto Joyce's flick on and his shot from inside the area found the net despite the best efforts of Fairview keeper Aaron Savage.

Fairview's expected response did not materialise and Aisling increased their lead from another spot kick. Substitute Sean Ezekannagha played a through ball to send Adam Foley clear.

A Fairview player racing back got in a last-ditch tackle which the referee adjudged foul and a second yellow and a penalty kick followed. Adam Foley duly tucked away the spot kick.        

Minutes later the game was abandoned.

Aisling Annacotty: John Mulready; Eliah Riordan; Mike Green; Chris Smith; Richkov Boevi; Paul Brennan; Tony Whitehead; Darren Coughlan; Adam Foley; Joel Coustrain; Theo Joyce. Subs: Sean Ezekannagha; Mike Curran; Colin Scanlon; Danny O'Donovan.

Fairview Rgs: Aaron Savage; Wayne Colbert; Scott Kirwin; Jason Cross; Jake Dillon; Paudie Walsh; Steven Bradley; Shane Duggan; Jack Cross; Conor Ellis; Conor Coughlan. Subs: John Mullane; Shane O'Brien; Jake Leamy; Calum Murphy; Leon Johnson.

Nenagh AFC 1 Pike Rovers 3
PIKE'S chance to take outright lead in the Premier League also suffered a premature end.

Pike were leading the game 3-1 at the break when the referee took ill and felt unable to continue. Again, it remains to be seen how the council will resolve this one.

All eyes were on Pike parading their new signing Shane Clarke and the country's most prolific striker took little time to open his account, latching onto Aaron Murphy’s flick on before dinking over Eoghan Tinkler in the Nenagh goal.

Murphy made it 2-0 following good pressing by Colm Walsh O’Loughlin before Nenagh pulled one back through Aidan White.
Aaron Murphy restored Pike’s two goal advantage getting on the end of Nathan O’Callaghan’s cross to score.

Nenagh AFC: Eoghan Tinkler; Eoin Coffey; Saeed Ryan; Bryan McGee; Kieran Barr; Mark McKenna; Alan Sheehan; Dylan Morrison; Adam Ryan; Aidan White; Matt Spain.

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Nathan O'Callaghan; Danny O'Neill; Eddie O'Donovan; Pat Mullins; Kyle Duhig; Sean Madigan; Steve McGann; Aaron Murphy; Shane Clarke; Colm Walsh O'Loughlin.

Carew Park 1 Charleville 5

AT the other end of the table, Charleville posted a highly impressive 5-1 win at Carew Park to ensure the bottom six will be in a dogfight for survival.

Cian McNamara scored twice for the winners with Gavin Mullins, Donal O'Connell and Luke Doyle also getting in on the act.
An own goal accounted the lone goal for an out of sorts Carew Park XI.

Carew Park: Evan Moloney; David Power; Evan Lynch; Cian Lynch; Darragh Walsh; Gary Griffin; Danny McCarthy; Mark Slattery; Aaron Nunan; Pat Boyle; Adam Dore. Subs: Francis Kett; Mark McGrath.

Charleville: David Parajnak; James Horgan; Dion Curtin; Aaron Smith; Gavin Mullins; Jack Callaghan; Joe Kavanagh; Cian McNamara; Gary Ward; Donal O'Connell; Luke Doyle. Subs: Eoin Clifford.

Mungret Reg 1 Janesboro 1
Mungret Reg are three points adrift of safety and were unable to close the gap on Janesboro after the sides shared the spoils on Sunday.

Josh O'Rahilly gave the home side the lead but a goal from top scorer Cillian O'Shea secured a crucial point for ‘Boro.

Mungret Reg: James Roche; Craig Prendergast; Gary Kelly; Conor Myers; Aaron Long; Richie Burke; Kieran Long; David Conway; Cian McNicholas; Aled Harkin; Josh O'Rahilly. Subs: Sean O'Sullivan; James White; Dylan Frawley; Sean Kinehan.

Janesboro: Finn Clancy, Frankie Herr, Eoghan Bourke, James Power, Jack Horan, Niall McNamara, Conor Arthur, Bradley McNamara, Dylan Kelly Higgins, Conor Martin, Karl Turner. Subs: Cillian O’Shea, Hamza Celik, Musaed Abdulrahman, David McFarland.