Geraldines close the gap on leaders after Premier League win over Pike

PREMIER LEAGUE

Geraldines 2

Pike Rovers 0

Geraldines moved to second in the Premier League following an impressive 2-0 win at home to Pike Rvs.

As usual, a big crowd turned out in Garryowen and witnessed the home side make it 10 points from their last four games to move within two points of leaders Fairview Rgs.

Pike could have taken an early lead but Steven McGann was denied by a fine save from keeper Jose Zaquieu. Geraldines took full advantage of the let off and opened the scoring after six minutes.

Kian Mitchell played Tony Mambouana through and the striker clipped the ball over the advancing Gary Neville to the back of the net.

The home side doubled their lead after 24 minutes when James Fitzgerald delivered a free kick into the area and former Pike Rvs manager Robbie Williams powerfully headed home.

The Dines were reduced to ten men on the hour mark but battened down the hatches to secure a clean sheet and three valuable points.

Geraldines: Jose Zaquieu, Shane Dillon, Aaron Hickey, Robert Williams, Aaron Grant, Kian Mitchell, Tony Mambouana, Gareth Ronan, Famara Kassama, James Fitzgerald, Conor Keane, Subs: Leon Johnson, Ousman Darboe, Jack Doyle, Kevin Barry.

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville, Ethan Joyce, Paddy O'Malley, Kyle Duhig, Bobby Amadasun, Aaron Hough, Leon Daly, Joseph Murphy, Dylan Murphy, Steven McGann, Alex Keating, Subs: Samual Casey, Brendan O'Dwyer, Cathal McNamara.

Moyross United 0

Regional United 7

Moyross’s tale of woe continued when well beaten by a bang in-form Regional United XI who hit seven goals without reply. Jake Power got the visitors off to a flying start in and Padraig Murphy adding a second before the quarter hour mark.

Eoin Duff extended the lead with a brace to leave Regional 4-0 ahead at the interval. Seán Connelly made it five three minutes into the second half before Duff completed his hat-trick on the hour mark. Alex Murphy rounded off the scoring.

Moyross United: Michael O'Donoghue, Lee O'Halloran, Leon Hoare Fitzgerald, Korey Brown, Aaron McCarthy, Terence Casey, Rian Goggin, Kane Troy, Cian Power, Sean Griffin, Daniel Ikoghode, Subs: Harry Fleming, Andrew Leyden, Christian Mubiala.

Regional United: Robert Shier, Padraig Murphy, John Forson, Seán Connelly, Andrew Cowpar, Andy Quaid, Brian O'Connor, Jake Power, Eoin Duff, Dylan Kelly Higgins, Filip Mostowy, Subs: Joseph Lavin, Ryan Gilmartin, Shane Donegan, Alex Murphy.

Kilmallock United 3

Nenagh AFC 2

A vital game at the wrong end of the table saw Kilmallock United eke out a superb 3-2 win over Nenagh AFC to take them out of the drop zone.

Matt O’Gorman gave Nenagh the lead with a superb goal but two goals inside four minutes after half an hour put Kilmallock in front. Mark Hayes and a Paul Doona penalty kick accounted for the scores.

Kyle Tierney scored on the hour mark to give Kilmallock a crucial two goal advantage. That goal was to prove crucial as O’Gorman scored a second from the penalty spot leaving the minimum between the sides at the end.

Kilmallock United: Lorcan Casey, Jack Stephen Barry, Bjorn Downes, Steven Kiely, Aaron O'Hanlon, Jason Heffernan, Kyle Tierney, Mark Hayes, Paul Doona, Jack Maguire, Aidan Walker, Subs: Barry Sheedy, Dwayne Bagnell, Dylan O'Connell, Cian Barrett, Shane Lyons, Ciarán Collins.

Nenagh: Mark McKenna, Adam Brennan, Lee Mowat, Kieran Barr, Conor McCormack, Conor Hanniffy, Brian Treacy, Daniel O'Meara, Matthew O'Gorman, Colm Hayden, Kieran O'Brien, Subs: Aaron Mitchell, Jamie Thomas Ryan, Casey Finn, Alex McKenna, Justin Donnellan.

Roundup

The top game in the Premier A League pitted second against third when Hyde Rgs hosted Caherdavin. In the end the sides had to settle for a share of the spoils after an entertaining 90 minutes.

Hyde bossed the early exchanges but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when Callum O'Hanlon headed home in the 27th minute. Alan Neill added a second six minutes later when in perfect position to fire into an empty net.

Evan Shine reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after a hand ball. Jamie Hogan brought Hyde Rangers level in first-half stoppage time when he pounced on a loose ball after Evan Shine’s shot was blocked.

The second half created a number of half chances but the two sides cancelled each other out for the most part as they settled for a point apiece. The teams lines out as follows:

Hyde Rangers: Sam Guerin, Adrian, David Lynch, Richard Benn, Jonathan Sommers, Mark Moroney, Scott Quaide, Jamie Hogan, Evan Shine, Eamon Doyle, Subs: Jack Nash, Zac McInerney, Rhys Barry, Nick Vargas Avalos Barry.

Caherdavin Celtic: James Linnane, Eoghan Flanagan, Alan Neill, Niall Earls, Rhys Meehan, Rian Hartery Donnelly, Sean Meagher, Liam Morris, Cathal O'Connell, Jamie Faulkner, Callum O'Hanlon, Subs: Joshua Campbell, Patrick Faulkner, Daniel McInerney.

Leaders Corbally United A increased their lead at the top of the table following a 3-1 win over Regional United B. Glenn Mitchell gave Corbally an early lead in the sixth minute, but David Burke equalised for Regional five minutes later.

Liam O'Sullivan restored Corbally's advantage in the 20th minute to give the home side a 2-1 half-time lead. David Thompson added the crucial third after 75 minutes to secure the points.

Charleville A joined Caherdavin in third place following an emphatic away performance to record a six-goal victory over Prospect Priory A.

Jack Callaghan scored three for the winners with Aaron O'Connor netting a brace. Luke Hudner made up the winner’s tally while Narcisse Tshibangu scored a consolation goal for Prospect.

Star Rovers fought back from a two-goal half-time deficit to earn a share of the points with Herbertstown A. Bradley McNamara opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 28th minute, with Oisín O'Grady adding a second on the stroke of half-time.

Tyrique McNamara-Leamy extended Herbertstown's lead seven minutes into the second half. Star Rovers responded through Jake Gallagher in the 53rd minute, Bryan Thompson equalised in the 65th minute and Jordan Guerin completed the comeback seven minutes later.

Carew Park A claimed a narrow away victory over Summerville Rovers A winning by the odd goal in five. Pat Ahernre was the Carew hero bagging all three goals. Emanuel Alfred and Conor O’Leary replied for Rovers.

Newport Town A and Shelbourne A shared the points following a four-goal encounter. Both sides found the net twice, with neither able to establish a winning advantage. The draw leaves both teams with a point from the fixture. Goalscorers were not available.

In Division 1A, Pike Rvs received a walkover from Pallas to increase their grip on the lead. Cappamore A maintained their challenge near the top of Division 1A with an emphatic victory over Parkville A.

Brian O'Leary and Aaron Smith had Cappamore ahead when Eoin O'Shea gave Parkville hope with two goals in the 27th and 30th minutes to bring the sides level. However, Ryan Deere restored Cappamore's lead before the break.

Smith extended the lead in the 61st minute and completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot three minutes later. Cian Tierney added a sixth in the 66th minute before Deere rounded off the scoring five minutes from time.

Corbally United B snatched a dramatic victory over Ballylanders with two goals in stoppage time. Ballylanders made the better start, with Pádraig McGrath opening the scoring after just two minutes and Philip O'Sullivan making it 2-0 in the ninth minute.

Vinnie Jones pulled one back for Corbally in the 40th minute to leave the home side trailing 2-1 at half-time. Ian O'Donoghue equalised in the 70th minute, but McGrath restored Ballylanders' advantage three minutes later.

Corbally refused to give up and O'Donoghue struck again in the fifth minute of added time before Harry Bennis scored a minute later to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Aisling Annacotty B secured all three points with a first-half victory over Southend United. Nataniel Kubicki broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, with Gift Amadsun adding a second four minutes later to give the visitors a comfortable half-time lead. Neither side added to the score after the break.

In Division 1B, League leaders Aisling Annacotty D maintained their unbeaten record with a convincing victory over Brazuca United. Jason Daly gave Aisling an early lead in the fourth minute, with Liam Danaher making it 2-0 in the 29th minute.

Brazuca responded through Rotarescu Mandalin five minutes later, but Gerard Fitzpatrick restored the two-goal cushion in the 36th minute. Ben McNamara added another two minutes later to give Aisling a 4-1 half-time advantage.

Fitzpatrick completed his brace in the 73rd minute before Emanuel Cristhian Da Silva Cunha grabbed a late consolation for Brazuca. Aisling remain top of the division with 23 points from nine games, two points clear of Kilmallock United B.

Goals from Breen Ryan 2, Eric Sheehan and Lee Park gave Lisnagry a 4-2 win over Newport for whom Darragh Meaney and Ben Wiest replied.

Caherconlish strengthened their position in the upper reaches of Division 1B with an emphatic victory over Hyde Rangers B. Keith Moran 2, Michael Koyce 2, Dara Prendergast, David Corbett and Aaron Power scored the winning goals.

In Division 2A, Leaders Lough Derg A maintained their perfect league record with a convincing away victory over Croom United. James Hanly gave the visitors an early lead in the fifth minute, with Jason Monaghan adding a second three minutes later.

Seán Óg Hayes pulled one back for Croom in the 33rd minute to leave the home side trailing 2-1 at the interval. Sean Lyons restored Lough Derg's two-goal advantage in the 70th minute before Jack Scullane added a fourth deep into stoppage time.

Mungret Regional C continued their good run of form with an impressive away victory over Coonagh United. Liam Reilly opened the scoring with Eamon McSweeney doubling the advantage before the interval. Liam Ahern increased the lead in the 58th minute before Niall Gibbons made it 4-0 nine minutes later.

Coonagh staged a late response, with James Hodkinson reducing the deficit in the 84th minute and Gerard Hodkinson adding a second in stoppage time, but Mungret had done enough to secure the points.

Bridge Celtic recorded their first league victory of the season with a convincing five-goal success over Aisling Annacotty C. Shane Byrnes opened the scoring in the 11th minute, with James Crotty adding a second nine minutes later.

Crotty struck again four minutes into the second half before Julian Heaney extended the advantage in the 52nd minute. Hugh Costello completed the scoring eleven minutes from time.

Herbertstown B produced the biggest winning margin in Division 2B, hitting seven without reply against Corbally United C courtesy of Nick Hayes 2, David O'Connell 2, Ed Dooley Christian Higgins and Callum Ahern.

Prospect Priory B strengthened their position in the top half with a 2-0 victory over Shelbourne B. Wesley Mulqueen gave Prospect the lead in the 25th minute before Scott O'Sullivan made sure of the points ten minutes from time. Prospect remain unbeaten in fourth games, with two wins and two draws.

Holycross B also collected three valuable points with a 2-0 away victory over Athlunkard Villa B. Joseph Farrell proved the difference between the sides, scoring in the 28th and 67th minutes to claim both goals.

Caherdavin Celtic B recorded a narrow but important 1-0 away win against Murroe B. Morgan Conroy scored the only goal of the game in the 44th minute, giving Caherdavin the win. Cappamore beat Dromore Celtic 3-0 in the remaining fixture.

Northside Legacy beat Castle Rvs 4-2 to remain top of the table in Division 3A. Dylan Franklin and Jake Murphy were on the mark while Jamie Flaherty replied for Castle.

Pike Rovers C proved much too strong for a young Prospect Priory C running in scores through Nathan Quinlan, James Lyons, Patrick Keane, Leonard Plunkett, Lukas Bzishvili and Adam Quinlivan.

Caherconlish B also enjoyed a comfortable afternoon, recording a 4-0 home victory over Parkville B. Shane Byrne obliged with a well taken hat trick with Conor Partridge also netting. Danny Sheehan scored twice for Moyross C but they fell 4-2 to Knockainey for whom Rory Reale was among the goals.

In the FAI Youth Cup Caherdavin Celtic A and Charleville played out a thriller at the Greenhills when the home side just edged it in extra time. Dean Graham, Alex Fox Scales, Kacper Lelito and Samuel Golden with the extra time winners. Bryan Nagy scored twice for the Cork lads with Gabriel Sousa Araujo also on the mark.

Goals from R Mitchell, J Tracey, R Bourke and J Croke helped Corbally Utd to a 4-1 win over Holycross while Aisling put eight past Kilmallock to progress.

In Youth league action, Pike Rvs proved too strong for Fairview Rgs running in eight goals without reply. In a fabulous display, Dylan Browne scored six goals. Evan Byrne and Dylan Kett also netted.

In Division 1, Murroe beat Summerville Rovers 3-0 with Cian Connolly 2 and Padraig Ryan obliging for the winners.

The Republic of Ireland Amateur international team has successfully qualified for the 2027 UEFA Regions' Cup Finals following a memorable week of football in Cork.

Represented by the Munster region squad, the team overcame an opening 2–1 defeat to Belarus to bounce back with an 8–0 dismantling of Malta and a heroic 3–1 winner-takes-all victory over Croatia, securing top spot in Group 8.

The squad was expertly guided by manager Jason Purcell, alongside his fellow Limerick assistants Stewart Fitzgerald, Mike Costello, and Greg Foley.

On the pitch, Fairview Rangers defender Jake Dillon made his mark by scoring a brilliant added-time goal against Belarus, while his club teammate Jason Cross provided crucial defensive stability across the tournament while Aisling Annacotty's Conor Coughlan also featured prominently on the European stage over the week.

The team now advance as the sole group representatives to the prestigious finals tournament in the spring of 2027.