Creeves off the mark, Rathkeale roll on, Breska battle back

It was a busy week of action in the Limerick Desmond League. The first silverware found a home, one side got their first ever Premier Division point while another side continued to show their defensive solidity. As ever, there was plenty of goals, with games ending 3-3 and 5-5 catching the eye.

Weekly Observer Division 2 League Cup Final
Mountcollins 0-4 Abbeyfeale United B
The first silverware of the season has gone to Abbeyfeale United B. In a derby with neighbours Mountcollins, they were on the spot to take the divisional cup crown. They scored three penalties, with Jack Quinlivan (2) and Oran Quigley neeting those. Paudie Shanahan put the icing on the cake with a late fourth. The man of the match was Culann Quigley.

Weekly Observer Division 1 League Cup Semi Final
Athea Utd 5-5 Newcastle West Reserves (AET)
There was a cup semi-final to remember played at Mike Hanley Park. Eventually, after nearly two hours of action Athea United booked their final spot via a penalty shootout. Before that, it was 1-1 at half-time, 4-4 at full time, and 5-5 after the extra 20 minutes.

Josh Joyce opened the scoring for NCW, but Kevin Murphy made it 1-1 at the interval. His side would kick on early in the second half. Murphy added his second before Martin Stack made it 3-1. But Joyce doubled his tally to keep the contest alive. Senol Yamack made it 3-3 but Mark Horgan quickly restored the advantage for United. Charlie Power was the temporary hero, scoring the eight goal nearing the final whistle.

Daire O’Shea looked to be the match winner but Kieran O’Connell fired in another equaliser for Newcastle West. The League leaders prevailed, 4-3, from 12 yards. The final is pencilled in for 2^nd December, where Athea will face Dromore United.

Weekly Observer Premier Division League Cup (Group A)
Broadford Utd 3-0 Newcastle West Town
Liam Shaughessy set the hosts on their way after just 13 minutes, knowing they had to win the book a last four spot. It got much better just four minutes later when Jack Pierce delivered a free-kick was met by the head of Bryan Hannigan to double the lead.

The final goal came in the dying minutes. With Newcastle West Town desperate to pull a goal back, they were caught on the counter-attack with Sean Brosnan finding Shaughnessey, who finished from inside the penalty area.

The Premier Division Cup semi-finals see Glin Rovers v Broadford United and Abbeyfeale United v Rathkeale. These will be played at Clounreask.

Weekly Observer Division Three League Cup Group A, Elimination Play Off
Dromore Utd B 5-0 Broadford Utd B
With three sides tied for the two spots in this group, play-offs were required. In the first of these, Dromore United were in fine form, as they booked their spot in the last four. Micháel Cuddihy netted a brace, while Kevin Madden, Dave Collins and Luke O’Keefe also found the Broadford net.

Weekly Observer Premier Division 
Breska Rovers 2-1 Kilcornan
Breska Rovers made it the perfect two-from-two when they came from behind against Kilcornan. The visitors will rue a number of chances that were missed to double their lead. That lead was courtesy of a tidy finish from elusive striker, Patrick Ivess.

Breska clicked into gear approaching the hour mark and levelled with Seán Healy bundled in from a corner. Keel Moloney soon denied Mark Moroney with a fine save but the striker had the final say, finishing a penalty, which he won himself, with around 20 minutes to go. Kilcornan will hope to get their first win of the league campaign, when they host Broadford United next Sunday, also their first home game of the season.

Creeves Celtic 1-1 Abbeyfeale Utd
Creeves secured their first ever Premier Division point, with a 1-1 draw over champions, Abbeyfeale United in Newbridge. Brian Meade found the net for Celtic. Jamie O’Connor was on target for Abbeyfeale in a crowded penalty area.

Rathkeale 1-0 Ballingarry
Dean Maune’s first half strike was enough in the battle of the neighbours, as Rathkeale made it four from four against Ballingarry. As well as progressing to the up coming semi-finals of the Cup, Rathkeale have now kept four clean sheets in as many league outings. Earlier this week, they drew Ballynanty Rovers in the Munster Junior Cup fourth round. Ballingarry have lost two of their first three outings, ahead of a trip to Breska Rovers next Sunday.

Weekly Observer Division 1 
St. Itas 4-2 Dromore Utd
St. Ita’s are trying to cling onto the tails of league leaders, Athea United, and did so with a win over Dromore United A. Dromore are now without a win in their first three league outings. Ciaran Deegan did have United 2-0 ahead but they were pegged back to 2-2 by half time. Paul Fitzgerald, Michael Begley, Eamonn Carmody and Jack Long were all on target for the winners.

Shountrade 1-2 Newcastle West Reserves
Trailing 1-0 early in this contest, Newcastle West’s second string turned the result around. Josh Joyce quickly levelled the game before midway through the second half, Charlie Power found the winning strike. It ends a winless run of four games for the Magpies, who as already mentioned, had cup heartbreak on Thursday evening. Shountrade are rooted to the foot of the table, with just one point to their name.

Rathkeale B 3-3 Shannonside
A highscoring game at Holycross eventually saw these sides inseparable. Shannonside will rue not winning this, having led 3-0 before the hour mark. A brace from Pedro had it 2-0 at half-time. Eoin Tucker looked to have sealed the win but Ray Hogan (penalty) and Keith Hartnett’s header set up an exciting closing period. A late, late equaliser from Michael Mulcahy gave Rathkeale B a point they’ll savour.

Weekly Observer Division 2
Glantine 0-2 Glin Rovers B
Goals from Ollie Wallace and Billy Hogan helped Glin Rovers post another three points, in a game played under lights in Glantine on Saturday evening.

Ballingarry B 2-1 Knockaderry
Ballingarry B took the points against neighbours Knockaderry, edging them out in the odd goal in three.

Weekly Observer Division 3 
Shannonside FC B 1-6 Carrig Celtic
Carrig Celtic took the spoils from Shannonside, coming away comfortable winners.