Desmond League: Athea and Glin progress – Newmarket too strong for Broadford

Weekly Observer Premier Division League Cup Semi Finals
Glin Rovers 2-1 Rathkeale (AET)
Glin progressed to back-to-back Premier Division Cup finals, as their 10 men saw off
holders Rathkeale. In a typically closely fought game, the winners progressed when long-serving Gary Culhane netted a free-kick in extra-time. Before that, John Wallace had Rovers ahead with a strike midway through the first half. Rathkeale were still in the game and with a quarter of an hour to play, they would face 10-men when Glin’s keeper Mike Stack was dismissed. Foul and abusive language towards an opponent appears to be the reason but it meant that Paul Sheahan had to don the gloves for the remainder. With their goal under siege, Sheahan pulled off a few notable stops but their resistance was broken just when the finishing line was nearing. Seamus O’Carroll tied the clash and sent us to an extra twenty minutes. After 15 minutes of stalemate, Culhane dispatched to the net to exact some revenge for last seasons final loss.

Athea Utd 2-1 Breska Rovers
Knowing Glin were in the final would have added the motivation for Athea, who set up an intriguing and somewhat unique final paring. This victory was built on a strong defensive showing as well as some degree of potency in attack. Daire O’Shea opened the scoring after 15 minutes, after Breska had shaded the early exchanges. It remained this way until the 55^th minutes when Nigel O’Connor scrambled home from close range. Breska were denied a penalty moments earlier but they lacked the threat they showed last season until it was too late. Defender Seán Healy eventually got them on the scoreboard, deep into added time but Athea held on to progress to the final – United lost the Division One decider 12 months ago.

Munster League Champions Trophy Quarter Final
Broadford Utd 0-5 Newmarket Celtic
Clare champions Newmarket proved too strong for a somewhat depleted Broadford United side at Cove Park. It was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Desmond League champions, particularly without Michaél Brosnan, Patrick Stack and a number of other key personnel. In extremely testing conditions, Eoin Hayes opened the scoring midway through the half. Ronan McCormack pushed Celtic further clear at the interval. The wind and rain continued in the third quarter, with Hayes and McCormack adding goals three and four. Nathanael Bonaventura added further gloss for Paddy Purcell’s visitors. For Broadford, it was a steep learning curve, especially for four youths players who experienced game time, the best of those on the day, was Adam O’Kelly, who showed plenty  quality against the Clare kingpins.

Weekly Observer Premier Division
Breska Rovers P-P Newcastle West Town – Clarina didn’t survive Saturday nights deluge.

Weekly Observer Division One
Ballingarry 1-2 St. Itas
St. Ita’s pulled off one of the results of the weekend, when defeating high flying Ballingarry. A fifth minute Jason Sheehan effort had the visitors ahead but that joy was short lived, as David Geary tied up this clash. Sheehan doubled his tally right on the stroke of the half-time whistle and after some fine defending in the second half, as well as some good fortune, saw them hold on. Ballingarry were denied a late leveller with a foul in the build up to a stoppage time attack.As the weeks go on, this Division is shaping up to be another very competitive one.

Glin Rovers B 0-4 Dromore Utd
Dromore United will have welcomed the result on Friday night but would have wanted to avoid any slip up away to Glin Rovers B. They eventually pulled clear to claim another three points. Leading through an Evin Kelly strike in the first half, the visitors tacked on three more in the final quarter of the contest. Kelly added another two to complete a treble, while Luke O’Keeffe was also on the scoresheet.

Askeaton-Kilcornan 2-3 Shannonside
Shannonside produced an A-plus comeback as they found their batteries in the final quarter. The triple A – Alan, Adam and Aidan – helped them to somehow turn this game on its head and take the points against their N69 neighbours. Kenneth O’Donoghue had netted in each half to give Askeaton Kilcornan a commanding looking two goal buffer. But, not long after his second, Alan Moroney, then Adam Bennett and Aidan O’Malley all found the net in the space of just six minutes to give Shannonside a very welcomed three points.

Rathkeale B 1-3 Granagh United
Granagh United had goals from Ed Sheehy, Steve Mahony and TJ Tierneyto help them to a comfortable win over Rathkeale B. The visitors could afford to miss a penalty and waste a number of other opportunities as they did enough to claim their second win of an up and down season. Young attacked Oscar Markhamwas on target for a struggling Rathkeale outfit.

Weekly Observer Division Two
Newcastle West Town Reserves 4-7 Ballysteen
Ballysteen returned to the field of play with a second-half flourish to turn the tables on Newcastle West Town Reserves who will rue letting a 3-1 interval lead evaporate. Ballysteen spread around the goals, with Paul O’Shaughnessy and Danny Neville each netting a brace, while Tomás Sheahan, Pakie Neville and Darragh Ranahan were also on target. Charlie Power, Josh Joyce, Prince Moyo and David Piedzia were on target for Town, who were blitzed in the second-half. Their attention turns to a midweek cup semi-final.

Shountrade P-P Mountcollins
Knockaderry P-P Feenagh ­
Both the above games were postponed due to unplayable pitches.

Weekly Observer Division Three
Carrig Celtic 0-1 Glantine
Colm Barrett’s strike just after the hour mark was the only goal of the game in Carrigkerry as Glantine put themselves to within a point of leaders Carrig heading into Christmas. There is no clear favourite in what is a most competitive looking Division Three.

Askeaton-Kilcornan B 5-0 Glantine B
Askeaton Kilcornan continued their upward trajectory, with a comfortable home win in Kilcornan, over Glantine B. Alex Ryan’s first half double sent the winners on their way with Nick Boyce (2) and Chris Kelly adding the second half strikes. Askeaton Kilcornan join Carrig Celtic, Dromore United and Glantine A in the top placings heading into Christmas.

Kilcolman Rovers P-P Breska Rovers B

Youths Division 1 Semi Final 2^nd Leg
Abbeyfeale Utd P-P Askeaton-Kilcornan (Askeaton Kilcornan lead 6-1 on aggregate)

Youths Division 2 Shield Final
Ballingarry 3-3 Shountrade (Shountrade won on penalties)
In a most ding-dong of games, Shountrade prevailed on penalties after 110 minutes of thrilling football at Mike Hanley Park on Saturday evening. These neighbours would know eachother well so as well as the first silverware of the season, there is also the added bragging rights as players meet in school in the coming weeks. It is a first piece of silverware at U18 level for Shountrade who naturally have taken immense pride in achieving such a feat.

They were level 2-2 after 45 minutes as Dylan Flynn and Ryan Alymer scored either side of the equaliser from Ewan Murray. The skilful Murray would ensure Shountrade were level at half-time with his second. Shountrade led for the first time but Jake O’Brien brought Ballingarry level with around 20 minutes remaining. After the extra-time failed to produce a winner, the spot kicks were needed. Will Whelan was the hero when he saved the final spot kick, as his teammates sprinted towards him for the inevitable pile on.