Limerick District League Premier Division Round-up

Ballynanty Rovers continued their high scoring start to the Premier Division season with a 5-1 win over Geraldines. It was Derek Hannon’s side’s first game of the campaign due to Fairview’s involvement in the FAI Junior Cup from last season.

The extra game may have helped the home side who were quick out of the blocks and took the lead as Connor Ellis scored his fourth goal in two games. Ger Barry doubled the lead with his first goal for the club before Shane Byrne halved the deficit.

Goals from Arron Nunan and substitute Derek Daly put the game beyond Geraldines before Ellis doubled his account to finish the scoring. Ballynanty currently sit at the top of the table , much like when the league was cancelled in 2020.

Ballynanty Rovers: Stephen McNamara, Liam Brock, Jake Dillon, Adam Costello, Riain O’Connell, David Donnan, Jason Hughes, Ger Barry, Arron Nunan, Connor Ellis, Adrian Power Substitutes: Michael Guerin, Thomas Byrnes, Derek Daly, Alex Purcell, Ronan Ryan, Zach Hyland, Adam O’Doherty

Geraldines: Evan Moloney, Clifton Carey, Bobby Tier, Thomas O’Grady, Dean McNamara, Christy O’Neill, Cian Byrnes, Jamie McGarry, Evan O’Neill, Karl Turner, Shane Byrne Substitutes: Trevor Daly, Ousman Darboe, Shane Cox, Paul Fitzgerald, Will O’Neill, Eddie Lee

Aisling Annacotty had to fight right to the final whistle to earn a vital victory over Nenagh at Brickfields on Sunday afternoon. It was Annacotty’s first game of the new season following last weekend’s Munster Junior Cup win and the sudden postponement of their clash with Mungret on Thursday.

Nenagh entered the game off the back of a 4-0 victory over Kilmallock and almost secured a draw but Munster Junior Cup man of the match Aaron Murphy scored the only goal with six minutes remaining to give Shane O’Hanlon’s side the victory.

Nenagh AFC: Joe Keyes, Saeed Ryan, Stevie Daly, Mark McKenna, Jack Saunders, Bryan McGee, Dan Ryan, Diarmuid Fitzpatrick, Danny Butler, Alan Sheehan, Nathan Kelly Substitutes: Jordan O’Gorman, Adam Ryan, Colm Hayden

Aisling Annacotty: John Mulready, Evan O’Connor (Eoghan Burke), Thomas Clarke, Nathan O’Callaghan, Killian Maloney, Shane Tract, Dylan Sheehan, Brian Butler, Keith Mawdsley (Shane Stack), Shane Clarke, Aaron Murphy

In a crucial game in Coonagh, the home side defeated visitors Kilmallock 5-3 to get off the mark for the new season. Both sides endured heavy defeats to both Ballynanty and Nenagh respectively on Thursday and were desperate for the win.

The home side took the lead through new recruit Frank Harnett but Kilmallock responded very well and two quick fire goals gave the county side the lead. Two goals from Brion Moriarty who has began the season well, gave Keith Doran’s side a 3-2 lead. A superb 30- yard strike from Will Brick and another goal from Andrew Leydon made it 5-2 before a late goal for Niall O’Riordan’s side proved to be a consolation.

Coonagh United: Jose Zaquiem, Darren Martin, Luke Doherty, Frank Harnett, Martin Deady, Barry Harnett, Niall Earls, Gordon McKevitt, Andrew Leydon, Will Brick, Brion Moriarty. Substitutes: Steve Martin, Ian Considine, Mark Moylan, Rory O’Neill, Keith Doran

In a highly entertaining game in Mungret on Sunday morning, both Mungret and Janesboro earned a point to get off the mark for the new season with a 4-4 draw.

Janesboro raced into a 0-2 lead with goals from David Hannon and Shane Kelly before Mungret completed a full comeback when Kian Barry, Yakuba Yabre and Colm Barrett scored.

Conor Madden equalised for ‘Boro before substitute and former Janesboro player Declan Cusack restored Mungret’s lead. Despite going down to ten men, Kevin Laffin rescued a point for the Pearse Stadium outfit with a late goal.

Mungret Regional: Matt Hayes, Craig Prendergast (Conor Myers), Brian Cotter, Aaron Long (Richie Burke), Adam Storan, Colm Barrett, Daragh Killian, Cian McNicholas (Evan Cusack ), Kian Barry, Yakuba Yabre (Keith Storan), Kieran Long (Declan Cusack)

Janesboro: Dave Considine, Tom Lyons, Conor Madden, Sean O’Dwyer, Aaron Fitzgrald, David Hannon, Donie Curtin Shane Kelly, Kevin Laffan, Jack Fitzgerald,, Sam Ogundare, Subs: Niall McNamara, Conor Laffan

Regional were due to face Prospect and for the second time in four days the Dooradoyle outfit were left standing at the gates at Priory Park. Referee John McNamara was due to inspect the pitch but was unable to do so.

Prospect had contacted the LDMC on Saturday morning to say that the pitch was unplayable but were instructed that the referee would make the final decision. No Prospect Priory players or management were present on Sunday morning. It has been a deeply frustrating start to the campaign thus far for the league organisers and Regional United, who have now twice been the victim of miss-communication.