Limerick Junior Soccer round-up

There was a busy weekend of action across Limerick with games in three different competitions taking place. In the PJ Matthews Premier Division, Janesboro, Kilmallock and Moyross secured victories. In the Munster Junior Cup there were no shocks as Murroe, Carew Park and Hill Celtic all eased through to the next round. However, premier division giants Pike Rovers were given a real scare as they were taken to extra-time by 1B side Kilfrush before winning 4-2.

The real shock of the weekend occurred in Kilmallock where the home side defeated Ballynanty Rovers 5-1 thanks to goals from Killian Hayes (2), Tommy Heffernan, Derek McCarthy and Anthony Punch. It has been a dreadful week for the northsiders who were knocked out of the FAI Junior Cup and Touhy cup in the same week and now find themselves nine points behind leaders Janesboro although they have a game in hand. Kilmallock raced into a 4-0 lead before Dermot Fitzgerald scored from the penalty spot for Balla. There was still time for Kilmallock to add another goal through Anthony Punch to pile on the misery.

Janesboro claimed a hard fought win over Aishling Annacotty in Annacotty on Sunday morning. Barry Hooton gave the home side an unlikely lead but the striking partnership of Shane Clarke and Keith Mawdsley came to the fore once more as they both netted to give ‘Boro victory. Shane O’Hanlon’s side are now seven points clear of Regional United in second place.

Moyross claimed three precious points in the battle to avoid the drop as they defeated Hoylcross 1-2 and in the process dealt their hosts a serious blow in their bid for survival. Alan Quinlivan gave the visitors the lead. Barry Quinn doubled their lead before Pappy Kelly grabbed what proved to be a consolation for Holycross. Moyross leapfrogged Charleville into 10th place and put seven points between them and Holycross.

Pike Rovers were pushed all the way by Kilfrush at Crossagalla as they emerged victorious on a 4-2 scoreline after extra-time. After just one minute, Neil Quinn gave Kilfrush a shock lead and they frustrated Pike for the majority of the game. With time running out, it looked as though Limerick would lose another challenger until Dave Ryan equalised just after the hour mark. With five minutes remaining, Eoin Hanrahan scored a header which looked to have ended the Kilfrush challenge. However, Pa Kiely scored a shock equaliser in injury-time to send the game to extra-time. Goals from Stephen McGann and Eoin Hanrahan saved Pike from a shock exit in extra-time to progress to the fifth round. Mick Shiels would have been mightily relieved.

Hill Celtic topped a great week with a 3-1 win over fellow 1B side Caherdavin in the Munster Junior Cup. It is Hill Celtic’s second progression in a week following last week’s FAI Junior Cup success against St. Pat’s. Michael Lipper, Gary Kelly and Johnny Corbett scored for the Hogan Park based outfit. Dylan Meehan scored in response for struggling Caherdavin.

Carew Park made light work of 1B leaders Coonagh on Sunday afternoon as they ran out 8-3 winners. It looked as though Coonagh would provide Albert Slattery’s side with a stern test early on when winger Gordon McKevitt gave them the lead. However, former Limerick FC player Daragh Rainsford took matters into his own hands when he scored a hatrick inside 30 minutes. The game was certainly over once Johnathan Grant added a fourth goal. John Connery and Alex Purcell compounded the misery for Coonagh to make it 6-1. But Carew were not finished there as Mark Slattery and a second goal from Johnathan Grant made it 8-1. Former Moyross striker Ger Myles and Eoghan O’Neill scored for Coonagh to make it 8-3 but it will go down as a day to forget for the visitors.

Murroe ran out easy 6-1 winners over Regional B to progress to the latter stages of the Munster Junior Cup.