St. Ita’s the big winners in Munster Junior Cup

First Division St. Ita’s were the big winners in the opening round of the Munster Junior Cup, with four all Desmond League ties taking centre stage in west Limerick. There was also wins for Rathkeale, Broadford United and Newcastle West Town.

McCarthy Insurance Group Munster Junior Cup 1^st Round
Broadford Utd 4-2 Dromore Utd
Ciaran Galvin and Ryan Kelly had Dromore in dreamland but second half strikes from Joe McAuliffe, Alan Fitzpatrick, Michaél Brosnan and debutant Luis Eduardo flipped the result.

Abbeyfeale Utd 3-4 St. Itas (AET)
Michael McCarthy, Cathal McCoy brilliant free kick, Oisin Woulfe were all on target for the home side.

Newcastle West Town 3-2 Creeves Celtic (AET)
Ray Brouder’s penalty was cancelled out by Creeves through Donie Nolan before they led 2-1 at half-time, thanks to an own goal. Jamie Baynham levelled the game right at the death before Mike O’Keefe was on hand to tap home a spilled free kick to win this for NCW.

Askeaton-Kilcornan AFC 2-2 Rathkeale AFC (Rathkeale win 3-2 on pens)
Rathkeale survived a scare against Askeaton-Kilcornan, with Aaron Hogan the penalty hero – saving three for the winners. Patrick Ivess and Sam Duggan scored for the home side but in between, Chris Carey and Michael Mulcahy had given Rathkeale the advantage. After a stalemate extra-time, Rathkeale held their nerves from 12 yards to march on.

Weekly Observer Division 1 League Cup Group B

Ballingarry AFC 5-1 St. Itas
Mark Danaher (3), Adam Hickey and Aaron Smith were on target for this midweek refixture.

Glin Rovers B 1-2 Ballingarry AFC
Ed Horan had Glin ahead at the half-way point but Aaron Smith and Mark Danaher put Ballingarry in control twenty minutes from time. Ballingarry are into the semi-finals with a game to spare, which is against Dromore United.

Weekly Observer Division 2 League Cup Group A
Mountcollins AFC v Feenagh
W/O to Feenagh, with Mountcollins now out of the League Cup, giving three walkovers.

Weekly Observer Division 3 League Cup Group A
Kilcolman Rovers 3-2 Carrig Celtic
Kilcolman prevailed in this local derby, and got their first win since returning to junior soccer. A brace from Mike O’Sullivan and a Cormac Murphy effort helped them repel Celtic, win Eoin Liston netting twice.

Breska Rovers B 3-0 Glantine
An own goal, Donnacha O’Callaghan and Ethan Keyes were on target for Breska’s second team – all in last 30 minutes, they are through as group winners after two home wins in as many weeks.

Weekly Observer Division 3 League Cup Group B
Glantine B 0-2 Askeaton/Kilcornan B

Paudie Ivess and Eamonn Lunn were the goalscorers as Askeaton Kilcornan B got their first win of the season.

FAI U17s Cup Preliminary Round
Newcastle West Town v Newmarket Celtic
(W/O to NCW)

Youths Division 2, Group B
Glin Rovers 3-1 Granagh Utd
Paudie Finucane (2) and Fionn McNamara assured Glin Rovers of top spot ahead of the semi-finals.