Wins for Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West and Glin Rovers in Desmond League

There was another busy, goal-filled, round of Limerick Desmond action over the weekend, with the tables in all four divisions now shaping up. The Premier Division has now taken shape, and with leaders Rathkeale idle there was a chance for others to climb the table in pursuit.

Meanwhile, the race for the lower tiers continues, with the destination of the three league titles not much clearer after this weekend.

Weekly Observer Premier Division  

Ballingarry 2-4 Abbeyfeale United
This was a real opportunity for both sides to claim three points and look up the table, and kick-start the second half of the season. It took a while to find the winner but in the end, it was the visitors who left the Paddocks the happier. Jack Kelleher had Ballingarry ahead from a corner, before Rory O’Brien levelled things with half-time approaching. Billy Quirke, resuming his career outfield, netted after the restart to put United 2-1 ahead. Ballingarry quickly replied, a corner ending up with an own-goal. But, Abbeyfeale finished strongly, Quirke pounced for another and it was Joe Flaherty who sealed the points with a quality effort in the dying minutes. The evergreen Tommy Smith managed a trio of second-half assists.

Kilcornan 2-4 Glin Rovers
Kilcornan are still chasing a crucial win and this one is probably the one that got away. They twice led, as well as missing a penalty before allowing their rivals from further back the N69 prevail. Patrick Ivess penalty had it 1-0 to Kilcornan, but it was 1-1 when Jack Sheehan was on target. Kilcornan regained the lead through Rob Carrig but were unable to build on this.

But Glin trailed only briefly, and Paul Sheehan made it 2-2 inside the final 20 minutes. Jack and Paul completed their brace in the closing stages, to painfully punish Kilcornan. They are now six points from safety, with Glin moving up to third, after four wins from eight games.

Newcastle West Town 7-0 Granagh United
This was far too easy for Newcastle West, as for the second time this season, they thrashed Granagh United. These three points will count the same as any other but given that Granagh have lost to all bar Kilcornan this season, it appears that NCW will just be happy to take the win and move on. They led 5-0 at half-time, with a brace each from Darren Lawlor and Alan Murphy. An own goal accounted for the other strike. Shane Stack’s free-kick, as well as a Noel Callanan effort accounted for the two goals in the second period. Nearing the half-way point, Granagh are already 10 points adrift of safety.

Broadford Utd 1-1 Creeves Celtic
After a decent few weeks, Broadford’s attempts to hunt down Rathkeale were halted somewhat, held by a decent performance from Creeves Celtic. While it is a welcomed points for the promoted men, it could have been more, with a late chance going abegging. Having been given the points for a 3-2 win against Granagh that was abandoned prior to Christmas, Creeves move to six points from eight games, and into 8^th place. Broadford are now seven points behind Rathkeale, albeit with two games in hand.

The deadlock was broken midway through the second half, when Ryan Lynch and Michaél Brosnan combined, Brosnan fed Derry McCarthy and the experienced attacker netted from just inside the penalty area. Creeves soaked up much of the home sides pressure and were a real threat on the counter. Aaron Gillane won a free-kick in a promising position and Eoin McEnery netted directly from this to level the contest. Both sides needed the win for differing reasons and both had openings in the closing stages. Robert Bradley denied Brosnan while Gillane was denied by home keeper Gearoid Greaney right at the last, getting his leg to a shot when it looked like Celtic would sneak the win.

Weekly Observer Desmond Cup 1^st Round

Breska Rovers 6-0 Mountcollins
The final opening round tie saw Breska Rovers easily account for Mountcollins. The Division Two side were always going to be up against it, facing the longest trip in the Desmond League to face Premier Division opposition. Rovers had six different scorers. Seán Coughlan, Keith McNicholas and Darragh O’Sullivan had them in a strong position, after 30 minutes, 3-0. Mark Moroney added a fourth, from the penalty spot. Mountcollins defended much better in the second half, but two late goals, from subs Karl Buckley and Bobby Smith eased Breska back into the 2^nd round – they were semi-finalists last season. They face 2022 runners-up, Newcastle West Town in the coming weeks.

Weekly Observer Division 1

Newcastle West Reserves 1-3 St. Ita’s
Points are proving hard to reach for NCW Reserves, and they are in danger of being cut adrift and demoted to Division Two. They were unable to build on Charlie Power’s first half strike. They trailed 2-1 at half-time with Ita’s netting the third to seal the points in the second period. The visitors now sit five clear but of the drop zone, but have played two games more than Dromore United.

Shannonside FC 2-1 Dromore United
Readers of this weekly round-up will know that this reporter was virtually handing the First Division title to Athea United some time ago. While it  may prove that they return to the top flight, Shannonside it doing their best to hunt them down. In defeating Dromore United, they’re now to within two points, though they’ve played an extra game. The sides have to meet, with Athea having four games left, with three for Shannonside.

They moved to that position, thanks to a come from behind win over Dromore United. Trailing to a quality free-kick, Pedro Tavares made it 1-1 on 37 minutes. The winner arrived early in the second half, from Martin Fitzgerald. Mike Aherne’s charges will relish the position they are in, knowing that a win over Athea will really pile the pressure on. Dromore, who merged two Division One sides last summer, are in a tricky position, and now find themselves in the thick of a relegation fight, though they do have five games to arrest that slide.

Rathkeale B 2-1 Askeaton
Paudie Mulcaire and Michael Mulcahy were on target for Rathkeale against old rivals, Askeaton, to edge them out by the odd goal in three. The inconsistency of results for these sides has meant that cup competitions will be their priority in the closing weeks, but Rathkeale moved to third, leapfrogging Askeaton in the process.

Weekly Observer Division 2 
Glin Rovers B 3-2 Abbeyfeale Utd B
There is a familiarity between these sides, who have clashed over a dozen times in the last season-and-a-half. This time around, it was Glin, with home advantage, who took the spoils. James Broderick’s brace had Rovers 2-1 up at half-time, before Cian Culhane would net the winner.

Weekly Observer Division 3 
Breska Rovers B 4-6 Ballysteen AFC
Title-chasing Ballysteen showed their mettle when turning a losing position into a winning one. Trailing 2-0 early on to strikes from Barry O’Connor and Tommy Collery, they fought back to lead 3-2 by half-time. Mark and Darragh Ranahan as well as the reliable Paul O’Shaughnessy all found the net. It got better just moments into the second half, when Tomas Sheehan netted from the spot, after Breska had a man sent off for handball. O’Connor quickly made it 3-4 after a defensive mistake but O’Shaughnessy added two more to seal the points. Sub Cian McGregor netted a late consolation for the home side, who are now out of the running for any attempt at the title. Ballysteen strengthen their position at the top, looking to seal a title they weren’t too far off last season.  

Feenagh 6-1 Dromore Utd B
The chasing pack included both Feenagh and Dromore United B. Feenagh have now emerged as the biggest threat to Ballysteen with another big home success. This, despite Dromore leading 1-0 at half-time. Ronan O’Connor levelled for the hosts, who then saw Luke Ryan (penalty) put them ahead. Dromore saw their keeper sent off, before O’Connor netted again. Ryan would soon surpass his teammate, adding two for a hat-trick, while Ger O’Gorman rounded off the scoring. Feenagh remain two points behind Ballysteen while Dromore are now seven adrift.