Limerick Desmond Football League

RATHKEALE CLINCH DIVISION ONE

Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union

Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union Division One

Rathkeale 5 Glin Rovers B 0
Rathkeale have bounced back to the premier division in style after clinching the division one title last Sunday with a home win against Glin Rovers and Athea Utd’s loss away to Abbeyfeale Utd. The in-form Jack Keogh opened the scoring after only five minutes with Fintan McNamara doubling their lead seven minutes later. By half time it was five nil with further goals from John Fitzgerald, Mark Hogan and Alan O’Shea with no goals scored in the second half.

After the game Limerick Desmond Football League Chairman Mike Pierce presented the league trophy to Rathkeale captain Eoin Barry.

Abbeyfeale Utd 2 Athea Utd 1
The meeting of Abbeyfeale Utd and Athea Utd on Sunday morning at Riverside Park was a big one for both sides with promotion to the premier division very much on the agenda. Adam Barry opened the scoring for Abbeyfeale three minutes from the break to lead at half time. Athea started the second half poorly but were back in the game on fifty-eight minutes when Kevin Murphy took the ball on the turn before lobbing the keeper. Five minutes later Abbeyfeale were back in front through sub Eliah Riordan. On seventy minutes Athea lost Dylan Griffin to a serious hip injury which necessitated the game to be stopped for forty or so minutes until the arrival of an ambulance to tend to Dylan. The game resumed with no further scoring despite the visitors finishing strongly. Athea and Abbeyfeale are now on thirty one points with the last series of games down for decision next Friday night. Athea are at home to Riedy Cup finalists St Itas while Abbeyfeale travel to play Granagh Utd.

The league would like to send its very best wishes for a speedy recovery to Dylan Griffin of Athea Utd who sustained a serious hip injury during the above game.

St. Itas 3 Carrig Celtic 0
St Ita’s welcomed Carrig Celtic to Ashford on Sunday morning for their final home league fixture and recorded a three nil win. Tony McCarthy opened the scoring on twenty minutes with TJ Kelly extending the Itas lead on thirty-three minutes. It was three nil by the fiftieth minute when Dylan set up Paul Fitzmaurice to score past Declan Greaney. With their place in division one already secured the win will give them momentum going into the Riedy Cup Final against newly crowned league champions Rathkeale. For Carrig they remain two points off the drop zone going into their final league game on Friday night at home to Rathkeale.

REFEREES
Last Friday night’s Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union Desmond Cup Final was also tinged with a bit of sadness as it was the last match for referee Pat O’Connor and fourth official Pat O’Donnell. Both have distinguished themselves for over twenty years as referees in the Desmond League at all levels from underage upwards and also with the Ladies League.
We wish them both a successful time away from the game as officials but hope to see them at league games well into the future.

HISTORY FOR BROADFORD UTD

Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union Limerick Desmond Cup Final
Broadford Utd (0) 1 (Adam O’Kelly 90 + 3)
NCW Town (0) 0

History was created at Mick Hanley Park on Friday night when Broadford Utd became one of the few clubs in the league to win three Desmond Cups in a row, ironically it was their opponents Newcastle West that are the only side to achieve this back in the 2000s. It’s hard to win a Desmond Cup and defend it but to win three in a row is a special achievement, Adam O’Kellys stoppage time winner breaking Towns hearts in the process. Broadford probably created the better chances but Town remained competitive throughout and were never out of the contest.

The opening stages were tentative as both sides accessed any possible weakness in their opponent’s game. Broadford had the opening chance on five minutes, good play inside the Town half from Josh Hudner saw him play the ball to his left to Michael Brosnan who then played the ball up the line to Jack Pierce who cut into the box along the end line before his effort was saved by the feet of keeper Mike Quilligan at the near post. Pierce and Hudner were involved again soon after as they both chased a ball over the top but Quilligan was quickly off his line to clear the danger. Adam O’Kelly showed his skill and pace when he got the ball just inside the Town half and took on the full back before pulling the ball across for Hudner whose low strike was easily gathered by Quilligan. A left footed free kick from out wide by Thomas Quilligan was gathered by Patrick Stack in a crowded penalty area.

It was twenty-seven minutes before we had the first corner, the set piece was floated from the left side to the back post where James Molyneaux kept it in play, the ball was recycled back out to the left again from where Brosnan crossed the ball back into the mix from where the inrushing Molyneaux headed well over. Town skipper Dylan Moloney then made an excellent clearance at the near post after a pacy ball in from O’Kelly. At the other end a drilled free kick from Moloney was straight at Stack in the Broadford goal. John Hayes then played a dinked ball over the defence for Brosnan to run on to but again Quilligan read any possible danger. A tame header from Towns Cian Beirne brought the half to an end.

The early stages of the second half were tentative before O’Kelly came close to putting Broadford ahead on forty-nine minutes, his swerving half volley from inside the right side of the penalty area going across the keeper and just wide of the far post. Two minutes later Molyneaux headed over at the back post from a Pierce corner and one could sense that the holders were upping the tempo of their game at this juncture. On fifty-three minutes Volod Stashchak was played in by Josh Joyce but again Stack was alert and raced outside his box before clearing the ball and averting danger. Broadford were inches away from taking the lead on sixty minutes. A diagonal ball from Seamus Brosnan found sub Ryan Sheehan who played the ball infield to O’Kelly whose effort hit the left post, the rebound came back to him and from the follow up he curled the ball inches wide of the right post.

The pace of the game was now increasing with both sides looking to get forward at every opportunity, surely we wouldn’t have long before either net would ripple for the first time. Town subs in the second half, Youri Stashchak, Mikey Conlon and Tiernan Kelly gave them more options. Pierce brought another save from Quilligan after attacking down the left and cutting into the box. Sheehan was having an impact up front with his strength and he came so close to putting Broadford ahead on eighty-eight minutes when his fierce left footed effort crashed off the top of the near post.

With the game in stoppage time and extra time looming up popped O’Kelly to win it for Broadford. Left back Bryan Hannigan, who captained the side last season, kept the ball in play on wing and played it back to Hayes who tried a ball over the top for Pierce to run on to but it dropped short to Eoin Hurley, Pierce dispossessed the defender before driving into the box and squaring the ball back to O’Kelly who sent a crisp effort inside the left post giving Quilligan no chance. With Town pushing forward in an attempt to force an equalizer the Broadford defence showed their resilience to defend long balls into the box. From such a situation Sheehan nearly added a second from a counter attack.

Moments later referee Pat O’Connor brought the curtain down not only on the final but on his refereeing career in the Desmond League.

After the game Declan Benson, CEO of Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union presented the Limerick Desmond Cup to Broadford Utd captain Jack Pierce,

Man of the match was Adam O’Kelly of Broadford Utd who received his trophy from Limerick Desmond Football League PRO Pat Mulvihill,

Broadford Utd: Patrick Stack, Seamus Brosnan, John Hayes, Bryan Hannigan, Jack Pierce, Joe McAuliffe, Michael Brosnan, Adam O'Kelly, James Molyneaux, Joshua Keane Quinlivan. Josh Hudner. Subs used Ryan Sheehan (for Hudner 58 mins), Sean Brosnan (for Keane Quinlivan 80 mins)
Also, Gearoid Greaney, Brian Stack, Sean O’Flynn, Kenny Lynch, Adam White, Sammy Egan, Alan Fitzpatrick, Jack White Colm Ryan, Martin Daly, Dean Prunty, Willie O’Brien.

NCW Town: Mike Quilligan, Leon Barry, Thomas Quilligan, Dylan Browne, Kevin Barrett, Dylan Moloney (capt), Oisin Enright, Josh Joyce, Volod Stashchak, Cian Beirne, Jack Duggan. Subs used Eoin Hurley (for Barry 32 mins), Youri Stashchak (for Duggan 45 mins), Mikey Conlon (for Enright 51 mins), Tiernan Kelly (for Joyce 77 mins), Maurice Lane (for T Quilligan 90 mins). Also, Cian Lanigan, Oran Moody, Cillian Danaher, Prince Moyo.
Referee Pat O'Connor. Referee Assistants Eugene Noonan, Ger O'Connor. Fourth Official Pat O'Donnell.

Rathkeale players and management with the Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union Limerick DesmondDivision 1 trophy after they clinched the title on Sunday.

Rathkeale captain Eoin Barry being presented with the Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union Division 1 trophy by Limerick Desmond chairman, Mike Pierce, on Sunday.

Broadford United captain Jack Pierce and Newcastle West Town captain Dylan Moloney with match officials Pat O'Donnell, Eugene Noonan, referee Pat O'Connor and Ger O'Connor before Friday night's Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union Desmond Cup Final.

Broadford United celebrate with their young supporters after beating Newcastle West 1-0 in the Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union Desmond Cup Final on Friday night.

Broadford United players with the Desmond Cup after beating Newcastle West Town 1-0 in the final on Friday night in MIck Hanley Park.

Broadford United captain Jack Pierce being presented with the Desmond Cup by Declan Benson, CEO of League sponsors Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union after Broadford's dramatic injury-time win against Newcastle West Town.

Broadford United captain Jack Pierce and Newcastle West Town captain Dylan Moloney with match officials Pat O'Donnell, Eugene Noonan, referee Pat O'Connor and Ger O'Connor before Friday night's Cois Sionna Desmond Credit Union Desmond Cup Final in MIck Hanley Park on Friday night.