FAI Junior Cup – Round 6
The poor weather conditions again this week played havoc with the fixture list as only 5 games across all leagues and competitions went ahead and one of those was in Dublin where Nenagh Celtic ‘A’ made club history by progressing into the last 16 of the national competition. Celtic, who have found a rich vein of from of late travelled to face Vale View Shankhill who play in the Leinster Senior League. Celtic could not have wished for a better start and the long bus journey didn’t slow them down as they raced into a 3 nil lead after only twenty minutes. Jimmy Hynes was set up by Craig Connolly for the first goal which he slid under the home keeper with some style. The large travelling crowd were soon treated to another well worked Celtic goal only minutes later when Connolly finished well from a precise Mark Walsh cross. The Nenagh side now smelt blood and pushed for a third which they duly treated their fans to, when Danny Ryan found himself unmarked at the back post to head home a headed pass from Mark Walsh. The home side placed the Nenagh defence under some pressure either side of the break but they were in stubborn form and excelled throughout the second half to book their deserved spot in the next round, where once again they travel to Dublin to face a strong Liffey Wanderers side. There is no doubt that The Hoops will fancy their chances on the road again and will take huge confidence in this result and their fine performances in the competition to date.
Munster Junior Cup Quarter Final
Nenagh AFC ‘A’ bowed out of the Munster Junior Cup in heart braking fashion as they conceded a late goal to Limerick Demsond League side, Abbeyfeale United at the UL Sports Campus in Limerick. Despite their best efforts, Nenagh were forced to move the fixture from the Brickfields venue as the recent poor weather could not guarantee a proper playing surface for this important match. It was the Limerick side who edged the early exchanges of the first half and they prevented Nenagh from playing their usual free flowing football and a combination of a fine save from Aaron Savage and wayward shooting from Abbeyfeale just before the break saw both sides go in level at half time. In the second half Nenagh began to assert themselves on the game but found the Abbeyfeale keeper, Billy Quirke in top form as he produced a number of fine saves to keep the game level as the half progressed. With time running out and additional play looking inevitable, Thomas Smith raced on to a loose ball in the Nenagh and won the race to the ball ahead of Savage in the Nenagh goal and tapped the ball around him to score against the run of play. Nenagh pushed hard for the remaining minutes and in injury time where they bombarded the Abbeyfeale goal, but the Limerick side were not to be beaten as they held out to earn a semi final spot against another Limerick side in the shape of Janesboro.
First Division Barry Cup
Glenbane was one of the very few venues which hosted a game this weekend and it saw a top versus bottom clash between league leaders Holycross and relegation contenders Rearcross ‘A’. The game was played in heavy conditions and the poor weather didn’t allow for the freest flowing of encounters. Holycross were dealt a blow when they lost their keeper through injury after 30 minutes, but they still managed to take the lead early in the second half courtesy of James King. Extra time ensued after Rearcross bagged a deserved equaliser in the 90th minute thanks to Derek O’Toole once again scoring for his side. Both sides could not be separated during extra time and it was Holycross who came out on top thanks to a 5 -4 win in the shootout.
Third Division
The only game to go ahead this week in the third division was that of league champions Gurtagarry and Ballywilliam. The Latteragh side concluded their league campaign in the same ruthless fashion as the contested the league all season and won convincingly thanks to a 4 – 0 score line. The champions were 2 nil up after 24 minutes thanks to goals from the prolific Billy Corcoran and Ger Hogan. It remained 2 nil up until the 80th minute when Steven Cummins scored, shortly followed by another strike from Willie Forde. Gery Larkin, NT&DL presented the Division 3 League Cup to Gurtagarry captain Ronnie Kinane for the second time in the clubs history. An impressive season for the Latteragh side under the guidance of manager, Johnny Moyles that only lost the single game and amassed an incredible 59 points, all courtesy of the 80 goals scored in league action. Top talisman for Gurtagarry in league action this season was Billy Corcoran who scored 26 times, but he had team mate Paddy O’Rourke also contributed significantly in front of goal with 23 league goals.