KENNEDY CUP REVIEW 2010
Kennedy Cup Group 4
Limerick Desmond SL (0) 0
Midlands SL (0) 1
Our first game saw us in action against a strong Midlands side and here we came up just short when going down one nil, the only goal of the game coming in the second half. Both sides started tentatively and this wasn’t surprising given the very warm weather and as a consequence chances were hard to come by and it was about seven minutes before we ha a half chance when Ross Mann got into a good position but a defender got back to deny him with a good tackle. We were then presented with a good opportunity when the Midlands keeper was adjudged to have being outside the box with his kick out but we didn’t avail of the situation. Then at the other end a free kick from the right for Midlands was flicked on by the centre forward but keeper Dara Noonan claimed the ball on the six yard line. The game flowed and a good move down our right which was started by David O’Mahony when he picked out Padraic O’Connor who took the ball forward and then involved Mann and Daragh Quilligan before the ball was played behind their back four to Jamie O’Connor who was almost through only for a vital interception by their sweeper. Half time 0-0.
The second half saw Midlands start the better and for the first five minutes we were under pressure. They went close when a free kick on the left just outside the area was headed over while a pacy run by their right winger took him into the box but he only found the side netting. We responded and good play again down our right saw the ball played in to Quilligan who played in Mann but not for the first time a Midlands defender cleared the ball before any danger materialised while at the other end very brave goalkeeping by Noonan denied Midlands certain goal. We had a decent chance ourselves after this when a low cross across the box from the right by Mann was only cleared as far as Quilligan on the edge of the area but the keeper was right behind his effort. Then from their next attack Midlands went ahead when their forward got on to a long ball behind our defence and fired a well struck shot across keeper Noonan and inside the right post. For a few minutes after this we found it hard to keep the ball but a great run by Shane Stack through midfield saw him take on two defenders who somehow managed to eventually tackle him on the edge of the area and the ball went out for a corner. Limerick Desmond tried hard for the equalizer but found it hard to unhinge the Midlands defence with our best chance of getting a draw coming in the closing stages when a shot by striker O’Connor from the edge of the box was easily held by the keeper.
Full time one nil to Midlands.
Limerick Desmond: Dara Noonan, (Bally Rvs), Padraic O’Connor (Breska Rvs), AJ O’Connor, (Newcastle West Rvs), David O’Mahony (Kilcornan), Cormac Roache (Abbeyfeale Utd),Ross Mann (Kilcornan), James Dillon (Granagh Utd), David Connolly (Adare Utd), Daragh Quilligan (Newcastle West), Shane Stack (Newcastle West Rvs), Jamie O’Connor (Abbeyfeale Utd).Subs used Kieran Guina (Newcastle West Rvs), Hugh Bourke (Adare Utd), Paul Downes (Newcastle West) and Seamus Flanagan (Broadford Utd)
Kennedy Cup Group 4
Limerick Desmond SL (1) 2 Kieran Guina, David Connolly
Drogheda SL (0) 0
In our second game of the week we faced Drogheda which was the first of two games we had to play on the Tuesday and here we emerged deserved winners on a two nil scoreline though we had a few nervous moments in the first half, especially from set pieces. We took the game to Drogheda from the off with Shane Stack very prominent and he had the games first real chance after a sublime pass from AJ O’Connor but the keeper brought off a good save. Our good start was rewarded with a quality goal when excellent play down the right by Ross Mann and he whipped over a fine cross that was met by the head of Kieran Guina and he planted a powerful header to the Drogheda net. A great start but this was nearly undone at the other end as their right winger cut into the area but Desmond keeper Dara Noonan got a strong hand on the ball and turned it away to safety. Noonan was in action again soon after from a Drogheda corner and he did well to save a goal bound shot with his foot before a Drogheda player poked the rebound wide. The Desmond side responded and a long free kick by Noonan came to Mann who curled the ball just inches over the crossbar.
The second half was only moments old when Jamie O’Connor got on the end of a through ball but the Drogheda keeper just beat the Desmond striker to the ball. Five minutes into the second half we stretched our lead with a quality goal from David Connolly with a delightful effort which he curled with his left foot into the top left corner. At this stage the Desmond side were on top with the two goal lead a fair reflection on how the game had gone so far. Daragh Quilligan nearly increased the lead when he won a corner and from it his header brought a good save from the Drogheda custodian and the keeper was relieved to soon see Callum Donoghues chip from fourteen yards strike the crossbar before being cleared. In the end it finished two nil and Limerick Desmond had their first win of Kennedy Cup 2010.
Limerick Desmond: Dara Noonan, (Bally Rvs), Padraic O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Shane O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Cormac Roache (Abbeyfeale Utd), David O’Mahony (Kilcornan), Ross Mann (Kilcornan), David Connolly (Adare Utd), AJ O’Connor, (NewcastleWest Rvs), Kieran Guina (NewcastleWest Rvs), Jamie O’Connor (Abbeyfeale Utd), Shane Stack (NewcastleWest Rvs).
Subs used Daragh Quilligan (Newcastle West), Callum Donoghue (Broadford Utd), Kyle Cotter (Granagh Utd), Paul Downes (Newcastle West).
Kennedy Cup Group 4
Limerick Desmond SL (1) 1 Ross Mann
Galway SL (1) 1
On Tuesday evening we faced top seeds in the group Galway and it was they that had a very early chance but good defending by the Desmond defence saw the danger averted. The first Desmond attack brought with it a decent chance, a powerful run down the left from Jamie O’Connor saw him cross the ball to Shane Stack but from a tight angle the keeper was able to turn the ball behind for a corner. Soon after the breakthrough came when Ross Mann broke through the Galway defence and flicked the ball over the advancing keeper to give the Desmond boys the lead. Within two minutes Galway were level when a corner from their left wasn’t cleared fully and the ball came to their midfielder and he curled the ball inside the right post. Galway were coming into it more at this stage with our only other chance in the remainder of the half coming to Mann whose shot was well held by the keeper under his crossbar. The first half saw few clear cut chances while the second half saw even fewer as defences were now dominating and as a result the game ended one all and that was good enough for Limerick Desmond to finish second in the group and now we would be playing in the Bowl on Wednesday afternoon.
Limerick Desmond: Dara Noonan, (Bally Rvs), Padraic O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Shane O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Cormac Roache (Abbeyfeale Utd), David O’Mahony (Kilcornan), Ross Mann (Kilcornan), David Connolly (Adare Utd), AJ O’Connor, (NewcastleWest Rvs), Kieran Guina (NewcastleWest Rvs), Jamie O’Connor (Abbeyfeale Utd), Shane Stack (NewcastleWest Rvs).
Subs used Daragh Quilligan (Newcastle West), Hugh Bourke (Adare Utd), Callum Donoghue (Broadford Utd).
Kennedy Bowl Q/F
Limerick Desmond SL (0) 0
Wexford SL (0) 0
(Limerick Desmond won 4-3 on pens)
On Wednesday we faced Wexford in the quarter final of the Kennedy Bowl and here we progressed after a penalty shoot out. The opening half saw Wexford dominate in terms of possession but having said this they didn’t really carve out any real clear cut chances while the same can be said from our point of view with the best effort being from Shane Stack whose effort was parried away by the Wexford keeper.
The second half was better and here it was Limerick Desmond that started the better and again it was Stack that forced the Wexford defence back and they were relieved to see his fine effort from the right edge of the box deflect off a defender and behind for a corner. The Wexford response did see them go close when their right winger skipped past two tackles before he crossed into the area where the ball came to their centre forward who shot just wide of the post. Good combination play by Paul Downes and Stack then saw an opening come to Jamie O’Connor whose goal bound shot was luckily deflected away by a defender for a corner. We were playing well now and great play by AJ O’Connor created a chance for Callum Donoghue with a perfectly weighted ball over the defence but the Wexford keeper did very well to deny the Desmond striker. Noonan, who had a very good three games continued this with some very brave goalkeeping to deny the centre forward as he bore down on goal. More good play by AJ and Stack resulted in the Wexford keeper make a very good save at his near post and from a counter attack brave goalkeeping by Noonan kept the sides level. With the clock running down Wexford came within inches of winning it when they headed against the bar following a corner from their right.
With the sides ending the hour still level it was straight on to penalties. Wexford went first and they converted their first three as did AJ O’Connor, Daragh Quilligan and David O’Mahony for Limerick Desmond. The game turned our way when Dara Noonan saved their fourth spot kick before Cormac Roache converted our fourth to put us 4-3 up and when Noonan saved again it was Limerick Desmond that went through.
Limerick Desmond: Dara Noonan, (Bally Rvs), Padraic O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Shane O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Cormac Roache (Abbeyfeale Utd), David O’Mahony (Kilcornan), David Connolly (Adare Utd), AJ O’Connor, (NewcastleWest Rvs), Kieran Guina (NewcastleWest Rvs), Shane Stack (NewcastleWest Rvs), Callum Donoghue (Broadford Utd), Paul Downes (Newcastle West).
Subs used Jamie O’Connor (Abbeyfeale Utd) and Daragh Quilligan (Newcastle West).
Kennedy Bowl S/F
Limerick Desmond SL (0) 0
Inishowen SL (0) 1
In the Kennedy Bowl semi final we were up against Inishowen and in this we were pipped one nil after a close contest. We had the better of the chances in the first half with David O’Mahony going very close following a Shane Stack corner but his headed went just the wrong side of the far post. After this Paul Downes shot over from the edge of the area while probably our best chance came to Shane O’Connor, the attacking left back firing just wide after a great run. Into the second half and AJ O’Connor was next to test the keeper with a low shot from the edge of the area that was well held by the keeper. Dara Noonan ensured the sides stayed level with another piece of brave goalkeeping before Inishowen broke the deadlock from a counter attack. The Desmond side kept their heads in the pursuit of the equalizer and we came close when Jamie O’Connor competed well with a defender and the keeper and won the ball before finding Ross Mann whose goal bound shot cannoned off a defender and away for a corner. In the end though we just couldn’t break down the Inishowen defence sufficiently to get the equalizer.
Limerick Desmond: Dara Noonan, (Bally Rvs), Padraic O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Shane O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Cormac Roache (Abbeyfeale Utd), David O’Mahony (Kilcornan), Ross Mann (Kilcornan), David Connolly (Adare Utd), AJ O’Connor, (NewcastleWest Rvs), Shane Stack (NewcastleWest Rvs), Callum Donoghue (Broadford Utd), Paul Downes (Newcastle West).
Subs used Jamie O’Connor (Abbeyfeale Utd), Daragh Quilligan (Newcastle West), Hugh Bourke (Adare Utd), Seamus Flanagan (Broadford Utd).
Kennedy Bowl (Playoff 11/12th Places)
Limerick Desmond SL (0) 0
Dundalk SL (1) 2
After going out narrowly to Inishowen on the Thursday morning we now had a second game that evening against Dundalk to determine placings 11 to 12th. We started off slow in this one and we nearly fell behind early on but for skipper David O’Mahony who took the ball off the line. After this scare we had a chance of our own when Kyle Cotter released Ross Mann down the right before taking the ball into the area but the keeper was off the line quickly and Manns shot just went past the near post. Not long afterwards Dundalk went ahead but we nearly levelled matters after good play down the left by Jamie O’Connor saw him play a one two with Mann before forcing the Dundalk keeper to make a very good save at his near post.
O’Connor was again involved in the early stages of the second half when he was only inches away from getting on the end of a quality cross from Darragh Quilligan. We continued to press for the equalizer and a quick free kick by Shane O’Connor found Seamus Flanagan but the Broadford player dragged his shot across the goal and wide. With all the effort to get back into the game we were rocked when Dundalk doubled their lead but we continued to press with Quilligan very much to the fore in this regard and from just outside the box he brought a very good save from their keeper. Shane Stack was next to try his luck when his run and shot culminated in a diving save by the keeper and another effort, this time from Flanagan brought another quality save. In the end though we werent able to find the net but it certainly wasn’t for the want of effort from the Limerick Desmond players.
Limerick Desmond: Dara Noonan, (Bally Rvs), Jim Liston (Bally Rvs), Shane O’Connor (Breska Rvs), David Connolly (Adare Utd), David O’Mahony (Kilcornan), Kyle Cotter (Granagh Utd), AJ O’Connor, (NewcastleWest Rvs), Hugh Bourke (Adare Utd), Jamie O’Connor (Abbeyfeale Utd), Kieran Guina (NewcastleWest Rvs), Ross Mann (Kilcornan).
Subs used Seamus Flanagan (Broadford Utd), Daragh Quilligan (Newcastle West), Shane Stack (Newcastle West Rvs), Callum Donoghue (Broadford Utd), Declan Stack (Broadford Utd).