With fifteen of the affiliated twenty seven clubs converging in Clounreask on Bank Holiday Monday a festival of football was always guaranteed and we weren’t disappointed with thirty nine goals being scored in eight matches, three games requiring penalty shoot-outs to separate the sides and add to that two hat-tricks it shows that schoolboy football is alive and well in the Desmond league. All the players that participated were winners whether they won or lost as they gave their all for their club and their team mates and they should be very proud of their achievement in reaching the league and shield finals. Congratulations to all the teams that won on the day and commiserations to the runners up but their day will come.
U/8 Division 4 Shield Final
Two new clubs to schoolboy football clashed in the Division 4 shield final with Feenagh coming out on top winning by three goals to one. Lee Madigan, Liam Kelleher and David Galvin were on the score sheet for Feenagh with Thomas Murphy getting the solitary goal for Kilcolman.
Feenagh: Michael Kelleher, David Galvin, Connor Hernan, Liam Kelleher, Chloe Fitzgibbon, Ian Kelly, Lee Madigan. Subs: Connor Healy, Diarmuid Ryan, Eoin Galvin, Aoife Kelly, Cian O’ Connor, Carrie Anne Devine.
Kilcolman: Leah Hayes Cohen, Darragh McMahon, Thomas Murphy, Cathal McEnery, Sean Ryan, Daniel Geraghty, William Clifford. Subs: Shay Greaney, Connor Woulfe, Aoife Kinahan, Danny Madigan, Dylan Madigan
U/8 Division 4 League Final
The other new comers to schoolboy football Mountcollins came up against their near neighbours Abbeyfeale Utd B in this local derby clash and it was Mountcollins who prevailed on a score line of four goals to one and it was the Evan & Conor Lane show as they both got on the score sheet twice to give Mountcollins their first every trophy at schoolboy level. Abbeyfeale scorer on the day was Patrick Harnett.
Mountcollins: Noel Dillane, Jason Murphy, Seamus Murphy, Evan Lacey, Conor Lane, Evan Lane, Lenora Kelly. Subs: Cathal Curtin, Muirne Lane, Jack O’Connor
Abbeyfeale Utd B: Jack Quinlivan, Paddy Harnett, Caleb Martins, Keith Cullinane Sean Kilbridge, Sam Quigley, Conor Mullane. Subs: Scott McCarthy, Adam Guiry, Kevin O’Connor
U/8 Division 3 Shield Final
Kilcornan and Granagh clashed in this eagerly awaited tie with very little separating these sides all season but after fifty minutes of exciting football and a penalty shoot-out throw in at the end it was Kilcornan who emerged victorious. This truly was an outstanding game of football with the game ebbing and flowing from end to end. The sides could not be separated after forty minutes of normal time so extra time was required to see could it separate the sides but unfortunately this could not provide a winner either. At the end of normal time both sides were level at three each and Kilcornan seemed to be coasting to victory in extra time when they lead five three but Granagh Utd showed their true fighting spirit to draw level to take the game to penalties. The Granagh scorers in the game were Shane Collins with a fantastic hat trick, Josh Lynch Raftery and Ryan Fitzgibbon. The Kilcornan scorers were Adam Nash and Michael Keating both got two for Kilcornan with Joey Rushe also getting on the score sheet. In the penalty shoot out it was Kilcornan who held their nerve to win by four goals to three with Adam Nash, Joey Rushe, Michael Keating and Jack Neilon converting for the winners and Shane Collins, Josh Lynch Raftery and Ryan Fitzgibbon hitting the target but it wasn’t enough.
Kilcornan: Conor Arthur, Rebecca O’ Brien, Jack Nealon, Joey Rushe, Charlie Desmond, Michael Keating, Adam Nash, Jackson Griffin, Eve O’Sullivan, Ellen Cafferkey, Cian Arthur. Subs: Shay Kennedy, Aisling Holland
Granagh Utd: Eoin Enright, David Bennet, Darragh Clifford, Ciara English, Tom Curtin, Shane Collins, James Stapleton, Daniel Herlihy, Sean Murphy, Josh Lynch Raftery. Subs: Ryan Fitzgibbon, Rory Condon, Liam Bennis
U/8 Division 3 League Final
Bally Rovers and St Itas came head to head in the Division three league final with Rovers emerging winners. Rovers raced into a three nil lead early on but St Itas settled into their stride and began to get a hold on the game but they were unable to break down the Rovers rear guard. In the second half both teams scored one goal to leave the score four one at full time. The Rovers scorers were Aoife Cregan with two with one of them being of the top drawer variety and Paul O’ Donnell & Zach Behan getting the other two with Ben Mulcahy getting the St Itas goal.
Bally Rovers: Hugh O’Donnell, Conor Hannigan, Finan O’Shaughnessy, Aoife Cregan, Zach Behan, Paul O’Donnell, Ajay Behan. Subs: Eoin Murphy, Mark Riordan, Paudie Griffin, Keith O’Halloran
St Itas: TJ Kelly, Sean Harnett, Ualen Shannon, Jamie Hennessy, Eamon Carmody, Sean O’ Connor, Cian White. Subs: Ben Mulcahy, Jack Long, Holly Hennessy and David Noonan
U/8 Division 2 Shield Final
This was the clash of the red and black as Askeaton came up against Adare. Askeaton dominated the opening half and they took a two goal lead only to see Adare make a determined come back in the second half to draw level to send the game to extra time. Stephen Smyth and Cormac O’ Keeffe gave Askeaton a two goal cushion but these were cancelled out by an own goal and a second from Joe Sweeney and with extra time not providing any more goals penalties was required to separate the sides with the shoot out going to sudden death with Adare emerging winners by three goals to two following sixteen penalties. The Askeaton players who were successful from the spot were Stephen Smyth and Dan Flynn and the three successful Adare takers were Adam White, Mike Keane and goalkeeper Mike Southgate. Adare now have the opportunity of completing the league and cup double on Thursday night when they face division one side Abbeyfeale Utd A.
Adare Utd: Mike Southgate, Adam White, Joe Sweeney, Diarmuid Hartnett, Mike Keane, Hugh Lawlor, Mark Twomey, Aaron Leahy, Gavin Collins, Darragh Collins, Rory O’Connor, Alec Ahern.
Askeaton: Sean McMahon, Liam O’Cathasaigh, Dan Flynn, Cormac O’ Keeffe, Dan Fitzgerald, Stephen Smyth, David O’ Shaughnessy, Tomas Sheehan, David O’ Shaughnessy, Kieran Neville and Padhraic McMahon
U/8 Division 2 League Final
This was also a local derby clash with Ballingarry and Shountrade doing battle and it was Ballingarry who recorded victory in this one by three goals to one. Michael and Jack Molloy bagged one each with Eoghan Doherty getting his sides third with Ciaran Tagney getting Shountrades solitary strike. The win rounds off an absolutely fantastic season for the green and gold of Ballingarry and Shountrade can finish the season on a high note if they claim victory in the U/10 Cup Final on Thursday night when the come up against league champions Abbeyfeale Utd.
Ballingarry: Colm O’Connor, Darragh Carey, Kevin O’Connor, Josh Quille, Keith Storin, Michael Molloy, Jack Molloy, Eoghan Doherty, Darragh Lyons, Seamus Houlihan and Zach Madigan. Subs: Michael Shanahan, Seamus Houlihan, Conor Doherty, Gary Storin, Michael Roche.
Shountrade: Josh Shanahan, Ciaran Tagney, Seamie Lenihan, Kevin Dee, Cian Sparling, David Geary, Cian O’ Carroll, Evan Shorten, Conor Lenihan & Calvin Quinn.
Subs: Dawn O’Shaughnessy, Keelin . Jack Lynch, Jimmy Lenihan, Cian Sheehy
U/8 Division 1 Shield Final
This was another local derby with very little separating these sides in terms of distance and very little separated the sides on the pitch on Monday with both sides dead locked at nil nil after forty minutes of normal time and it looked like extra would fair to separate them also but Jamie Baynham gave Rovers victory need the end when he scored from a free kick from just outside the area which his low hit shot finding it’s way to the net through a crowded goal mouth. Both sides must be credited for their tremendous desire and effort.
Newcastle West Rovers: Paddy Philips, Evan McMatton, Mike Cremin, Jamie Baynham, Jamie Keane, Ronan Mullane, Konrod Kiwidicz. Subs: Daniel Cotter, Ruodhan O’ Connor, Shane Copse, Rial Mangan, Evan Sheahan
Newcastle West: Oisin O’Sullivan, Andrew Mortell, Conor Wallace, Oisin Enright, J Woulfe, Jack Duggan & Eddie Ward. Subs: Ray Lacey, Leon Barry, Jack O’ Connor, Robert Burke, AJ Donovan.
U/8 Division 1 League Final
This truly was an outstanding game of football with Abbeyfeale Utd A and Broadford Utd serving up all that was good about the beautiful game in this cracking contest. Both sides gave 110% in a game that was full of attacking football, great defending, well taken goals, a hat trick and add to this penalties which were required to separate the sides at the end of fifty minutes. These sides have met in a final in 2009 & 2010 with Abbeyfeale winning on both occasions so Broadford Utd were hoping it would be third time lucky. The game opened at a lightning pace with Broadford going one up inside the first two minutes when Brian Ahern scored a screamer after a brilliant run down the left wing. Abbeyfeale came storming back with Shane O’ Connell and Colm Cleary giving them a three one lead. Abbeyfeale opening goal was reminiscent of Barcelona as the intricate passing was a joy to watch in the tight space. Broadford in fairness didn’t drop the heads and they produced a wonderful come back with Brian Ahern being their hero and he completed his hat trick to ensure the game ended three all. In extra time both sides tried extremely hard to win the game and Abbeyfeale looked to have won it near the end but Killian Cahill denied them with a wonderful full length save so penalties were required for the third time on the day to separate teams. In the penalty shoot out Broadford emerged victorious with Conor Stack and Brian Ahern converting from ten yards to give Broadford a two nil win. The hero in the shoot out was most definitely Killian Cahill as he produced three top class saves to deny Abbeyfeale.