KENNEDY BOWL Q/F
Limerick Desmond (0) 1 Van Mambouana
Mayo (2) 2
Limerick Desmond played Mayo in the quarter final of the Bowl on Wednesday afternoon. These two sides had played each other in a friendly some weeks back with Desmond coming out on top but this encounter was always going to be more difficult assignment and Mayo created the first opportunity with Stephen McDermott firing over from close range. Desmond hit back quickly with Edward Sheehy setting up Van Mambouana but his effort was over and minutes later Kyle Cotter won possession and found Liam McCartan who played a delightful ball over the top to Seamus Flanagan but Mayo’s Sean Kenny recovered to clear the danger and soon after McCartan linked up with McSweeney to set up Cotter but his effort was wide of the target. Mayo’s Peter Walsh done well to create an opening on fourteen minutes but Padhraic O’ Connor with a well timed tackle to deny Mayo and Desmond countered quickly with Flanagan winning a corner. Mickey Hickey and Van Mambouana combined out on the right wing to find McCartan but his low driven shot across the six yard box was cut out by Paul Walsh in the Mayo goal. Mayo became the first and only team to take the lead against Limerick Desmond on eighteen minutes when following good build up down the left wing James Devanney rounded the advancing keeper and slotted home from close range and within the space of four minutes Desmond found themselves two down when they conceded a free kick on the left wing which was well delivered to the edge of the six yard box and Jesse Devers headed home to stun Limerick Desmond. Desmond tried in vain to respond as quickly as possible with Flanagan’s free kick taking a deflection which made the save comfortable for Walsh.
Desmond retired at half time two nil down and they emerged for the second half in determined mood and within one hundred and twenty seconds Limerick Desmond were back in the game when Sean McSweeney found Van Mambounana in the centre of the pitch and he attacked the space and hit a sweet strike from twenty five yards which nestled in the bottom corner. Desmond were well on top and dominating possession and McSweeney treaded a through ball for McCartan but his effort lacked the required power to trouble Walsh and within minutes Flanagan found Cotter with the keeper spilling Cotter’s effort but the ball rolled to safety and good combination play between Mark Connolly and Nathan Clancy resulted in Liam McCartan being fouled but the set piece lacked imagination and the danger was cleared. Time was running out for Desmond at this point and Mambounana chipped the ball over the top for Clancy to run on to and he turned quickly to pick out McSweeney at the back post but his effort was wide of the target and Mambounana and Clancy suffered the same fate in injury with both their efforts off target. Soon after the referee blew the full time whistle and Limerick Desmond were out of the competition and were now playing for places between 13th and 16th
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