5 hours Ago By Colm Kinsella
FAI YOUTHS INTER-LEAGUE: Cork Youths (2) 4, Limerick Desmond (1) 1 THE pick of the whole of Cork city and county proved too good for West Limerick on Saturday in Ringmahon Park when the Cork Youths League put on the afterburners in the second-half of this Group 2 fixture. Cork were not flattered by their 4-1 victory against a Limerick Desmond side who had given as good as they got in the first-half, recovering to only trail 2-1 at half-time after falling two behind after eleven minutes. This was a fast, enjoyable game, played in a sporting manner throughout.
There was lots of goalmouth action on Ringmahon’s excellent pitch, starting in the very first minute when lively Limerick Desmond striker, Max White, forced a save from Cian Lane. It was end to end for the next few minutes and so it’s not surprising that Cork’s opener came as a result of a counter-attack. Gary Donegan’s shot was turned away from the left post by Lane and cleared.
Cork swept up-field and won a corner, from which Kai O’Neill headed powerfully to the net. One would have expected O’Neill to be waiting in the delivery bay again when Cork won another corner four minutes later. On this occasion he went out to the flag to accept a short corner and provide a pin-point cross which was headed home by captain Kellan Crowe.
It was looking as if it was going to be a very long day for the Limerick Desmond lads but, to their credit, they put the game back in the melting pot by scoring in the 14th minute, Jack Keogh applying a fine finish from a cross by right-back Charlie Finn. For the rest of the half, Limerick Desmond were a match for their highly-rated hosts. Defensively, they pressed well and made Cork look ordinary at times.
In possession, they displayed many facets of good attacking play: moving the ball quickly, switching play at the right times and syncing penetrating passes with penetrating runs. Breska striker White continued to catch the eye with his pace and quick feet, while Cathal Markham looked very much at home in the centre of midfield in the way he kept the ball moving between the thirds in a high-pressure environment. Chances in the remainder of the first-half were fairly even, chief among them being Ruairi Jeffers hitting the bar for Cork and Fionn McNamara’s low centre across the goal at the other end not getting the finishing touch that it invited.
Cork, from the restart, found a higher gear that Limerick Desmond simply couldn’t match. They hit the crossbar after twelve seconds and had another near miss before their lightning start reaped dividends with their third goal in the 47th minute, Paudie McGrath scoring from the rebound after Aaron Deane had got a strong hand to Ty Corcoran’s stinging shot. After that, the game was basically about Cork’s dominance and Deane’s resistance.
Cork bagged their fourth goal in the 72nd minute when Corcoran applied a first-time finish after being set up by impressive substitute Karim Fonseca in a counter-attack, but, before and after, Deane pulled off a string of saves to keep the score down. He showed agility to keep out a shot from Corcoran that was destined for the top left-hand corner; made a leg save from Corcoran; saved at the feet of McGrath; tipped a deflected shot from substitute Rollie Durango around the post; and saved with an outstretched leg from Fonseca. There are just three teams in Limerick Desmond’s group and their remaining group game, at home to the Waterford League, will take place in Mick Hanley Park on or before Saturday, November 2 nd .
They will need to win that to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals as group winners. The teams that finish second and third will go into the quarter-finals along with the second and third placed teams in Group A, which is comprised of Limerick District, Clare and Kerry. Manager Declan Normoyle and his assistants Niall O’Connor, Thomas Kiely and John Canty have prepared this team well and that was evident in their impressive first-half performance.
There was a gulf in class in the second-half, Cork’s strength in depth illustrated by the impact of their substitutes, but I’m sure Limerick Desmond will take the lessons on board and be better for the experience in the challenges that lie ahead. Cork Youths: Cian Lane, Sam Dow, Colm Harte, Conor Gardiner, Finn Hagerman, Ty Corcoran, Ruairi Jeffers, Kellan Crowe, Kai O’Neill, Evan Cummins, Paudie McGrath. Subs: Karim Fonseca (46 mins), Joe Mouret and Dylan O’Sullivan (63 mins), Rollie Durango and Billy Higgins (71 mins).
Limerick Desmond Youths: Aaron Deane (Granagh United), Charlie Finn (Broadford United), Jamie Quinn (Ballingarry), Ryan Alymer (Ballingarry), Lochlann Frawley (Shannonside), Gary Donegan (Feenagh), Fionn McNamara (Glin Rovers), Cathal Markham (Ballingarry), Adam O’Kelly (Broadford United) (capt), Jack Keogh (Rathkeale), Max White (Breska Rovers). Subs used: Sammy Egan (Broadford United), Jack McMahon (Granagh United), Darragh O’Donoghue (Granagh United), Finn O’Gorman (Askeaton-Kilcornan), Donnadh Daly (Glin Rovers). Also, Adam Collins (Broadford United), Conor McNamara (Askeaton-Kilcornan), Dylan Browne (Newcastle West Town), Sean Downes (Askeaton-Kilcornan), Timmy Quirke (Abbeyfeale United), Zach Birdthistle (Askeaton-Kilcornan).
Referee David Finnegan MUNSTER JUNUIOR CUP, THIRD ROUND Askeaton-Kilcornan (1) 2 Newcastle West Town (0) 1 Askeaton-Kilcornan have reached the last 32 in Munster (open draw) for the first time after a narrow two one win at home to Newcastle West Town. Can they repeat what Askeaton did in the 1990’s by getting to a provincial final (v Johnville of Waterford), who knows. Askeaton-Kilcornan opened the scoring on nineteen minutes when Sam Duggan found the net with a well struck effort from eighteen-yards.
Town came more into the game after this and had a few chances before half time, the best of which fell to Dylan Moloney who saw his goal bound shot was blocked on the line. Half time 1-0. The wind turned into a storm in the second half which didn't help the visitors’ chances at a comeback and it got worse for them on seventy-four minutes.
A long ball got caught in the wind and fell into the path of striker Thomas McCarthy who did the needful from inside the box. Town were back in the game on eighty minutes through a Jake Power half volley from outside the box. Despite late pressure from the visitors they couldn't breach the home defence a second time.
Askeaton-Kilcornan join Breska Rovers and Creeves Celtic in the last 32 (Open draw). Askeaton-Kilcornan: Mike Boyce, Kevin O'Keeffe, E Costello, John McCarthy, Alan Ryan, Ray Kelly, Diarmuid O'Connor, Sam Duggan, John O'Shaughnessy, Tomas Sheahan, Ken O'Donoghue. Subs Cormac O'Keeffe, Colm O'Flaherty, Rob Carrig, Tony McCarthy, Sean Whelan, Jamie O'Sullivan, Seanie Downes NCW Town: Andrew Ruddle, Jack Duggan, Mike O'Keeffe, Joey Healy, P Noonan Sweeny, Tony McCarthy, Oisin Enright, Jake Power, Dylan Moloney, Maurice Lane.
Subs Dylan Browne, Ryan Moloney, Leon Barry, Prince Moyo, James Cussen, Pa Ahern, Niall McAuliffe MUNSTER JUNIOR SHIELD, THIRD ROUND Carrig Celtic (0) 2 Herbertstown B (2) 3 On a windy day not really suited for soccer Carrig Celtic had Herbertstown B as visitors in the third round of the Munster Junior Shield. With a gale force wind blowing across the pitch it took both teams a while to settle. It was even enough for the first twenty minutes or so when the visitors went ahead when their striker cut in and finished a low shot to the net.
Carrig battled hard for the rest of the half but unfortunately found themselves two down when a good move from Herbertstown saw their midfielder shoot from the edge of the box into the top corner. Carrig started the second half well and had a couple of half chances and finally started to get on top in midfield before Herbertstown found themselves down to ten men. Carrig were caught on the break just past the hour mark as Herbertstown added a third.
From here until the final whistle Carrig laid siege to their goal. With fifteen minutes left Liam King bundled the ball home from a corner to make it three one. Then a Carrig penalty after Mikey Long was fouled in the box was saved.
With the last kick of the game Liam King got his second after another corner but the clock was against the home side. Full time 3-2 to the visitors. Carrig Celtic: Declan Greaney, James O’Sullivan, Anthony Liston, Pa Brouder, Shane Long, Ray Brouder, Thomas Griffin, Mikey Long, Adam Bennett, Seanie King, Eoin King.
Subs used Liam King, John Byrnes, Jody Woulfe, Jordan Ryan, Kieran O’Connor. Also, Oisin Hallihan, Noel Callanan. Herbertstown B: Matt Holmes, Andrew Kearns, Liam Bermingham, Kenneth O’Loughlin, Mark McGuire, Daniel McGuire, Sean Herr, Joe Fogarty, Nick Hayes, Colm Bermingham, Chris Kearns.
Subs used Declan Kenny, Darragh Fallon, John Culhane, Chris Lonergan, Daniel Frape. Also, Jake Russell, Sean Connolly, Referee Mike Murphy..
