Nenagh and Newport march on in FAI Junior Cup
Limerick District League Review
By Pat Sheehan
Both Nenagh AFC and Newport progressed to round three of the FAI Junior Cup on Sunday while Lough Derg made their exit.
Hyde Rangers 2-3 Nenagh AFC
Nenagh AFC made the trip to Hyde Rangers and having lost to the same opposition in the league a few weeks back, were determined to make amends.
The visitors started well and had the home side on the backfoot from the off. The took the lead after fifteen minutes when Nathan Kelly gathered on half way and took off on a may run before firing home from 25 yards.
Hyde levelled before the break when Conor Madden headed home.
Dylan O’Neill put Hyde in front just after the restart after the restart which had the Nenagh bench wondering how they trailed. To their credit they bounced back well and Kelly struck again, this time from a penalty, to tie the game.
The Tipperary side got the breakthrough when a good run and cross by Kelly saw Cillian Scully, with the deftest of touches, guided the ball home.
Hyde Rangers: Sam Guerin; Dave Power; Dylan O'Neill; Conor Madigan; Dylan O'Byrne; Calum Murphy; Alex Kiely; Gavin Hehir; Ben O'Shaughnessy; Ben Kennedy; Conor Madden. Subs: Nathan Walsh; Lee Hartigan; Evan Shine; Jack O'Doherty
Nenagh AFC: Aaron Savage; Eoin Coffey; Colm Hayden; Eamon White; Kieran Barr; Dylan Morrison; Lee Mowatt; Conor McCormack; Carl Williams; Nathan Kelly; Saeed Ryan. Subs: Kieran O'Brien; Cillian Scully; Adam Ryan; Declan O'Meara; Ryan Gilmartin
Newport Town 4-2 Geraldines
Newport Town continued their resurgence with a 4-2 victory over Geraldines, securing their spot in the next round of the National tournament.
A dominant first-half performance saw Newport race into a commanding lead, netting four unanswered goals. Conor Brett, Christy Doyle, Jamie Kavanagh, and Darren Collins all found the back of the net as the Tipperary side took full control.
Geraldines fought back after the break, with Jake Leamy and Alan Keane reducing the deficit, but Newport's blistering first-half display had already sealed the win.
Newport Town: Mark Forde; Eoin Looney; Pa Murtagh; Christy O'Connor; Drew McLean; Joe Shanahan; Jamie Kavanagh; Elliot Slattery; Christy Doyle; Darren Collins; Conor Brett. Sub: Aaron Coleman.
Geraldines: John Ryan; Rob Lowe; Alex Sheehy; John Mullane; Paul Fitzgerald; Scott Kelly; Nathan Cross; David Healy Lawlor; Alan Keane; Jake Leamy; Diego Neves. Subs: Josh Carey Nestor; Joe Keane; Liam O'Regan; Adam McMahon.
Ballynanty Rovers 5-1 Lough Derg
As expected, Ballynanty progressed in the FAI with a 5-1 win over Lough Derg.
Once Shane Dillon put Balla in front in the opening minutes it always looked like they were in control. That said, Jason Monaghan scored to level the tie on thirteen minutes but Adrian Power, Cian Fitzgerald had Balla 3-1 up at the break. After the restart, the home side tacked on further scores through Daniel Ikoghode and Cian Lynch.