Want to know how your team got on at the weekend and who scored? Read the Carlow & District League match reports here.
With thanks to Michael Gorman…
Nationalist Premier Division
St Fiacc’s 1
Parkville United 3
By Darragh Bermingham
St Fiacc’s disappointing season continued after defeat to Parkville mean they remain second from bottom with just six points from 11 games.
The only consolation for the Saints will be that St Pat’s defeated Killeshin meaning they do not drop to the foot of the table. Parkville took their chances on a windy day away from home. The game started at a slow pace, as both teams took their time in getting used to the conditions. Despite Fiacc’s putting early pressure on the Park defence, it was the away side who took the lead. A difference in styles was clear to see as Fiacc’s tried to use their size up from to their advantage by playing direct, whereas Parkville tried to get the ball down and play a more technical game. There were no clear cut chances until Graham Byrne put Willy Doran through down the Parkville right and Doran delicately chipped the keeper from 18 yards, a great finish from the young Parkville midfielder. The Saints reacted well and attacked Parkville with purpose, drawing a fantastic save from the away ‘keeper Jason Byrne. With half time fast approaching, Parkville went in search of a second. They went extremely close when Nick Nolan flicked the ball into the path of Doran who was denied this time by a save right out of the top drawer. The half ended 1-0 with Parkville unlucky to not be further ahead.
Fiacc’s rallied at the start of the second half and began to threaten the Parkville goal time and again. Long angled passes were causing the away side all sorts of problems and this was emphasised when Parkville’s Robbie Sheridan headed the ball over his own ‘keeper to draw Fiacc’s level. This proved to be a necessary catalyst for Parkville and from there on out they remained rock solid at the back, with Jamie Walsh, Wayne Donoghue, Sam Sheridan and Ronan Byrne taking control of everything that was thrown at them by a determined Fiacc’s side. On 60 minutes a quality pass from Robbie Sheridan allowed James Lonergan to test the Fiacc’s defence. His pull back was met by Nick Nolan who made no mistake from 12 yards to regain Parkville’s lead. Parkville kicked on and they created a range of different chances with Lonergan and McCarney going close. As Fiacc’s tried to claw their way back into the game, Parkville broke and sealed the win. Ronan Byrne played the ball to Conor McCarney, who then ran from the right wing across the Fiacc’s defence and slotted home with a very tidy strike from outside the area, real class from McCarney. Park saw out the rest of the game with relative ease retaining the ball well and remaining solid at the back. While Fiacc’s showed character, it was clear that it just wasn’t their day.
Best for the Saints were Ronan Brennan, Bobby Doyle and Brian McDermott while Will Doran, Nick Nolan and Robbie Sheridan impressed for Parkville.
Crettyard United 2
New Oak Boys 1
Champions Crettyard racked up their tenth straight league win as Lee Salter scored twice against his old club.
There was little in the way of clear chances in the opening half hour as the teams battled it out in midfield but as the game began to open up it was New Oak that created the openings for Conail Dunne and Danny Pereira but neither could find the net when well placed. The deadlock was broken five minutes from half time when Salter converted from a Criostoir Maher free kick as United took the lead into the break.
The visitors upped the tempo early in the second half and were deservedly level on 55 minutes, Max Motto setting up Lee Walker to make it 1-1. After last weekend’s disappointing performance at Castle Rangers it looked like New Oak would earn a point at the home of the champions but with eight minutes left on the clock Salter struck again, another Maher free kick, another Salter touch and another goal as United claimed the points.
Jim Dunne, Niall Purcell and Lee Salter were best for Crettyard. New Oak will be satisfied with a solid all round team performance even it didn’t quite yield the desired result.
Hanover Harps 2
Baltinglass Town 1
It’s as you were at the top of the Premier Division as second placed Hanover claimed a hard fought win over Baltinglass to remain just three points off Crettyard.
Harps got off to the perfect start as Daryl Hayden’s powerful header from a Mark Davis corner after just five minutes. Hanover continued to create chances as Town struggled to find their rhythm but Hayden, Graham Delaney and Davis all failed to convert. Baltinglass began to create chances of their own as the half drew to a close but shots from Robbie Barrett and Paddy Sinnott drifted just wide of the post.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half proved the deciding period of the game. Baltinglass were level within five minutes of the restart when Barrett pounced on a loose ball in the Harps area and slid the ball past Jamie Hennessey. Within minutes of scoring the equaliser Town were reduced to 10 men as they lost a player to a second yellow. Hanover began to press forward again and on the hour mark the winner arrived. Hayden was fouled on the edge of the penalty area and Davis fired the resulting free kick to the net. Both sides had chances to add to the scoring as the match drew to a close but Hanover held on to claim the points.
Simon O’Shea, Cathal Coughlan and Stephen Charlton impressed for Hanover while best for Town were Paddy Sinnott, James Gahan and Conor Keogh.
St Patrick’s Boys 2
Killeshin 1
First half strikes from Michael Debosz and Pauric Whelan were enough for St Pat’s to claim the win despite a spirited second half showing from Killeshin.
The hosts hit the front on 15 minutes when Whelan’s pass had saw Killeshin’s back line get themselves in a mess and Debosz capitalised on the confusion to slot home from 12 yards and put Pat’s 1-0 ahead. Killeshin battled their way back into the game were almost level on the half hour but the crossbar denied Brian Lawlor a goal as his header rebounded to safety. Boys protected their lead with some solid defending and good goalkeeping from Ger Kieran and with five minutes left to the interval they hit Killeshin with a sucker punch, Conor Clack found Ross Townsend out wide and his cross was finished off by the inrushing Whelan to leave it 2-0 at the break.
The second saw a different Killeshin and they should have scored when Shane Coakley beat two defenders only for his shot to be tipped over the bar by Kieran in the Pat’s goal. Pat’s were now struggling to cope with the Killeshin pressure and when Mickey McCartney picked up a ball in midfield, he evaded the attentions of three defenders before he unleashed a powerful shot that Kieran did well to get a hand on but Cathal Brennan arrived at the back post and buried his shot to make it 2-1 on 63 minutes. The crossbar would again prove vital to the St Pat’s defence as the goal frame twice denied the visitors, Ian Brennan and Barry Ryan both seeing efforts strike the crossbar. Time and luck weren’t on Killeshin’s side however and the winners held out thanks to the efforts of Ger Kieran, Michael Debosz and Ross Townsend.
Killeshin’s best were Gavin Brennan, Cathal Brennan, Michael McCartney and Enda O’Rourke.
Herald Striker Division One
Nurney Villa 0
Hanover Harps 1
An opening half goal decided this very even encounter in Nurney.
With first use of the strong breeze that blew straight down the pitch Hanover were dominant in the first half, but a couple of good openings were squandered by Aaron Wynne and Paul Clancy before the goal arrived in the 24th minute when Clancy put Liam Kearney in possession and Kearney held off a couple of defenders to stab home. Nurney tried to respond and Gary Dillon from a free kick brought a good save out of Anthony Core before the half closed.
Early in the second half Villa had a great chance to level, but after they were awarded a penalty for a hand ball Jason McAssey skied his kick well over the crossbar. Nurney pushed hard for an equaliser and Philip Murphy had two good headed chances, but put the ball too near Core in the Hanover goal and the single 1st half goal turned out to be the winner.
Excellent for Harps were Anthony Core, William Moran and Liam Kearney. For Nurney Gary Dillon, Peter Abbey and Joe Byrne worked hard.
White’s Pharmacy Division Two
Burrin Celtic 0
Slaney Rovers 4
Slaney had a comfortable win in Ballon on Sunday as they ran in two goals in each half to ease to victory.
Burrin opened well enough and Mikey Barcoe missed a great chance to put them ahead, but once Eoin Curran gave Rovers the lead after 34 minutes the Rathvilly side took over. Aaron Broughall doubled the Rovers lead before half-time.
A solo goal from Stefan Dunne made it 0-3 on the hour and a good finish from Conor O’Brien put Rovers 0-4 ahead on 77 minutes. The game then petered out into a comfortable win for Rovers.
Donal Kelly, Michael Foley and Mark Ryan excelled for Rovers. With Mike Slattery, Pauric Corcoran and Mikey Barcoe best for Burrin.
Parkville United 0
St. Anne’s 4
Two goals in each half gave Anne’s victory and kept them in the race for Division 2 honours.
Jack Hickey and John Mahon were on the mark for the Ballylinan side in the 1st half as they led 0-2 at the break.
Robbie Donohoe and sub Podge Walsh notched the second half goals for the visitors as they went on to record a comfortable win.
Stars for Anne’s were Brian Kenna, Jack Hickey and Mark Kelly.
Burger King Division Three
St. Joseph’s 2
Hanover Harps 8
Hanover over ran Joey’s in the second half for a comfortable win.
The first half exchanges were even enough as Harps led 1-2 at half-time. The ice was broken when Kuba Debosz finished a Dillon Murphy cross to the Saints net after 30 minutes. The home side responded and Davy McEvoy headed home a James Brennan taken corner just minutes later. Just on half-time Hanover regained the lead with a John McGrath goal.
Hanover piled on the pressure in the third quarter and the goals followed, McGrath added another goal, Chris Bermingham, Dillon Murphy and Kuba Debosz again found the net to open up a 1-6 lead. Brandon Redmond with a 30 yards’ strike widened the gap in the 83rd minute. Joey’s pulled a goal back with a James Brennan volley, but Hanover had the last say with a Josh Cooney pile driver in the dying minutes.
Excellent for Hanover were Brandon Redmond, Kuba Debosz and Dillon Murphy. For Joey’s Conall O’Se, Paul Higgins and Gavin Curran tried hard.
Mill Celtic 4
Nurney Villa 1
Mill picked up the points against a battling Nurney side in an entertaining tie in Ballitore.
The home side struck the opener after 17 minutes when Paul Kirwan finished an Andy Horan cross to the net. A poor free kick from the Nurney keeper was punished by Tommy Hayes seven minutes later to double the lead. The home side stretched their lead to 3-0 before half-time when full back Gary Lambe advanced to score with a good shot.
Nurney stuck to their guns in the second half and despite going a fourth goal down through an Andy Horan strike they fought back, but Adam Kenny fired over when well placed. In the end Mill were well deserving winners, their best on the day were Stephen Hickey, Paddy Dunne and Tommy Hayes. For Nurney Ross Jacob, Eoin Doyle and Colin Townsend played well.
Killeshin 4
Vale Wanderers 2
Killeshin won the points at home on Sunday.
The Co. Laois side went ahead after 15 minutes with a Fergus Nolan shot from 30 yards range. Chances came and went for both sides, but this was the only goal of the 1st half.
Nolan put Killeshin 2-0 up six minutes into the second half when the Vale keeper parried the ball out to him. Jody Hennessy then found the top corner of the Vale net after 60 minutes. Hennessy scored again for the home side to put them comfortably ahead at 4-1 with ten minutes to go. Vale managed to score their second goal four minutes from the end, but Killeshin were comfortable winners.
Declan Bolton, Keane Nolan and Jody Hennessy stood out for Killeshin.
MED BAR CUP Round 1
Palatine Celtic 1
Celtic Stars 2
A very tight cup tie was edged by Stars in the VEC on Sunday.
An exciting first half ended scoreless with Pal unlucky on several occasions not to score as they dominated possession, but Jason Kane and Billy McDonald were off target from good positions and Gary Murphy was denied by an excellent save from Stars keeper Paddy Gannon.
Stars came out strong in the second half and after hitting the Pal bar they got the opening goal when Tony Darcy headed home a Jason Cush cross. Minutes later Stars doubled their lead when Darcy put Mark Egan in to stroke home. Pal now had a mountain to climb and to their credit they never gave up and were rewarded with a Lee Gordon goal on 80 minutes to set up a frantic finish. Pal had a few chances to force extra time, the closest coming when Lorcan Carroll’s effort came back off the post on 90 minutes, but it was not to be and Stars advance.
Best for the winners were Paddy Gannon, Alan Nolan and Tony Darcy. For Pal Chris Parle, Lorcan Carroll and Lee Gordon excelled.
Crettyard United ‘B’ 1
Hacketstown United 2
A late winner in extra time saw Hacketstown advance in the Med Bar Cup.
Crettyard held the early advantage and they went ahead with a Philip Brennan goal. In an open tie both sides had chances and both keepers were busy and Hacketstown forced extra time when Tom Tallon converted a penalty kick.
In extra time Philip Brennan came close for Cretty before the visitors struck for the winner after a Dale Stevenson shot came back off the crossbar and Con Murphy pounced to put away the rebound.
Tops for Hacketstown were Bobby Rooney, Colm O’Connor and Jordan Kane.
DOUGLAS JEWELLERS CARLOW CUP Round 2
Ballymurphy Celtic 1
Vale Wanderers 2
A late goal stole this tie for Vale as they had to withstand strong second half pressure from Celtic.
Thomas Doyle with a penalty put Celtic ahead after five minutes and they forced Vale on the back foot, but were denied by Zak Yongram in the Vale goal as he saved from Kevin Foley, Luke Roche and Anto Jordan. Then just before half-time Celtic were caught on a counter attack when Trevor Nolan turned in a Kieran Casey cross for a 1-1 half-time score.
Celtic had again the better of the second half, but again were denied by Yongram and with minutes to go Vale got the winner when Trevor Nolan notched his second goal to put Vale in the hat for Round 3.
Best for Vale were Paddy Dowling, Danny Darcy and Dinny Byrne. For the Bally boys Mikey Whelan, Paul Foley and Mark Maloney stood out.
DOUGLAS JEWELLERS CARLOW CUP Round 1
New Oak Boys ‘C’ 5
Slaney Rovers ‘B’ 0
Despite their best efforts Slaney’s second string bowed out of the Cup in Carlow Town on Sunday.
Rovers held the Town side scoreless in the first half, but had no answer to New Oak in the second half as the home side ran in five goals to wrap up a comfortable win.
Trying hard for Rovers were Adam Lawlor, Gary Smith and Brian Smith.
DIVISION 2/3 LEAGUE CUP Round 1
Village FC 3
Kilree Celtic 2 (aet)
Village advanced after extra time in a Division 2/3 Cup tie.
Declan Kelly put the Old Leighlin side ahead after 15 minutes, but Kilree hit back to go 1-2 up with strikes from PJ O’Rourke and David McDonald. With ten minutes to go in normal time Declan Kelly hit an equaliser to force extra time.
The deciding goal came in the second period of extra time when Jack Barron lobbed the Kilree keeper for the winner.
John Ryan, David Dowling and Declan Kelly excelled for Village. With Micko Salter, PJ O’Rourke and David McDonald best for Kilree.
SuperValu U18 Division
Nurney Villa 2
Mill Celtic 1
This was a highly entertaining game, played in some terrible weather conditions and both sides deserve fulsome praise, for the display of football that they put on show.
Mill went in front on 20 minutes, when a brilliant run by Shane Quirke, saw him brought down in the box and whilst Nurney disputed the decision, Jack Nolan kept his nerve and calmly converted the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way, for 0-1. On 30 minutes Nurney’s Sean Taylor fired in a 30 yard free-kick, which was met by Jamie McCabe, who made no mistake in converting from close range for 1-1 and this was the score at half-time.
Nurney started the better, as play resumed and both Michael Murphy and Brian Carroll were prominent, as they really tested Eric Evans – Mill’s keeper, who pulled a string of fine saves to keep Mill in the game. However, on 56 minutes Dylan Kavanagh struck a great shot, which finally beat Evans for 2-1 to Nurney and this proved to be the match-winner.
Both sides continued to battle hard to the end, in the poor conditions and despite Mill pressurising Nurney’s defence – they remained solid and intact to the end, as Mill couldn’t produce an equaliser, despite the best efforts of Scott Henry and Dylan Wynne, who both went close and Nurney took the points and remain second in the league.
Best for Nurney were Brian Carroll, Dylan Kavanagh and Michael Murphy, while standing out for Mill were Eric Evans, Shane Quirke and Jack Nolan.
Parkville United 1
St Patrick’s Boys 4
This game started at a frantic pace, with both teams working extremely hard to win back possession, when they’d lost it.
St Pat’s opened the scoring on 15 minutes, when Michael Dobosz rifled a shot into the bottom corner, after good work by Jamie Farrell for 0-1. On 28 minutes, Kelvin Corcoran had a great long-range effort, which had to be parried over by Parkville’s keeper, but clear-cut chances for few for both sides. Just before half-time, a poor challenge in the box by St Pat’s Evan Lowry on Parkville’s Sam Meanie, enabled Tom Pollard to calmly equalise for 1-1 and this was a fair reflection of the first-half’s play, as the interval came.
20 minutes into the second-half, St Pat’s went ahead 1-2, when a Michael Dobosz header, rebounded off the crossbar and the ball was tapped home from close range by Jamie Farrell.
On 78 minutes, Michael Dobosz scored his second and St Pat’s third, when he beat two defenders and then buried the ball into the bottom corner, from all of 25 yards and a 1-3 score line. St Pat’s made it 1-4, late on, when Evan Lowry won a great tackle in midfield and played in Luke Murphy, who beat two players in the box and finished into the top left-hand corner. This was a thoroughly entertaining match and the only thing between the teams was the superior, clinical finishing of St Pat’s.
Best for St Pat’s were the outstanding Michael Dobosz, Martin Bridgett and Kelvin Corcoran, whilst standing out for Parkville were Tom Pollard, Ross Hanley and Ryan Clarke.
St Fiacc’s 1
Palatine Celtic 5
On a wet and windy day, there were goals aplenty in this derby game.
St Fiacc’s with the advantage of the wind, started very brightly, but they were undone early on by a lethal Palatine attack, who grabbed a goal on 5 minutes through Conor McDonald for a 0-1 lead and then they only held their lead as a result of three smart saves by their keeper, as St Fiacc’s tried hard to get on even terms and put pressure on Pal’s defence.
On 17 minutes, Martin Doyle doubled Pal’s advantage, with a neat side-foot finish for 0-2 and then Conor McDonald and Odhlan Duff, both put free headers over the bar, before Martin Doyle, got his second, following up a Conor McDonald rebound, off the Fiacc’s keeper for 0-3 Fitzpatrick and this was the score at the interval.
10 minutes into the second-half Conor McDonald finished well, after being put through by Darragh McDonald for 0-4 for Palatine.
St Fiacc’s had made three substitutions at half-time and after they had settled in, St Fiacc’s seemed to be a completely new side and they started to dominate the exchanges and but for some excellent saves by the Pal keeper, they could have had two or three goals themselves.
St Fiacc’s got their reward for their improved play when Anthony Fitzpatrick fire home a fine goal for 1-4, however, on 85 minutes Martin Doyle completed his hat-trick, from a great cross by Darragh Heneghan for 1-5 and that was the final score-line.
Best for Palatine in a great team performance were Martin Doyle, Conor McDonald, Darragh Fitzpatrick, Odhlan Duff, Matthew Kenny and Darragh Heneghan and standing out for St Fiacc’s were, new signing Cian Maddock, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Jordi Coleman and Denytoi Stewart, who had a fine game in goal.
Vale Wanderers 2
St Anne’s 1
This game was a far different affair from the opening day of the season, with the much improved St Anne’s team providing a really tough test for Vale.
St Anne’s started the better and at a blistering pace and they went ahead on 8 minutes, after winning a free-kick on the edge of the box and Kevin Buggy stepped to fire it home for 0-1, which they fully deserved.
The first-half was a fiery encounter, with no quarter asked or given and both sides had further chances, but they were all spurned.
Just when it looked like St Anne’s would take their lead into the interval – Vale’s Captain Ciaran Fitz made a run from deep, played a one-two with Dylan Bradley and he then chipped the St Anne’s keeper for a really stylish finish and a 1-1 score-line at half-time.
Vale introduced Eoin Johnson and Conor Daly, as substitutes at half-time and they immediately started to cause problems down the left.
This combination quickly produced a goal, when they won a corner and a fine delivery from Eoin Johnson found Dylan Bradley, at the back post and he finished well to put Vale 2-1 in front. It was nearly 3-1 just after, but a Ronan McAllister header, produced a fabulous save from the St Anne’s keeper, to turn it round the post.
Best for Vale were Ronan McAllister, Eoin Johnson and ‘man of the match’ Dylan Bradley, whilst St Anne’s best player was Niall Brennan.
Women’s Division
Newpark FC 7
Village FC 0
Newpark came out on top in this encounter in tough conditions.
The Village battled hard and put in great team performance. Newpark were the stronger team with some great passing but the visitors defended well. Denise Doyle put in a great performance bagging four goals and Demi Donovan getting the other three. The Village played and battled as a team so it would be unfair to pick one player over another as their best player today.
Nurney Villa 0
Crettyard United 15
Nurney faced Crettyard on a wild wet and windy day and despite having the slope and wind with them, in the first half, Nurney had shipped seven goals by half time, as a clinical Crettyard attack were rampant against second bottom Nurney. The home side did put a bit of pressure on Crettyard and forced two or three corners and had a couple of half chances, but mostly it was ‘one way’ traffic towards the Nurney net as they only forced the Crettyard keeper to make a couple of saves in total.
In the second-half, as expected, there was no cessation of Crettyard’s siege on Nurney’s goal and Crettyard ended up running in another eight goals, as well as missing a good number of other chances, as the Nurney defence defiantly tried to stem the tide of goals and it ended up 0-15 to a fine Crettyard team, who were on top form. Nurney never gave up and it was a credit to the overall efforts of their whole squad, but standing out for them, were Michelle Ryan in goal, who made a number of fine saves, Jacinta Kearney, Hazel Dowling and Lisa Abbey who worked tirelessly in defence and mid-field, in what was a match played in a very sporting manner.
Mill Celtic 3
Vale Wanderers 4
Vale opened the scoring just a few minutes in when a free kick from the edge of the box from the boot of Aoife Dunne struck the underside of the crossbar and came back out to the waiting Susan O’Leary who struck the net from mere yards. Midway through the half, Vale worked the ball forward for O’Leary to strike again. Mill struck back when the combination of Lorraine Bowes and Joanne Cullen found Sarah Conboy at the edge of the box who drilled a perfect shot home.
Vale answered back shortly after the tip off with a strike from Olivia Foley. Sarah Conboy found the net again with precision strike from the edge of the box that struck the top right corner. For much of the second half, both teams were evenly matched. With only five to go, O’Leary converted from the spot. In the dying minutes, Joanne Cullen added to the Mill tally with a shot from thirty yards that skipped to the right of the keeper.
Best for Mill were Sarah Conboy, Emma Dunne and Carol Cullen. Best for Vale were Olivia Foley, Claudia Watchorn and Nicole Hanley.
