Mixed fortunes in national cup

NATIONAL CUP

IT was an even-age weekend in the National Cups as the quest for places in the last thirty continues. In the Under 12 section The Park were unlucky to go out on penalties at home to Pike Rovers from Limerick at Christy Leahy Park.

The visitors were the better team in the first half and went 1-0 up. The Park took over in the second half and equalised from a Ryan O’Driscoll wonder volley. They then had a penalty to take the lead, but it wasn’t to be and with no further score the game went to penalties. Pike Rovers scored all their penalties to progress to the next round.

In the Under 14 The Park went to Limerick to take on Shelbourne and came away with an impressive 5-0 win. The opening goal came on 20 minutes when Dylan Hobbert was quickest to react when Darragh Cunnane had the crossbar.

Cunnane then made it 2-0 after a mazy dribble. Shels tried to rally but when Venis Jahiri volleyed home to make it 3-0 it was game over.

Mike Tansley setup the same player for the fourth goal. Cunnane then wrapped up the scoring from an Odhran Ferris corner.

Killarney Celtic were also on the road in the Under 14 National Cup and following a tight first half away at Nenagh Town the Kerry side took control in the second half.

Celtic who were only 1-0 ahead at the break added four unanswered in the second half. The Hoops goals came from Owen Crowley, Luke O’Neill, Dare O’Shea and Eduardo.

Sadly the other two Kerry sides went out both after the cruelty of a penalty hit shoot-out. Inter Kenmare will wonder how their home game even got to penalties. They were 4-1 thank to a Yago Cornide hat-trick and a Dara O’Connor goal.

However, Ennis Town fought back level and so after extra time is was down to penalty kicks. Ennis Town showed no fear and five from five in the penalty shoot out to Inter’s four goals.

For Mastergeeha at home in Kilbrean Park it was the opposite way round. They went 3-1 down before fighting back with goals from Hugh Lenihan (two) and Keelan O’Shea in their game against Shannon Town. After the five successful spot kicks

In the Under 16 section one Kerry sides was always going to progress as Killarney Celtic got the better of Mastergeeha in a game played in mid-week. Daniel Okwute hit three and Killian O’Sullivan the final goal in a 4-2 win at Celtic Park.

Brendan O’Leary and Cian Foley replied for Mastergeeha.

The Park put up a great battle at home to Limerick king-pins Fairview Rangers but it was the visitors that took the spoils at Christy Leahy Park while Listowel Celtic went down 2-1 away to Avenue United. A Dylan Quinn header was not enough for the home side on the day.

No joy for Inter in the Girls Under 16 National Cup:

Inter Kenmare were always going to be up against it in their Under 16 Girls National Cup and so it proved as a much more experienced Wilton United took the win.

Credit to the Inter girls led by Sarah Taylor and Saoirse Buckley the majority of this side is still underage next year and will progress from playing against opposition of this standard.