Brideview A and Valley B into cup finals

Last Sunday saw the first semi-final of the new cup competition, the Dungarvan Leader Cup, take place with Lismore hosting the newly crowned league champions Brideview A at the Castle Farm Ground. Once again, the Brideview team came out on top and will play the winners this coming Sunday morning of the Inch and Valley Rgs A semi-final, who will have played midweek

Brideview have already won the Bolger Cup, the Pollard President’s Cup and the Mari Mina Pharmacy Premier Division.

Valley Rgs B defeated Kinsalebeg in the semi-final of the Liam Fitzgerald Cup last Sunday and await the winners of Brideview B and Cappoquin/Railway, who will have played on Monday night last.

The season has started to wind down, with a few more cup competitions to be played to complete the season. The Ned Barry Cup and the Kelly Kitchens Cup are two more cup competitions to be played over the next few weeks and the new committee elected last June at the AGM will take time to look back in their first season in the “hot seat”, but they will be happy that all competitions and the new Dungarvan Leader Cup were all played. We hear that there will be a new team or two next season. But as this writer knows from experience, we have hear all this on many occasions and we ‘believe’ the rumours when the league and cup competitions commence at the start of a new season. The new committee have asked clubs to nominate at least two more to help with the running of the league. As we have written so many times, the size of the league does not matter, a committee has to look after the league on a weekly basis.

So hopefully, we will see a few new faces this coming season.

THE DUNGARVAN LEADER CUP Lismore 0 Brideview A 2

The newly crowned league champions travelled to the Castle Farm Ground to play Lismore in the semi-final of the Dungarvan Leader Cup and once again, they got the better of their near neighbours. Our colleague Paddy took in the game and he reports the weather was ideal for the game and the pitch was in perfect condition.

Both teams went on the attack as soon referee Simon Drislane blew his whistle and Lismore adopted a policy of shooting at every opportunity and putting the Brideview defence under pressure. However, it was Brideview who struck first when Eoin McGrath in the 11th minute saw Lismore goalkeeper David Moloney off his line and he lobbed the Lismore netminder from all of 40 yards – 0-1.

In the 26th minute, Michael Curley came close to doubling the score with a header that went wide. A minute later Jamie Murphy in the Brideview goal made a wonderful save from Finbarr Reaney when he dived to save down low and keep his goal intact. In the 39th minute Dave McInerney came close for the visitors following a pass from Eoin McGrath. As the half progressed, both teams had chances but half-time arrived with Brideview holding a single goal lead.

The second half was only a minute old when Moloney was forced into a great save from Curley as he turned the goal bound shot round a post for a corner kick. Minutes later, Lismore thought they had scored the equaliser but Jamie Murphy brought off another top class save to ensure Brideview held their advantage. Lismore were on all-out attack at this stage, but it was Brideview who struck the all-important goal when Eoin McGrath scored with a wonderful strike from all of 18 yards, giving Moloney no chance in the Lismore goal.

The play kept swinging from end to end with the ball on the ground most of the time and the passing from both teams top class. With 10mins remaining Moloney saved well at the expense of a corner from McInerney. Lismore it must be added, kept battling to the very end, but once again Brideview came out on top and progressed to their third cup final since the season began.

Lismore - Dave Moloney, Paddy Foley, Pearse O’Rourke, Ben Shanahan Quinn, Fionn O’Gorman, Finbarr Reaney, Caelin O’Gorman, Aaron Whelan, Kevin O’Neill, Jamie O’Keeffe. Reserves - Cian O’Gorman, Craig Tobin.

Brideview A - Jamie Murphy, Kevin Henley, Ben Aherne, Ryan Grey, Donnacha Mulcahy, Jake Chambers, Richie Ryan, Eric Hickey, Michael Curley, Dave McInerney Eoin McGrath. Reserves - Shane Roche, David Kingston, Michael Tobin, Kieran Geary, Dylan Mangan, Donnacha Buckley, Tom Feeney.

Referee Simon Drislane was helped by two sporting teams to keep the game moving at all times.

Man of the Match award - Paddy told us he had a number of players in the running for the award with Brideview’s Jamie Murphy and Michael Curley serious contenders. However, he selected Lismore’s Caelin O’Gorman for his all round play, even though on the losing team.

Brideview will now play in the first ever Dungarvan Leader Cup final this Sunday morning at Leonard Fraser Park when their opponents will be the winners of Inch v Valley Rgs A, which will have been played this Wednesday night.

LIAM FITZGERALD CUP Kinsalebeg 1 Valley Rgs B 1 (Valley win 6-7 in penalty shoot-out)

The first semi-final of this season’s Liam Fitzgerald Cup took place at Fitzgerald Park on Sunday afternoon last with Valley Rgs B winning in a penalty shoot-out – they will now await the winners of Brideview B and Cappoquin/Railway, who will have played on Monday night with the final taking place this Sunday afternoon at Fitzgerald Park.

We took in this game for our notes on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon with a cross wind blowing towards the road end. Both teams started slowly with very few chances in the early stages. However, as the half progressed, Valley seemed to have more attacking options and in the 15th minute opened the scoring when Jason Moorehouse beat James Flavin in the home goal.

Valley continued to create more of the chances with Moorehouse causing problems for the home defence, as an effort came back off the crossbar and Eddie Geaney shot wide from a Paul Tobin pass. Flavin saved well from Moorehouse at the expense of a corner. Half-time arrived with Valley in the lead.

The second half saw Valley continue to attack and Francis Warren shot wide after being put through with only the ‘keeper to beat. Flavin then saved brilliantly from Moorehouse with the rebound falling at the feet of Warren inside the 6 yard box, but somehow he managed to balloon the ball over the bar with an empty net in front of him. This let off seemed to fire up Kinsalebeg and Graham Guiry started a passing movement in his own half and followed up, giving Dave Walsh no chance in the Valley goal for the equaliser. All of a sudden Kinsalebeg came to life and their best chance came when Sorren Delaney was put through and with only the ‘keeper to beat, he hit the ball wide - a let off for Valley. At the other end, Stephen O’Donovan ran into the area, drew the ‘keeper and chipped the ball towards the net but the wrong side of a post. In the closing minutes Walsh saved from David Lynch at the expense of a corner and the ball was cleared. The full time whistle sounded and it was to penalties.

While we can be critical of the overall quality of the game, this was not a good game of football with the ball in the air more often than on the ground and then there were passes going everywhere except to the intended player. The quality of the penalties were top class with a total 13 out of 14 converted, with Kinsalebeg seeing their 7th penalty saved by David Walsh. Valley converted their 7th to give the Conna team victory.

Valley Rgs B - David Walsh, Paul Tobin, Stephen O’Donovan, Cian Kearney, Finbarr O’Connell, Don O’Connell, Jason Moorehouse, Brendan Daly, Oren Crotty, Eddie Geaney, Francis Warren. Reserves - Ryan Upton, Dennon Warren, John Cottigan, Niall McGrath.

Referee Eamonn Cusack kept the game moving at all times, helped by two sporting teams.

Man of the Match Award - Jason Moorehouse of Valley Rgs was a strong contender for the award, but in our opinion the best player on the pitch was Graham Guiry of Kinsalebeg. This is not the first time we have given Graham the award, but as centre halves go in the two divisions, Graham is one of the best this season.

This Sunday afternoon Valley Rgs B will play the winners of the second semi-final last Monday night (Brideview B v Cappoquin/Railway). The Liam Fitzgerald Cup final will be played at Fitzgerald Park with a 2.30pm kick off.

PREVIEWS

The second semi-finals in both the Dungarvan Leader Cup and the Liam Fitzgerald Cup will be played during the week with both finals taking place this coming Sunday.

Sunday morning we will have the Dungarvan Leader Cup final at Leonard Fraser Park with Brideview A playing the winners of Inch v Valley Rgs A, and in the afternoon at Fitzgerald Park the Liam Fitzgerald Cup final will see Valley Rgs B play the winners of Brideview B v Cappoquin/Railway.

With the weather forecasters telling us the weather should be good for the bank holiday weekend, good attendances are expected.

The Dungarvan Leader Cup is a new competition and the league management committee informed us during the week that the competition next season will be run in a similar way to the Champions League. Unfortunately this season, it had to be run on a knockout system as the season is so short.

The Liam Fitzgerald Cup commemorates the late Liam Fitzgerald of Killeagh, who was the first referees’ observer in the league and was also a member of the league management committee.

Due to Covid and the cancellation of sport nationally, when leagues were allowed to recommence, it was impossible to play all competitions and so the last occasion the Liam Fitzgerald Cup was played was in season 2018/19, when Valley Rgs defeated Inch in a penalty shoot-out. Valley also won the cup in season 2016/17, again defeating Inch in a penalty shoot-out 5-4.

On Sunday afternoon Valley Rgs will be defending the trophy they won three seasons ago.

Brideview A v Inch/Valley Rgs A

We await the winners of the Dungarvan Leader Cup semi-final involving Inch v Valley Rgs A, which is being played this Wednesday night under lights at Cappoquin - the winners here will play Brideview A in the final at Leonard Fraser Park on Sunday morning with an 11am kick off.

Brideview A defeated Lismore last Sunday at the Castle Farm Ground in the first semi-final and the Tallow team will be contesting their third cup final of the season, having already won the Bolger Cup and the Pollard Presidents Cup. Having been crowned league champions two weeks ago, this team is having one of the best seasons in their 50 year history of the club. Many of the players have won every competition that is available to teams in the league and they will want to add the newest cup, the Dungarvan Leader Cup, to the club trophy cabinet.

Brideview showed on Sunday last that they still have the hunger for success and there is no doubt the chance of a new trophy is motivation in itself.

Their opponents will know, regardless of which team it is, that they will be coming to Tallow to play a team that does not know what losing is like. Valley Rgs have met Brideview in many cup finals, especially the Tony Bolger Cup finals of the past two seasons, losing both. They have met three times this season already in the league, drawing in Conna, Valley losing heavily in Tallow and Brideview winning by the only goal of the game in the last outing in March.

For Valley to overcome Inch and play Brideview in the final will give them an opportunity to defeat the Tallow side and win some silverware at the end of a disappointing season to date.

Inch have played Brideview three times this season, causing an upset when they met at Sexton Park in early March, winning 3-1, but Brideview won on the two other occasions. Inch drew with Valley in Conna at the start of the league and defeated them at Sexton Park also. While Inch have had a very inconsistent season mainly due to the fact that they were unable to have their strongest squad of players available each weekend, they will be confident enough of winning the semi-final.

Our prediction is difficult as we do not know the two finalists as we compile our notes. But regardless who Brideview’s opponents are, the league champions will start as favourites.

Valley Rgs B v Brideview B/Cappoquin-Railway

By the time our notes appear in print, Valley Rgs B will know their opponents in the final of the Liam Fitzgerald Cup as Brideview B v Cappoquin/Railway will have played on Monday evening. Sunday last saw Valley Rgs B defeat Kinsalebeg at Fitzgerald Park in the first semi-final.

Much will depend on who Valley will be playing for us to give a prediction on Sunday’s final.

Valley have defeated Cappoquin/Railway twice this season and both games were played at the Cappoquin venue. When they met in Conna, Cappoquin/Railway came out on top. The season so far has been disappointing for the Cappoquin/Railway team, while they finished league runners-up to Brideview B, the two defeats to the Conna team and two defeats to Brideview cost them the points that would have seen them in a better challenging position for the title.

Brideview B lost just once and this was away to Cappoquin/Railway when the Tallow team had won the league. Their home record show them winning all their games and they will fancy their chances of overcoming Cappoquin/Brideview.

We should have a large crowd for the final at Fitzgerald Park on Sunday afternoon, regardless of who will be playing. We look forward to the final on a Fitzgerald Park pitch that is ideal for cup finals.

FIXTURES SUNDAY, 1ST MAY

Dungarvan Leader Cup final at Leonard Fraser Park - Brideview A v Inch/Valley Rgs A 11am. Liam Fitzgerald Cup final at Fitzgerald Park Valley Rgs B v Brideview B/Cappoquin/Railway, 2.30pm.

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE

Much has happened since last week, but we have decided to start with the games that were played on Easter Monday. At the time of completing our Airtricity segment we only had the result from the RSC that saw Waterford lose to Cork City 1-2 in the Munster derby. The result saw Cork City increase their lead at the top of the table over the Blues to nine points, with Waterford slipping down the table to fifth following this, the fourth defeat in the league and their second loss in four days at home, having lost the previous Friday night to Galway. We were not at the game as duty had us at the Markets Field, and we depended on reports throughout the afternoon and at the final whistle.

Cork City took the lead in the 9th minute when Matt Healy found the net for the lead goal. City created more chances in the half, but with half-time approaching Waterford felt they had legitimate claims for a penalty when Yassine EnNeyah went down after a tackle from Jonas Hakkinen, but the referee waved play on. The second half was 15mins old when the Blues equalised through Phoenix Patterson. Back came City and five minutes later Ally Gilchrist headed to the net from Healy’s corner kick. Waterford tried hard but could not get through for the equaliser and at full time, Waterford were nine points behind their Munster rivals.

On Wednesday afternoon we received word that manager Ian Morris had lost his job with the Blues having seen the team lose four of their ten games played. To many of the fans this was not a surprise as the displays of late were starting to keep fans away from the RSC.

Thursday we were told for the trip to Ferrycarrig on Friday evening, that club coaches Gary Hunt and David Breen would take charge of the team. And so, a large contingent of the Blues faithful made the trip to the Wexford venue hoping that the slide down the league table would be stopped. In an attendance of just under 1,400, both teams attacked from the start with Wexford creating a few headaches for the Waterford defence, with goalkeeper Murphy making a very good save as he was alert and quickly off his line to avert the danger, before the visitors got to grips with the home team.

The Blues passing game was much better than previous games and they opened the scoring in the 8th minute from one such passing movement, that saw Griffin and Taylor combine to release Phoenix Patterson who found the net for the lead goal. There were no more real chances in the half and at half-time Waterford had the goal advantage.

Almost straight from the restart Waterford were lucky when Barry should have equalised, but it was the Blues who found the net 10mins after the restart when Patterson scored with a brilliantly struck free kick to give them a two goal advantage that they held to the final whistle.

The run of defeats had stopped and Waterford’s three points saw them still nine points adrift of Cork City when the result from Cobh came through. But this was an important victory for the Waterford club after the week that has seen the club in turmoil with two home defeats and the manager lose his job.

There has been a lot of criticism of the team’s performances in the past number of weeks and we include ourselves in the criticism on the team, especially the two home defeats to Galway and Cork City and for the performance at Turner’s Cross when they lost by 2-0.

With Galway winning on Friday night and Longford and Treaty Utd playing out a scoreless draw on Saturday night, Longford leapfrog Waterford into third spot with two games less played than the Blues, who now find themselves in fourth place.

Waterford have no game this Friday but play bottom of the table Athlone Town on bank holiday Monday next at the RSC at 2pm. The following Friday, 6th May Waterford travel to the Carlisle Ground to play Bray and then on Friday, May 13th have Cobh Ramblers as visitors.

The main topic of conversation amongst the Waterford fans after the game in Ferrycarrig was ‘who will be announced as the new manager?’ Needless to say, the rumour machine is red hot with names and some interesting ones it must be said.

We all have our own favourites, but we will have to wait and see and hopefully someone will be announced before the coming weekend.

Monday saw Cobh Ramblers at home to bottom of the table Athlone Town with the Ramblers coming out on top with a 3-2 victory. They took the lead on the stroke of half-time through ex Cork City player Beineon O Brien-Whitmarsh. Athlone equalised early in the second half through Glen McAuley. But the Ramblers hit back with O’Brien-Whitmarsh converting a penalty. The third goal arrived on 63mins when Conor Drinan scored. With three minutes remaining Athlone were awarded a penalty when Harlain Mayo handled on the line and received a red card. Stephen Kenny converted the spot kick and the Ramblers move five points clear of Athlone in second last spot in the table.

As already mentioned, we were at the Markets Field to see Treaty Utd defeat Wexford 2-1 with an injury time penalty and the were sides level at 1-1. A player we have written off on a few occasions, Treaty’s Enda Curran, scored the opener for the home team. We think Curran is a player for the future as he is an excellent footballer and goal scorer.

Cork City made the short trip to Cobh on Friday night to play the Ramblers and before an attendance of just under 4,000, they came out on top in a cracking local derby by 2-3. The bulk of the fans it must be said were City supporters and they made their voices heard in the Liam McMahon Stand. Having already won at Turner’s Cross, City were expected to be too strong for a Cobh team that has been struggling to find the net in recent games.

Cork City took the lead after 12mins thru Ruairi Keating and they doubled the score on 30mins when Matt Healy scored. A comfortable lead, but within three minutes Cobh had reduced the arrears when former Cork City player Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh headed to the net from Brendan Frahill’s pass. This was the score at half-time.

Five minutes after the restart the Ramblers were level when City ‘keeper David Harrington gave too much time on the ball before clearing and Conor Drinan forced the ball over the line to give the home followers their full voice. However, with 20mins remaining Cork City restored their lead when Cian Coleman found the net and this goal was enough to give Cork City the three points and remain top of the league table. A good result for the league leaders, but disappointment for the Ramblers who played so well and probably deserved a share of the points. Goalkeeper Sean Barron was injured in the warm-up and was replaced by Andy O’Donoghue. Portlaw’s Darryl Walsh came on as a replacement with 25mins remaining.

This Friday, Cork City play at home to Longford Town, while Cobh Ramblers travel to the Carlisle Ground to play Bray Wanderers.