Ned Barry Cup semi-finals this weekend
Sunday last saw the quarter-finals of the Ned Barry Cup taking place with Cappoquin/Railway winning at Kinsalebeg, Lismore winning at Conna and Brideview A receiving a bye from Inch. All three will join Valley Rgs A in the Barry Cup semi-finals this weekend
The Ned Barry Cup final will be played on Saturday, 21st May at Lismore with a 6.30pm kick off.
This week will see the draw for the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup taking place. This cup competition is in memory Tom Kelly, Piltown who was involved with Piltown and Clashmore through the years. Teams knocked out in the 1st rounds of the Barry Cup will compete in the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup.
This will then bring the curtain down on the WW/EC Junior League season and the committee will then prepare for the AGM, which is normally held in June/July.
Speaking to the league chairman over the weekend, he stressed the need for some extra members to join the committee as the workload, for even such a small league, is very demanding for the few that allowed their names go forward at last year’s AGM. This is something we will return to nearer the AGM.
NED BARRY CUP Kinsalebeg 2 Cappoquin/Railway 3
Cappoquin/Railway returned to Fitzgerald Park where a week earlier they won the Liam Fitzgerald Cup to play Kinsalebeg in the Ned Barry Cup quarter-final. We took in this game.
On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and on a perfect playing surface we saw five goals with the visitors coming out on top. Cappoquin/Railway were not at full strength and had only ten players available from their squad, while the home team were at full strength.
Both teams attacked from the start and the opening goal of the game arrived on 9mins when David Cahillane found the back of James Flavin’s net to give the visitors the lead. Kinsalebeg battled back but could not find a way past the Cappoquin/Railway defence and in fact, the visitors doubled their lead on 25mins with a wonderful strike from outside the area by Shane Dunne that gave the ‘keeper no chance. Flavin was the busier of the two ‘keepers and he made a few good saves, while at the other end Joey Purtill in the visiting goal saved well from Sorren Delaney and Aaron Lyness. The Cappoquin/ Railway midfield was on top and while a player short, created more chances than their hosts. Half-time and the visitors had a two goal advantage.
The second half was more or less a replica of the opening half with Cappoquin/Railway creating more chances thanks to the midfield superiority, but some very good defending by Flavin in goal and Graham Guiry at centre back, the score remained the same as we entered the final 20mins. In the 72nd minute Kinsalebeg were offered a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty and from the spot kick, Sorren Delaney scored and all of a sudden the game opened up, with chances created at both ends of the field. However, in the 78th minute Cappoquin/Railway restored their two goal lead when Craig Dunne scored. But within a minute a top class pass from Guiry split the visiting defence and found Michael Flynn who gave Purtill no chance and we were back to a one goal game.
Play was up and down the pitch with both teams going in search of goals and both ‘keepers had to be alert and Flavin saved well from Foley at the expense of a corner kick. The ball was then played down the field and Purtill was called on to save from David Lynch. Try as they might, Kinsalebeg could not get the goal that would have brought the tie to extra time and Cappoquin/Railway will now travel to play Valley Rgs A in the semi-final.
Even though playing with a player less for the entire game, Cappoquin/Railway were the better team over the 90mins. It was obvious as the game entered the last 10mins they were getting tired, but they held on to win and when at full strength for the game in Conna, they will cause problems for Valley Rgs A.
Kinsalebeg tried hard, but were not strong enough in the middle of the park and if they had got a score early in the game, it would have been a more interesting 90mins.
Cappoquin/Railway - Joey Purtill, Eamonn Drohan, Jevon Flynn, Evan Mansfield, David Mansfield, David Cahillane, Caelin Foley, Shane Dunne, Craig Dunne, Bradley Keane.
Referee Eamonn Cusack had his usual top class game with the advantage played as much as possible and helped by two sporting teams.
Man of the Match Award - There were a few players from both teams, with James Flavin, Graham Guiry and Aaron Lyness from Kinsalebeg, and from Cappoquin/Railway, the Mansfield brothers, David Cahillane and Caelin Foley. But we give the award to Cappoquin/Railway’s Craig Dunne for his overall display.
Kinsalebeg will now go into the draw for the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup and Cappoquin/Railway travel to Conna to play Valley Rangers in the Ned Barry Cup semi-final this Saturday evening at 6.30pm.
Valley Rgs B 1 Lismore 8
The final quarter-final game in the Ned Barry Cup took place at Conna on Sunday afternoon and resulted in a good victory for Lismore, who will now play their near neighbours Brideview at Lismore at the weekend.
We are grateful for the report from our colleagues Paul and Sean who kept us up to the minute as the game progressed.
The scoreline suggests an easy victory for the Lismore team, but the home team did have some good opportunities, especially in the opening half and Lismore ‘keeper Maurice Shanahan was called upon to make at least three excellent saves. But the experience of the visitors was a telling factor as the game progressed.
Lismore’s opening goal came from Jamie O’Keeffe. Eoin O’Donoghue added a second and Oisin O’Gorman scored goal number three. Dylan Crotty pulled a goal back for the Conna team, and as we mentioned Maurice Shanahan was called upon to make a number of saves to deny Valley scoring. David Prendergast added a fourth for Lismore and at half-time, Lismore had a three goal advantage (1-4).
The second half had not long resumed when David Prendergast scored and he then completed his hat-trick that saw Lismore leading by five goals. Further goals from Pearse O’Rourke and Ben Shanahan Quinn completed the Lismore scoring and the visiting defence denied Valley any more scores.
Lismore now go into the semi-final where they will play Brideview at Lismore this Monday evening with a 7pm kick-off. Valley Rgs B will be in the draw for the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup, with the draw taking place this week.
Over the 90mins Lismore were the better team with their usual style of ball on the ground at all times and moving the ball quickly into the strikers and putting pressure on the Valley defence. But as we wrote at the start of the report, credit Valley also as they did have chances but Maurice Shanahan made vital saves to deny them scores.
Valley Rgs B - Gracjan Platek, Cuan Kearney, Oran Crotty, David Walsh, Jevon Moorhouse, Brendan Daly, Dylan Crotty, Francis Warren, Kyle Ettoh, Patrick Flood. Reserve - David Cotter.
Lismore - Maurice Shanahan, Nathan Jenkins, Paddy Foley, Oisin O’Gorman, Keith Mason, Ben Shanahan Quinn, Fionn O’Gorman, Pearse O’Rourke, David Prendergast, Jamie O’Keeffe, Eoin O’Donoghue. Reserves - David Moloney, Dylan Conway, Paul Quinn, Caelin O’Gorman, Sam Ryan.
Referee Kieran Hayes played the advantage rule and kept the game flowing, helped by two sporting teams.
Elsewhere, Brideview received a w/o from Inch.
PREVIEWS
This weekend we have the two semi-finals of the Ned Barry Cup, sponsored by Pollard Stonework, with Lismore at home to Brideview and Valley Rgs A at home to Cappoquin/Railway.
The Ned Barry Cup final will be played on Saturday week, 21st May at the Castle Farm Ground with a 6.30pm kick-off.
The Ned Barry Cup competition has not been played since season 2018/19 due to the Covid restrictions and the last team to win the cup was Brideview A, who defeated Brideview B 3-1 in a first ever Barry Cup final between two teams from the same club. Lismore have won the Barry Cup on four occasions, but neither Valley Rgs A or Cappoquin/Railway have won the Barry Cup. Railway did reach the final but lost to Lismore in season 2013/14 in a penalty shootout.
So, we should have two exciting cup semi-finals this weekend.
Lismore v Brideview
Both teams have met in a cup final this season already when Brideview defeated Lismore 1-0 in the final of the Pollard President’s Cup before Christmas. They met twice in the league with Brideview winning on each occasion and only a few weeks back, Brideview came out on top again in the semi-final of the Dungarvan Leader Cup. Brideview went on to win the cup to add to the league title and the Tony Bolger Cup. In other words, Brideview have had a clean sweep of all trophies in the league this season so far.
Lismore have won the Ned Barry Cup in four consecutive seasons, while Brideview have won the Barry Cup the last two seasons it has been played and also in season 2015/16. Between them, both clubs have won the Ned Barry Cup on seven occasions since the competition commenced in 2009/2010.
Brideview are without doubt the form team in the league all season with the number of trophies they have won and they are just two games away from adding another if they win the Barry Cup. Standing in their way at the weekend in the semi-final is Lismore and they will definitely want to contest and win the final in a week’s time. The Barry Cup mean so much to the Lismore club as it commemorates Ned Barry, who was one of the seven founding members of the Lismore club in 1955. He was president of the club up to his death 14 years ago. To so many of the old brigade, Ned was the life blood of the Lismore club with the amount of time and work he gave to the workings of the club. Hence, the Barry Cup is so important and the team will want to get to another final in a week’s time.
When Lismore and Brideview meet, we can be assured we will see the game played with the ball on the ground. Both teams have players who can win games on their own and the midfield area we believe is where the game will be won for either one. Brideview have the two most experienced midfielders in Michael Curley and Eric Hickey, who have given years of service in that role for the Tallow club. Both have told us they will hang up their boots at the end of the season, but we would hope they may change their mind. For Lismore in the middle of the field Ben Shanahan Quinn will be a danger to the two experienced Brideview players, along with David Prendergast who can also score goals as he showed last Sunday. Both teams have excellent goalkeepers in Jamie Murphy for Brideview and Maurice Shanahan for Lismore. This is a game all football lovers will look forward to.
As usual, experience has taught us that attempting to give a prediction in a local derby has shown we get it wrong very often and so for this Barry Cup semi-final we are not prepared to predict a winner. Lismore will want to defeat Brideview having lost so often to them already in the season, and Brideview will want to reach another final and have a clean sweep of trophies in the season, a season that sees the club celebrating their 50th birthday.
Kick-off on Monday night at the Castle Farm Ground is 7pm.
Valley Rgs A v Cappoquin/Railway
Valley Rgs A received a bye into the semi-final and will have home advantage for the visit of Cappoquin/Railway. The visitors defeated the Valley Rgs B team in the final of the Liam Fitzgerald Cup two weeks ago and will travel to the Conna venue hoping to come out on top against Valley A.
This season has been disappointing for Paul Geary’s team after a good start to the league, the results went against them and they ended up 15 points behind winners Brideview A. Many felt, ourselves included, that Valley would win the league or be battling to the last game, but this did not transpire.
Valley lost to Brideview in two cup finals during the season, losing in the Tony Bolger Cup and only two weeks ago in the new cup competition, the Dungarvan Leader Cup. The Ned Barry Cup is all that remains for Valley A to lift some silverware. Valley have yet to appear in any of the finals in this competition played and they will definitely want to finish the season on a high and get to the final, but must overcome a Cappoquin/Railway team that have, on occasions, flattered to deceive. They did finish runners-up to Brideview B in the league and probably would have done much better if they had a full squad of players each weekend. Last Sunday they had only 10 players and while they won, missing so many from the previous week when they won the Fitzgerald Cup, it was a disappointing turnout for the club.
Similar to Valley Rgs, Cappoquin/Railway have never won the Ned Barry Cup, although Railway did contest the final in season 2013/14, losing to Lismore in a penalty shootout after the teams finished level after extra time 2-2. Cappoquin/Railway have a young team with a few experienced players, but overall a young side and this augurs well for the future of the club.
This could be a very good and close game on Saturday evening and is not easy to predict the outcome, but playing at home and wanting to reach the final to end the season on a high, we believe Valley Rgs A will win.
FIXTURES
Ned Barry Cup semi-finals (sponsored by Pollard Stonework) – Saturday, 14th May Valley Rgs A v Cappoquin/Railway 6.30pm, S Drislane. Monday, 16th May Lismore v Brideview 7pm, E Cusack.
AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
In our notes last week we wrote of the games that were taking place on the bank holiday Monday and we were unable to include the results as our notes were with the paper before the results came through.
A quick look back that saw managerless Waterford win their second game on the bounce when defeating bottom of the table Athlone Town at the RSC. With Athlone having one of their worst ever seasons we expected the Blues to score a few goals as they did when they played at Athlone Stadium back at the start of the season.
On Monday with the sides scoreless coming up to the break Richard Taylor was sent off for a second yellow card meaning Waterford had to play the whole second half with a man short. They did find the net eventually with 16mins remaining thanks to Louis Britton to give the Blues the three points to keep in touch with the leading teams. But Brian Murphy was called into action on a few occasions to ensure the three points were secure.
Cork City continued their goal scoring exploits when defeating Treaty Utd at Turner’s Cross. Treaty came to the ‘Cross on the back of a home defeat to Galway and were doing pretty well in the opening half with neither team able to find the net. However, all that changed in a three minute period after the break. In the 64th minute Ruairi Keating found the net, followed a minute later when Matthew Healy scored. City then added a third two minutes later through Cian Bargary and City stay top of the league.
We ourselves were at Ferrycarrig Park to see Wexford and Bray Wanderers that saw a share of the points (1-1) in a game that was more exciting when the full time whistle was blown, as Bray manager Pat Devlin had an “encounter” with the Bray supporters in the stand. The incident was shown all over social media that evening and the following days. What action the FAI have taken we do not know.
When we reviewed the games for last Friday night in our notes we were going on the fixtures that we received at the weekend.
However, on our return from Wexford we got another set of fixtures, but it was too late to change our notes. So apologies to those who wondered what had gone wrong.
Last Friday night Waterford travelled to the Carlisle Ground to play Bray who we have just written about, and the Blues took the lead in the 23rd minute through Phoenix Patterson; McGuinness in the home goal made a few great saves to deny Waterford further goals. And this was the score at half-time. McGuinness was busy straight after the break saving well from Britton. But shortly after Shane Griffin scored to give the visitors a two goal advantage but Waterford conceded with five minutes remaining and all of a sudden Bray felt they were back in the game.
However, with time almost up Britton scored a third Waterford goal and four minutes into injury time he scored again, giving him three goals in two games. A third consecutive win for the Blues who have yet to appoint a manager, but caretaker management, Gary Hunt and David Breen have ensured nine points from their three games since Ian Morris has departed the hot seat at the RSC. The Blues remain in third spot behind Cork City and Galway Utd.
Longford defeated Wexford on Saturday night and they are now just two points adrift of Waterford and a game less played. Saturday week May 21st Waterford travel to Bishopsgate to play Longford. What an important fixture this is going to be.
This Friday night Cobh Ramblers are the visitors to the RSC for a Munster derby and Waterford will hope to take the three points as they did when they met in Cobh a few weeks back scoring four times with Brian Murphy keeping a clean sheet.
Cobh come to the RSC following a home defeat to Galway when John Caulfield’s team scored four times without reply. Galway attacked the Ramblers from the very start and the home defence with Sean Barron in goal were under non-stop pressure. The westerners scored in the 20th minute and doubled the score 16 mins later and he scored again just before the break and the game as a contest was well and truly over, unless the Ramblers staged some sort of a miracle comeback against a team that was controlling the game. But this was not going to happen as Galway played well within themselves and added a fourth late in the game to keep the pressure on Cork City.
Cork City travelled to Athlone Stadium on Friday night last to play bottom of the table Athlone and received a shock within a minute of the kick-off when Town scored. It took City a while to settle after this and it took at least 15mins before they had their first effort on goal. Athlone created more efforts than City in the opening 45mins and in fairness should have been at least two goals in the lead at half-time. The home team then lost a player through two yellow cards but they still caused City problems. Cork City eventually equalised when Cian Murphy found the net from a Healy corner kick with 25mins remaining. Then Athlone were awarded a penalty following a foul on their goal scorer. Oluwa took the penalty but Harrington saved and the rebound fell to the penalty taker but he blazed the ball over the bar. A let off for Cork City and they took advantage as they piled the pressure on the home goal and were rewarded in injury time when Aaron Bolger scored - the win keeps City top of the table.
Speaking to some of our Cork and Athlone friends after the game, all agreed a share of the points would have been a fair result. And to quote an Athlone fan, daylight robbery by City. But this is football and at the end of 90mins, the result is all that matters.
Cork City have no game this weekend and this will give the teams chasing them an opportunity to cut the deficit at the top of the table. An interesting weekend ahead.