Finals weekend as season set to conclude
Saturday night next at the Castle Farm Ground in Lismore, will see the final game of the season with the final of the Ned Barry Cup, kindly sponsored by Pollard Stonework, that will see Valley Rgs A play Brideview
In a year disrupted by Covid, the season started at the end of August with the Bolger Cup and this was followed by the Pollard President’s Cup and then the league commenced straight after Christmas. Since then it has been non-stop and credit here to the league management committee who ensured all games and competitions were played.
And so, on Saturday the very last game of the season will take place. This was the original plan back in September and while crediting the management committee, let us not forget the co-operation from the clubs and referees ensuring all the planning was maintained to the very end of the season.
The two Barry Cup semi-finals were planned for last weekend with Valley Rgs A due to play Cappoquin/Railway at Conna on Friday evening. However, late on Friday the league fixture secretary was notified that Cappoquin/Railway were unable to fulfil the fixture due to a lack of players and gave Valley Rgs A a walk-over. This was most unsatisfactory for the league committee, the Valley Rgs club and the sponsor of the Barry Cup. Needless to mention, this will be discussed at the next league delegate meeting before the AGM.
Monday night saw Lismore play Brideview at the Castle Farm Ground, with Brideview winning and setting up Saturday’s final against Valley Rgs A.
This Friday night at Pablo Park, the final of the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup between Kinsalebeg and Valley Rgs B will be played.
NED BARRY CUP SEMI-FINAL Lismore 1 Bridview 2
Lismore and Brideview met at the Castle Farm Ground on Monday night last in the semi-final of the Ned Barry Cup. Having already lost to Brideview in the final of the Pollard President’s Cup before Christmas and losing twice to the Tallow team in the league, Lismore wanted to get the better of their near neighbours in a competition that means so much to the Lismore club. Brideview, having had such success so far in all competitions this season, were hoping to add the Ned Barry Cup to complete a clean sweep. This was a game we all looked forward to and our colleague Paddy reports on the game for us.
On a dull night and a perfect playing surface, Lismore attacked from the very start and Jamie Murphy had to be alert to tip over the bar at the expense of a corner from an effort by Jamie O’Keeffe. However, it was Brideview that made the breakthrough when Dave McInerney found the net after 10mins and while there were efforts from both teams, there was no further score with Brideview leading at the break 0-1.
The second half was a continuation of the opening 45mins with the two teams attacking and on 60mins following a good move down the left side, Pearse O’Rourke got the goal Lismore were chasing. At the other end Aldred saved well from McGrath.
Following a mistake in the Lismore defence McGrath was almost through on 70mins. But six minutes later McGrath did find the net when cutting in from the left wing, giving Aldred no chance in the Lismore goal - 1-2 to Brideview. This spurred Lismore to increase their attack, but a resolute Brideview defence held firm, although in the closing minutes Ben Shanahan Quinn hit the crossbar and with that effort, Lismore lost out and Brideview were through to yet another final.
Lismore - Oisin O Aldred, Fionn O’Gorman, Ben Shanahan Quinn, Keith Mason, Oisin O’Gorman, John Roche, Finbarr Reaney, Caelin O’Gorman, David Prendergast, Jamie O’Keeffe, Pearse O’Rourke. Reserves - David Moloney, Dylan Conway, Kevin O’Neill, Paddy Foley.
Brideview - Jamie Murphy, Kevin Henley, David Kingston, Donnacha Mulcahy, Stephen Pratt, Eric Hickey, Eoin McGrath, Richie Ryan, Dave McInerney, Michael Curley, Ethan Scotton. Reserves - Paddy Sheehan, Jake Chambers, Ryan Grey, Kieran Geary, Shane Roche, Michael Tobin, Shane Guildea.
Referee Eamonn Cusack helped to make this local derby enjoyable, played by two sporting teams.
PREVIEWS
This Saturday night at the Castle Farm Ground in Lismore, the final of the Ned Barry Cup will take place, while the previous night, Friday, May 28th, the final of the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup will be played at Pablo Park in Clashmore.
Valley Rgs A will be contesting their third cup final this season, having lost to Brideview in the two previous finals, the Dungarvan Leader Cup and the Tony Bolger Cup, but will have the opportunity to get the better of their neighbours who they play on Saturday night.
In the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup, both Kinsalebeg and Valley Rgs B have already met in a cup final this season when Kinsalebeg won in the final of the Bolger Plate.
NED BARRY CUP FINAL Valley Rgs A v Brideview
This is the third cup final that these two neighbours have contested this season with Brideview winning the previous two finals. Brideview had to battle hard on Monday night to defeat Lismore in the semi-final, while Valley Rgs A received a walkover from Cappoquin/Railway last Friday evening.
In the two previous cup finals, Brideview were much too strong for the Valley Rgs teams that did not play as we all know they are capable of doing. Valley Rgs know they can match Brideview, but somehow failed to show their real character in these finals. Brideview are the holders of the Barry Cup which has not been played since season 2018/19 due to the restrictions. Brideview also won the Barry Cup in 2017/18 season and having won the league and two cups already this season, will want to have a clean sweep to display when the club celebrates their 50th anniversary during the summer.
For Valley, a victory on Saturday night will erase the two cup final defeats to Brideview and they will be able to have some silverware to show for the amount of work the club is doing in the WW/EC League at both junior and schoolboys/girls level.
We think this has the makings of a cracking cup final - kicking off at 6.30pm - and while always loathe to predict a winner in a local derby, Brideview will in all probability start as favourites.
As usual with the Ned Barry Cup, there will be a Ned Barry Man of the Match, which is sponsored by Paddy Pollard.
TOM KELLY MEMORIAL CUP FINAL Kinsalebeg v Valley Rgs B
The final of the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup will be played at Pablo Park, Clashmore this Friday with a 7pm kick off. The competition is for teams knocked out in the 1st round of the Ned Barry Cup. Unfortunately due to Covid and the restrictions imposed on all sports, the Kelly Kitchens Cup, as it was originally called, was unable to be played. The last team to win the cup was Inch in season 2018/19, who defeated Kinsalebeg in a penalty shoot-out after the teams finished level 2-2. Now known as the Tom Kelly Memorial Cup, this will be the first such final and is being played at Pablo Park, home of Clashmore Ramblers, a club that meant so much to the late Tom Kelly.
Kinsalebeg lost to Cappoquin/Railway in the Ned Barry Cup 2-3 two weeks ago and while they did not have their full squad of players to select from, they did have eleven players and played well but did not take their chances in front of goal, whereas Cappoquin/ Railway’s experience told. It has been a mixed season for Kinsalebeg and they are playing a team that they defeated in the final of the Tony Bolger Plate 4-2, but then lost to the same team in the Liam Fitzgerald Cup semi-final in April in a penalty shootout after the teams finished level 1-1. In the league they ended up at the bottom with just one win from the 8 games played.
Valley Rgs B, having lost in the final of the Bolger Plate to Kinsalebeg, met them again in the Liam Fitzgerald Cup and after finishing level, won in a penalty shootout to meet Cappoquin/Railway in the final, losing out 2-3. In the league, Valley won three of their eight games, defeating Cappoquin/Railway twice.
This has the makings of a great game and hopefully there will be a good attendance for a cup final that commemorates Tom, who gave so much to the game for Piltown in the early days of the Red House League and the Clashmore club up to the time of his death.
Not an easy game to predict, but Valley will probably start as favourites.
FIXTURES FRIDAY, MAY 20TH
Tom Kelly Memorial Cup final at Pablo Park - Kinsalebeg v Valley Rgs B 7pm; ref S Pratt, assistants K Hayes and K Hornibrook.
SATURDAY MAY 21ST
Ned Barry Cup final at the Castle Farm Ground, Valley Rgs A v Brideview 6.30pm; ref K Hayes, assistants S Drislane and K Hornibrook.
CONGRATULATIONS
We were delighted last week when word reached us that well known WW/EC League referee Eamonn Cusack has been appointed fourth official in next Sunday’s FAI Junior Cup final at Turner’s Cross between the Villa from the Waterford League and Pike Rovers from the Limerick and District League. This is a wonderful honour for Eamonn who has given sterling service to the WW/EC League as a player and referee.
Eamonn played with Lismore in the Red House League before transferring to Brideview and then took up refereeing. We ourselves are delighted to see Eamonn taking his place on the Turner’s Cross touch line on Sunday, with a referee and assistants from the Kildare League.
Simon Drislane has been appointed reserve official for the game and all of us in the league wish Eamonn and Simon the very best.
There should be a large crowd at the Cross on Sunday for the final, a competition that has always been the largest cup competition in Europe. The Villa won the Waterford Premier Division last week, while Pike are one of the three strongest teams in the Limerick league and are battling for the league title. Pike Rovers have won the FAI Junior Cup when defeating St. Michaels in the final a number of years ago, before one the largest crowds ever to attend a Junior Cup final which was played at Turner’s Cross.
With two Munster teams in the final, once again this shows the strength of junior football in the province.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL VERY MUCH ALIVE
This is the time of the season when cup finals take centre stage in leagues, provinces and at national level.
Last Saturday saw the final of the FAI Centenary Intermediate Cup at Turner’s Cross with Rockmount of the Munster Senior League defeating Leinster Senior League team, Bluebell Utd 2-0. Roy Keane’s former club was winning the Intermediate Cup for a fourth time.
We ourselves were delighted to see a Munster team win this much coveted cup and also for the Rockmount captain, Ken Hoey and goalkeeper Brendan O’Connell, who have given such wonderful service to the amateur game at all levels, including representing the Republic of Ireland in the Regions Cup.
Both were on the Irish team that won the Regions Cup when it was played in Ireland a few years back and we have got to know the players from their international days. Rockmount were crowned Munster Senior League champions only on the Wednesday night before last weekend’s final. They will play in the semi-final of the Munster Senior Cup, with the winners playing Cork City in the final.
This coming Sunday will see the final of the FAI Junior Cup when the Villa from the Waterford League play Pike Rovers from the Limerick and District League at Turner’s Cross. To have two Munster teams playing in the final ensures that the two main trophies will be won by Munster clubs. We have been accused many times at the higher echelons of the Association of showing bias towards clubs in Munster and if we were still involved at Abbotstown, we definitely would be loudly singing the praises of the teams from Munster throughout the week.
On Saturday week, 28th May at 5pm the final of the Munster Junior Cup will take place at Turner’s Cross between St. Michaels of the TS&DL and Fairview from the Limerick District League. Both teams have won this trophy in the past and again, we should see a cracking game of football and another large attendance. The junior game is certainly very much alive and well.
AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
With Cork City idle on Friday night, the teams chasing them had the opportunity to cut the deficit at the top of the table. Waterford played at home v Cobh Ramblers in a Munster derby game and before 1,200 supporters the Blues won 4-2, completing a double over the Ramblers, having also scored four goals at St. Colman’s Park when they met a few weeks back.
Friday night saw Cobh score as early as the 3rd minute when former Blues player Jack Larkin scored to give the visitors a shock lead. Waterford had no option but to go on all out attack to get the score that would bring them back on parity with the East Cork team. The equalising goal did arrive in the 33rd minute when Phoenix Patterson beat Cobh ‘keeper and Ardmore native, Sean Barron. But within three minutes the Ramblers regained the lead when again, Larkin found the net heading home a Luke Desmond cross and this was the score at half-time.
5mns after the restart Waterford were back on level terms when Tunmise Sobowale found the net from a Roland Idowu cross. Shortly after Barron made a great save from Patterson. But Waterford kept attacking and were rewarded 10mins from the end when Idowu crossed for the inform Britton to give Barron no chance and the lead goal for the Blues.
In injury time Waterford cemented their victory when substitute Callum Stringer found the net and at full time, Waterford won 4-2 to keep them in the top four. In the two league games played to date against the Ramblers, Waterford have now scored eight goals and conceded twice, but importantly, six points from the two league games.
Waterford have now won their four league games played under David Breen and Gary Hunt and on Friday night make the trip to Bishopsgate to play Longford Town. By the time our notes appear in print, Longford will have played Treaty Utd and a win will see them leapfrog Waterford into third spot.
Cobh Ramblers travel to the Markets Field to play Treaty Utd. Treaty will have played Longford Town on Monday night in a game postponed a number of weeks back. When the teams met at the RSC the start of April, it took an injury time goal by Louis Britton to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw. Last weekend Longford defeated Athlone Town. To come away with a draw will definitely be better than losing, as every point now is so vital as Waterford chase the top two.
Cobh shipped four goals against Waterford last Friday night and find themselves in second last spot in the league table. They have only had 2 wins and two draws in their 14 league games played, losing ten games. We have seen some of the defeats and we have written that the scorelines did not do justice to the Ramblers, but overall, they have struggled through the season and they will have to show a massive improvement if they are to move away from the position they find themselves in at present.
Joint league leaders Cork City will have Wexford as visitors to Turner’s Cross on Friday night. They met at Ferrycarrig Park a few weeks back and it took a late goal from City to win that game and Wexford really battled for at least a share of the points and many fans felt, home and away, that Cork did not deserve the three points. Galway have now joined Colin Healy’s team at the summit and the division is similar to the Airtricity Premier as Shamrock Rvs and Derry City are making the battle for the league title a two horse race.
Cork City and Galway are, from what we have seen so far this season, so far ahead of the other seven teams, that one of them is guaranteed automatic promotion. But, as has been pointed out to us numerous times, there are still many games to play and there will be plenty of twists and turns as the teams battle for the qualifiers. Cork City were idle last week and they and Galway are level with games played and points. We expect City to take the three points on Friday night and look forward to the following Friday when they travel to play Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park in a top of the table clash.
Because of the three “local” teams playing in the 1st Division we write on the games that involve Waterford, Cork City and Cobh Ramblers each week and only occasionally mention the Airtricity Premier Division. Shamrock Rvs have shown in the past number of weeks how strong a squad of quality players Stephen Bradley has at his disposal.
After such a slow start to the season and many feeling the chances of three-in-a-row league titles was beyond them, Rovers have in the past two weeks gone from being in second place to having now opened a gap on their nearest rivals Derry City. The Brandywell club were in pole position for a number of weeks, but gradually Rovers started getting the wins as Derry were dropping points and last Friday night at Tallaght Stadium, Shamrock Rovers defeated Derry by the only goal of the game which didn’t arrive until 10mins from the end.
They now hold a four point advantage over Derry and should maintain the four point lead as they travel to the Bowl to play bottom of the table UCD, while Derry have Dundalk as visitors.
The league title appears to be between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City with only 16 games each played, but they are very far ahead of the rest with Dundalk and St. Patrick’s Athletic 11 points each adrift of the leaders. We will return to the Premier Division again in a few weeks.