Limerick 1-3 Blarney/Mahon
Pike Rovers played host to Limerick and Blarney/Mahon ETB on Wednesday afternoon last. Blarney/Mahon opened the scoring through 17 year old St. Brendan’s Park starlet Padraig McCannon who rose highest to power a header home from a Roy Kenny corner.
Eugene Carroll from Temple United extended the lead from close range after Josh Ukek sprung the offside trap to leave the score 0-2 to the visitors at half time.
Emerging Limerick FC midfielder Aaron Fitzgerald halved the deficit with a fantastic long range effort to give the home side hope early in the second half. Limerick pushed hard for an equaliser but Blarney/Mahon defended strongly. The home side were caught late on by Coachford’s Luke Casey who cut in from his left wing position to rifle an unstoppable effort into the far corner, rounding off a quick fire counter attack.
Carrigaline 3-1 Waterford
Carrigaline welcomed Waterford ETB to the brand new Astro facility in Ballea Park in the second game of the week in the southern section. Though the game finished 3-1 to the home team, Waterford started brightly and dominated possession for large periods of the first half. A combination of good goalkeeping, a post and poor finishing meant the sides were level at half time. Carrigaline started the second half with much more purpose and were rewarded from a corner as Lee Costelloe put through his own net.
Waterford equalised through Sean Roche with a fantastic lob with virtually his first touch after coming off the bench. Chris Hulls first half injury was certainly to Robin Wards gain as he bagged a brace as a substitute with two very composed finishes, the second of which was late as Waterford pushed for an equaliser to make it 3-1 to the hosts.
The Northern Section of the competiton gets underway this week, with Dundalk welcoming Clondalkin to Co. Louth, while Irishtown travel west to Castlebar. Cabra have a Bye in the opening round.