Limerick Desmond Kennedy Cup 2023 Review

Limerick Desmond Kennedy Cup 2023 Over and Out

It was certainly a week of ups and downs at UL for our Kennedy Cup team. Overall a very respectable performance from the squad but it was an air of what could have been after losing out on the top spot in the group to Kilkenny and then losing on penalties to Limerick District in the Kennedy Bowl Quarter Final, here is the tale of the tape from manager Niall O’Connor.

Kennedy Cup Group 1

Limerick Desmond (1) 2 (Brooklyn Delahunty, Dylan Buckley)

Carlow (0) 1

Limerick Desmond: Zach Bennis (Dromore Utd), John Ross O’Reilly (Breska Rvs), Aaron Murphy (Abbeyfeale Utd), Rowan Collins (Shountrade), Brooklyn Delahunty (Dromore Utd), Eoin Hennessey (Breska Rvs), Eamon O’Sullivan (Shountrade), Ben Hough (Creeves Cel), Ryan Foley (Breska Rvs), Michael Kirby (Shountrade), Tiarnan Kelly (NCW Town). Subs Sheagh Mulvihill (GB Rvs), Cian Barry (Dromore Utd), Thomas McMahon (Dromore Utd), Mikolaj Pater (NCW Town), Charlie McCarthy (Shountrade), Sean O’Flynn (Broadford Utd), Matthew Walsh (NCW Town), Dylan Buckley (GB Rvs) Andrew Johnson (Shountrade).

Match Officials A Martin, P Concannon, N O’Callaghan, G Romanescu

It started oh so well with a two one win vs Carlow live on Facebook on grass pitch 1, we hit the front on 15 minutes just before the water break, a ball into the box from our midfield general Eoin Hennessy was handled by the Carlow centre back and up stepped Brooklyn Delahunty to fire passed the Carlow netminder from 12 yards out. Delahunty had two chances and Tiarnan Kelly had a great chance to make it one nil before the pen only to fire over from 5 yards out. At Half time it was 1-0 to Limerick Desmonds. Into the second half and substitute Dylan Buckley made it two nil to Desmonds, a throw in from Foley found Seán O’Flynn on the by line who hooked a cross into the box and Buckley fired home into the roof of the net to the joy of the huge home crowd cheering on the boys. Carlow got a goal back two minutes from time but the Limerick Desmond boys held on for 3 points on the board at the first time of asking. Player of the match was Brooklyn Delahunty.

Kennedy Cup Group 1

Limerick Desmond (2) 2 (Dylan Buckley, Thomas McMahon)

Kilkenny (0) 2

Limerick Desmond: Andrew Johnson (Shountrade), Sheagh Mulvihill (GB Rvs), Cian Barry (Dromore Utd), John Ross O’Reilly (Breska Rvs), Rowan Collins (Shountrade), Eoin Hennessey (Breska Rvs), Thomas McMahon (Dromore Utd), Charlie McCarthy (Shountrade), Sean O’Flynn (Broadford Utd), Tiarnan Kelly (NCW Town), Dylan Buckley (GB Rvs).

Subs Zach Bennis (Dromore Utd), Aaron Murphy (Abbeyfeale Utd), Brooklyn Delahunty (Dromore Utd), Mikolaj Pater (NCW Town), Eamon O’Sullivan (Shountrade), Ben Hough (Creeves Cel), Ryan Foley (Breska Rvs), Michael Kirby (Shountrade), Matthew Walsh (NCW Town)

Match Officials P Concannon, A Martin, N Minto, G Romanescu

Onto day two, and the management of Niall O’Connor, Tommy O’Connor & Kevin Taylor decided to make six changes to the starting team with rotation and rest in mind, Andrew Johnson debuted in goals, Charlie McCarthy, Sheagh Mulvihill, Cian Barry all came into defence and Seán O’Flynn & Thomas McMahon came into the attacking midfield. However it did not weaken the team in the slightest as Desmonds took a deserved two nil halftime lead, the impressive left winger Dylan Buckley getting his 2^nd in as many games and fellow winger Thomas McMahon scoring on his debut with Buckley getting the assist. However, Kilkenny came out fighting in the second half and could have been level straight away only for some heroics from goalkeeper Johnson and his defence, Kilkenny did however pull a goal back 5 minutes into the second half with a nice finish at the edge of the box. The Limerick Desmond defence held firm for the next fifteen minutes limiting the black cats to very few chances, however on fifty one minutes there striker was adjudged to have been fouled by Hennessy, a penalty to Kilkenny and a chance to pull level with nine minutes on the clock. But the Shountrade goalkeeper Andrew Johnson had other ideas and he expertly saved the penalty to the joy of the home supporters. A cruel twist of fate was to come, deep, deep into the seventh minute of injury time, Kilkenny got the equaliser. A very tough result to take for our boys but to be unbeaten after two games, level with four points at the top of the group was a result we would have gladly took earlier that morning. Player of the match was Andrew Johnson.

Kennedy Cup Group 1

Limerick Desmond (1) 2 (Dylan Buckley, Thomas McMahon)

WWEC (0) 0

Limerick Desmond: Zach Bennis (Dromore Utd), Cian Barry (Dromore Utd), Brooklyn Delahunty (Dromore Utd), Eoin Hennessey (Breska Rvs), Mikolaj Pater (NCW Town), Eamon O’Sullivan (Shountrade), Charlie McCarthy (Shountrade), Ben Hough (Creeves Cel), Ryan Foley (Breska Rvs), Michael Kirby (Shountrade), Dylan Buckley (GB Rvs).

Subs Sheagh Mulvihill (GB Rvs), John Ross O’Reilly (Breska Rvs), Aaron Murphy (Abbeyfeale Utd), Rowan Collins (Shountrade), Thomas McMahon (Dromore Utd), Sean O’Flynn (Broadford Utd), Matthew Walsh (NCW Town), Tiarnan Kelly (NCW Town), Andrew Johnson (Shountrade)

Match Officials N O’Callaghan, D Jordan, P Concannon, P Kelly

The second part of day two saw us take on bottom seeds WWEC on pitch 6 in Maguires Astro. The game halted 10 minutes in due to lightning strikes did not help our momentum one bit. When the game finally got started again, Desmonds were on the front foot and were rewarded with the lead in the first half a perfect corner delivery from Michael Kirby found the head of full back Ryan Foley who headed home through the keepers legs for one nil. Into the second half and a beautifully floated free kick from centre back Ben Hough found the right foot of Dylan Buckley for his 3^rd goal of the group stage. We huffed and puffed to find the two goals needed to top the group with Delahunty, Kelly, O’Flynn and Buckley all going close with the latter two hitting the same spot on the cross bar. However we could not find the goals we needed and Kilkenny finished on top spot with 2 goals better than us. A near perfect group stage from the Desmonds but it was not to be and on we went into the Kennedy Bowl competition for second place teams.

Kennedy Bowl Q/F

Limerick Desmond (0) 2 (Michael Kirby, Brooklyn Delahunty)

Limerick District (0) 2

(Limerick District won 5-4 on pens)

Subs Sheagh Mulvihill (GB Rvs), Cian Barry (Dromore Utd), Thomas McMahon (Dromore Utd), Mikolaj Pater (NCW Town), Charlie McCarthy (Shountrade), Sean O’Flynn (Broadford Utd), Michael Kirby (Shountrade), Matthew Walsh (NCW Town), Andrew Johnson (Shountrade)

Match Officials P Concannon, S Kenneally, T Tollett

We drew our neighbours Limerick District in the quarter finals of the Bowl on pitch 6 on Wednesday eve 5pm in front of what must be said to be the biggest crowds of the competition. After a tentative first half the game exploded into life. Ten minutes from time, the District No.9 Michael Omojoefodun makes it one nil with the ball bouncing in the box and he reacts first, then 3 minutes later the ball bounces again and Omojoefodun makes it 2 nil with his second in as many minutes and what seemed game set and match, however Desmonds had other ideas, with substitute Michael Kirby scoring direct from a corner and fellow rolling sub Brooklyn Delahunty firing in from the edge of the box after Kirby hooks the ball in from the wing, Pandemonium ensues and it is down to the dreaded Penalty shootout lottery in which Limerick District won 5-4 after a tense shootout, with Limerick Desmond finding themselves out of the running for the Kennedy Bowl after a great comeback.

Kennedy Bowl Place Match

Sligo-Leitrim 2

Limerick Desmond 6

(Michael Kirby 2, Dylan Buckley, Eamon O’Sullivan, Brooklyn Delahunty, Rowan Collins)

Andrew Johnson (Shountrade), Sheagh Mulvihill (GB Rvs), Cian Barry (Dromore Utd), Thomas McMahon (Dromore Utd), Mikolaj Pater (NCW Town), Charlie McCarthy (Shountrade), Ben Hough (Creeves Cel), Sean O’Flynn (Broadford Utd), Michael Kirby (Shountrade), Matthew Walsh (NCW Town), Dylan Buckley (GB Rvs).

Subs Zach Bennis (Dromore Utd), John Ross O’Reilly (Breska Rvs), Aaron Murphy (Abbeyfeale Utd), Rowan Collins (Shountrade), Brooklyn Delahunty (Dromore Utd), Eoin Hennessey (Breska Rvs), Eamon O’Sullivan (Shountrade), Ryan Foley (Breska Rvs), Tiarnan Kelly (NCW Town)

Match Officials D Jordan, D Turner, S Kenneally, F McCarthy

It mean’t we faced off vs Sligo Leitrim in a placings game, Limerick Desmonds found themselves three one up at half time, after a Kirby double and Buckley who scored his 4^th of the tournament, in the second half, Delahunty, Eamon O’Sullivan & Captain Rowan Collins rounds off a comfortable six two win.

Kennedy Bowl Place Match

Limerick Desmond 0

NDSL 2

Limerick Desmond: Zach Bennis (Dromore Utd), John Ross O’Reilly (Breska Rvs), Aaron Murphy (Abbeyfeale Utd), Rowan Collins (Shountrade), Eoin Hennessey (Breska Rvs), Mikolaj Pater (NCW Town), Eamon O’Sullivan (Shountrade), Ben Hough (Creeves Cel), Ryan Foley (Breska Rvs), Tiarnan Kelly (NCW Town), Dylan Buckley (GB Rvs).

Subs Sheagh Mulvihill (GB Rvs), Cian Barry (Dromore Utd), Brooklyn Delahunty (Dromore Utd), Thomas McMahon (Dromore Utd), Charlie McCarthy (Shountrade), Michael Kirby (Shountrade), Matthew Walsh (NCW Town), Andrew Johnson (Shountrade)

Match Officials S Kenneally, B James, K Burns, M Lee

The last day in the 13^th/14^th play off game we faced North Dublin in a game where they scored a goal in either half to easily win and sent us to our only defeat in 60 minutes in the competition which was a fantastic achievement from the squad.

After the game the management thanked the players and parents and held their awards ceremony in Punches Pub in Patrickswell where Rowan Collins was presented with Player of the Tournament, and Dylan Buckley was presented with the Top scorer of the competition with 4 goals. In the competition we scored fourteen goals, Dylan with 4, Michael Kirby with 3, Brooklyn Delahunty with 3 and Ryan Foley, Eamon O’Sullivan, Thomas McMahon & Rowan Collins with one each.