History made by Limerick Desmond League lifting first SFAI Kennedy Cup
The victorious Limerick Desmond League side who won the national U14 Kennedy Cup final on Friday. Pic: Mike Aherne (@AherneMike95)
One of the smallest leagues in Ireland, Limerick Desmond League, claimed their first-ever SFAI U14 Kennedy Cup by seeing off Donegal 2-0 before a bumper crowd at University Limerick.
After topping a group that featured all-time record winners Dublin District, they advanced through two knockout rounds and completed their mission with two second half goals.
Dan Healy’s curling free-kick shortly broke the resistance of the northerners and in the final minute Precieux Malonga broke clear to bag his sixth goal of the five-day blitz.
Cork, beaten 2-1 by Donegal in Thursday’s semi-final, finished third by edging North East Region 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal by Brandon Slattery.
Waterford picked up the Plate prize with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Limerick District. A cagey first half between the Munster rivals was shattered by a pair of quickfire goals after the break by Adam O’Shea and Ciaran Maher.
Two defenders, Tom Gahan and Robert Skeehan, popped up from set-pieces to make it 2-2 before a header by Max Chren sealed the turnaround.
DDSL also came from a goal down to take the Bowl, recovering from Cathal McAuliffe’s penalty to score twice through Connor O’Sullivan and Hryhoril Zlatev.
Meanwhile, all member clubs of the Limerick District (adult) league have been invited to send one representative to a meeting with the FAI and Munster Football Association next Tuesday.
The FAI last week ordered 10 committee members of the LDL to step back from all administrative duties as they launch an investigation into complaints around governance, culture and finance.
Correspondence sent to each member by FAI President Paul Cooke stated that they and the Munster FA ‘will be able to support the delivery of football under the jurisdiction of the LDL while the investigation takes place.’ The first manifestation of that was the MFA taking control of Thursday’s Lawson Cup final at the Jackman Park venue owned by the LDL.
Clubs will now be informed at the Castletroy Hotel about how league matters will function while the probe, in conjunction with Sport Ireland and the Department of Sport, takes its course.
