Cork’s Kennedy Cup sides advance to quarter-finals

Waterford Schoolboy League Kennedy Cup squad.

It was a good day for Cork schoolboys football as both Kennedy Cup sides advanced to the quarter-final after an action-packed day of group stage fixtures in Limerick.

Cork Schoolboys League resisted a late Waterford comeback as they battled out a 2-2 draw in a thrilling Munster derby to finish top of Group 2 thanks to a brace from Cian McMahon, bringing the Mallow Town striker’s tally to five goals having scored earlier in a 4-0 win over Longford.

Waterford’s morning win over Tipperary South put them second in the group to take a place in the Bowl quarter-final thanks to goals from Samuel Bekel, Louis McDonald, Fionn Fell and captain Ryan Walsh.

In Group 8, there was joy for West Cork and despair for Kerry as one of the battles of the day ended in a 2-2 draw which was enough to send West Cork top of the group and book their place in the knockout stages.

Kerry took an early lead when Dingle Bay Rovers pair TJ Ó hAiniféin and Donncha Ó Murchú linked up well for the latter to finish from close range, but two second-half goals in quick succession from Kingsley Crosby Osagie (Drinagh Rangers) and Samuel Kingston (Dunmanway Town) put West Cork back in the driving seat.

Kerry reacted well and were rewarded when Killarney Celtic’s Cillian Scannell struck home an equaliser, however, neither side were able to find a winner as Kerry finished second ahead of North Tipperary in third.

Group 1 saw a surprise ending as Kilkenny defeated free-scoring Donegal 2-0 to make it three wins from three, Evergreen clubman Conal Kelly scoring in all three group games to help his side top the group and book their place in the quarter-final. Having enjoyed a 4-0 over Roscommon earlier in the day with Levi Kelly and Peadar Finnegan again on the score sheet, Donegal finished second with Roscommon in third following a 2-0 win in their Connacht derby clash against Mayo.

There was disappointment for reigning champions Limerick Desmond as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against South Belfast in Group 4, the Antrim side also maintaining a 100% record with strong performances from Alex McKnight, Joseph Shaw and captain Patrick Turley sending them through to the quarters ahead of Carlow in second, Limerick Desmond in third and WWEC in fourth.

Having lost their opener against Clare, there was joy for Dublin District SL as they picked up back-to-back wins over Wicklow and Midlands to top Group 7 and seal a quarter-final place.

Four goals from St Kevins’ Danny Martin contributed to a nine-goal thriller in the earlier fixture, and DDSL then beat 10-man Midlands with a Cian Brady brace confirming them as group winners with Midlands in second. Clare finished in third despite defeat in an outstanding 4-3 clash with Wicklow.

The tightest group of the competition ended in raucous scenes for Galway as a late equaliser from the penalty spot by Corofin’s Cian Hanley saw the Tribesmen go from bottom to top of Group 5 in one kick of the ball against North Dublin, all four teams finishing on four points but Galway’s earlier win over Inishowen booked their place in the Quarter Final ahead of the Dubliners in second, Limerick County in third and the Donegal side in fourth place.

Group 6 also went down to the wire with the group wide open after two games played. 

Both NERL and Limerick District knew that the winners of their final clash would advance to the quarter-final; however, a 0-0 draw meant that the North Easterners finish top just a point clear of the local side, Dundalk’s 2-2 draw against Cavan/Monaghan not enough to change proceedings as they finished third with three consecutive draws.

The day’s fixtures wrapped up with Kildare finishing top of Group 3 after comfortable wins over Sligo/Leitrim and Wexford, with Naas AFC’s Alex Celestino White again the hero for Kildare as he brought his tally to four goals. 

Wexford’s 1-1 draw against Lisburn saw them finish as runners-up, ahead of Sligo/Leitrim in third following their 2-0 victory over Lisburn Castlereagh.