Limerick Desmond League 2018/19

[Treaty Gooner]

The solution probably lies somewhere in the middle. Having 8 games played by the first week of September brings its own problems too. Long stretches for some clubs with no games at all. Playing a round or two of games on neutral Astro pitches in the winter could be one answer. Even if they were 8pm midweek fixtures players would rather have games than training.

[The Enforcer]

Maybe they requested a free weekend 2 weeks ago? Would the fixture for that GA game be fixed 2 weeks ago which would have allowed one of the teams to book a free weekend? A club can request a free weekend for what ever reason they want as long as they give notice as far as I know?

I see the league has decided to skip the 3rd round of fixtures as per master list that was on weekly observer. Why is this? Is it something to do with teams playing football on Sunday? Abbey we’re suppose to play Glin but now playing Kildimo. Rathkeale were suppose to be playing Broadford but now playing Ballingarry?
I wouldn’t be surprised if Abbey and Kildimo game now gets changed from the Sunday as Kildimo would be willing to change for Abbey more so than Glin as they’re big rivals.
Could be a good reason for it but just seems strange they would skip the 3rd round of fixtures.

Re the fixtures this weekend, it’s my understanding that the first 2 and last 2 fixtures are set in stone and have to be played in that sequence. Therefore I would have expected the fixtures Secretary to fall into line with the dates on the master fixture list in round 3 which is exactly what he has done this weekend, I would have been shocked if he played the fixtures scheduled on the master list for the 9th this weekend.
Re having to give 3 weeks notice for a free Sunday, surely u don’t need to know who you are playing to identify in advance if u need a free Sunday, it’s there to avoid weddings, stags etc etc. All these things are booked well in advance so can’t see the issue

[nathanbrown]

I can't see how the league have such a problem with organising fixtures in advance. I said this last year. We found out 5 days before the season started who was playing who. Why could they not set these fixtures 2 weeks beforehand. Then a week later have gameweek 2 and so on. That way you know who your next 2 games are against.

I have no problem with teams needing to give 3 weeks notice for a weekend off, but why not just release the fixtures? It really frustrates me as a neutral fan that sometimes I only have 3-4 days notice of what games are on.

Re: the start of the season. I think Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale will run away with it again. I know its too early to write off NCW but even with the 2 teams combined they don't have the quality of the other 2 but I think they are a step above most other teams. Themselves and Ballingarry for 3rd and 4th. Their B team might have a say in winning Division 1 though. I think Killeaney and Kildimo will go down and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kildimo fail to win a game all season. Granagh to just about survive

Division 1 I think the 2 B teams will be in the running for the title (Rathkeale and NCW). Feenagh to finally get relegated along with 1 of Breska/AK/Ballysteen. Hard to know what Shannonside or Athea will bring to the table

[robotwarsfan]

I can't see how the league have such a problem with organising fixtures in advance. I said this last year. We found out 5 days before the season started who was playing who. Why could they not set these fixtures 2 weeks beforehand. Then a week later have gameweek 2 and so on. That way you know who your next 2 games are against.

I have no problem with teams needing to give 3 weeks notice for a weekend off, but why not just release the fixtures? It really frustrates me as a neutral fan that sometimes I only have 3-4 days notice of what games are on.

Re: the start of the season. I think Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale will run away with it again. I know its too early to write off NCW but even with the 2 teams combined they don't have the quality of the other 2 but I think they are a step above most other teams. Themselves and Ballingarry for 3rd and 4th. Their B team might have a say in winning Division 1 though. I think Killeaney and Kildimo will go down and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kildimo fail to win a game all season. Granagh to just about survive

Division 1 I think the 2 B teams will be in the running for the title (Rathkeale and NCW). Feenagh to finally get relegated along with 1 of Breska/AK/Ballysteen. Hard to know what Shannonside or Athea will bring to the table
I honestly have an inkling that NCW Town will win the premier, so what the draw was a little stumbling block but all teams get them. KB to survive for me with Granagh and Kildimo to go down, and I agree with the Kildimo getting no wins.
Bit of disagreement with div.1 I think Breska will be challenging for promotion rather than relegation, I went to their game against Athea and they had all of the ball but just couldn't put the game to bed, id expect them to beat Shannonside this weekend with Senans having championship the night before. Ballysteen and Shountrade to get relegated
Div.2 Glantine will 100% win this. too good a team for division 2

[Shearer]

Handy quarter final draw for Abbeyfeale in the Munster Champions Trophy at home to Drinagh Rangers of West Cork.

[twotouch]

Predictions for the weekend

I think both abbeyfeale and Rathkeale will come away with the 3 points. Glin and broadford should be a good game. Glin looking to bounce back and broadford scrapped past KB it should be interesting. KB and Granagh to play out a draw

[western gale 1]

Premier Division
Rathkeale V Ballingarry (home)
Abbeyfeale Utd V Kildimo Utd 1130 (home)
Glin Rovers V Broadford Utd 1130 (away)
Killeaney/Bally Rovers V Granagh Utd (home)

Division 1
AK Utd V Shountrade (draw)
Feenagh V Rathkeale B (away)
Breska Rovers V Shannonside (away)
Athea Utd Newcastle West Town Reserves (away)

Division 2
Askeaton V Glantine (away)
Creeves Celtic V Abbeyfeale Utd B (home)
Glin Rovers B V Killeaney/Bally Rovers Reserves (away)
Pallaskenry V Rockhill Rovers (home)
Ballingarry B V St Itas (away)
Knockaderry V Ferry Rangers (home)
Newcastle West Town B V Broadford Utd Reserves (draw)

[southern kid]

How do u know if it is handy draw shearer?do u know anything about them or just presuming, I know the league may not be that strong but also Desmond league is weak enough..
Will be interesting to see how ballingarry do this wknd, by all accounts they were v unlucky against Abbey and took 2 points of a lot of people's favourites last wk,they will surley look for some return when u are throwing big money out on coaches etc..Abbey should have too much for kildimo ,handy win for roadford and kb to bounce back and win easy...

[western gale 1]

Weekends Results

Saturday, September 15th

Youths Division 1
Newcastle West Town v Ballingarry off
Askeaton 2 Abbeyfeale Utd 2 (played in Abbeyfeale)
Broadford Utd v Rathkeale, walkover to Broadford Utd

Youths Division 2
Granagh Utd 0 Breska Rovers 2
Ferry Rangers 1 Mountcollins 4
Shannonside 0 St Itas 3
Carrig Celtic bye

Sunday, September 16th

Premier Division
Rathkeale 4 Ballingarry 1
Abbeyfeale Utd 7 Kildimo Utd 0
Glin Rovers 0 Broadford Utd 1
Killeaney/Bally Rovers V Granagh Utd off

Division 1
AK Utd 4 Shountrade 0
Feenagh 1 Rathkeale B 7
Breska Rovers 2 Shannonside 1
Athea Utd 2 Newcastle West Town Reserves 5

Division 2
Askeaton 1 Glantine 4
Creeves Celtic 4 Abbeyfeale Utd B 0
Glin Rovers B v Killeaney/Bally Rovers Reserves off
Pallaskenry v Rockhill Rovers off
Ballingarry B 1 St Itas 3
Knockaderry 1 Ferry Rangers 3
Newcastle West Town B 1 Broadford Utd Reserves 4

[Hoofittafook]

I honestly have an inkling that NCW Town will win the premier, so what the draw was a little stumbling block but all teams get them. KB to survive for me with Granagh and Kildimo to go down, and I agree with the Kildimo getting no wins.
Bit of disagreement with div.1 I think Breska will be challenging for promotion rather than relegation, I went to their game against Athea and they had all of the ball but just couldn't put the game to bed, id expect them to beat Shannonside this weekend with Senans having championship the night before. Ballysteen and Shountrade to get relegated
Div.2 Glantine will 100% win this. too good a team for division 2

Think bit of a bold statement Glantine 100% win this. 2nd division has a strange layout this season and 3/4 teams including Glantine will fancy winning league.

[southern kid]

What happened at glin an broadford game yest.. heard it was ridiculous scenes down there.. anyone at the game??

[Gazza29]

What happened at glin an broadford game yest.. heard it was ridiculous scenes down there.. anyone at the game??
What happened

[Cruyff]

I heard there was war at AK Utd and Shountrade, headbutts and the whole lot.... Anyone confirm, even though I know it for a fact but still if anyone was at it I'd like to hear the story

[the 12 th man]

Be careful what you post here lads,you are personally responsible for anything you post.You can Private Message each other the details.

[PatRooney]

Was at the Rathkeale v Ballingarry game Sunday morning. Very surprised with ballingarry only bringing there youth team down. Rathkeale were easy winners

[twotouch]

Why would ballingarry only bring a youth team to play Rathkeale. Heard a bit about what happened in AK d same as cruyff. I wonder will Glin and Abbey have thier usual firey game Sunday

[Shearer]

I wonder will Glin and Abbey have thier usual firey game Sunday
In fairness, the bit of handbags that were reported from Broadford/Glin and AK/Shountrade don't happen all too often so you'd turn a blind eye to it when it does occur.
I think firey games like that of Glin/Abbey and Glin/KB (provided it doesn't end in a bloodbath!) are what really add to the league and are the fixtures I'm sure many like myself will look for on the Master List.

[twouptop]

I'd be exactly the same. Good to see a bit of needle in games, controlled and nothing over the top but it adds to the games. A lot of players are nearly too friendly these days they're all friends off the field and take it a bit too easy on one another if you ask me!

[Abbeyman]

Wont be an easy weekend for those glin lads if they lose football play off to Athea on Saturday and to abbey in the soccer Sunday , god help the poor refs in both games listening to the glin lads non stop moaning.

[southern kid]

Ya could be exciting game alrite, I see pat king is ref and to be fair to him he is strong enough to deal with glins moaning.. I heard the 2 sh***an brothers were ridiculous last sun but the ref left it go all day and led to a couple of bad bust ups..

[twotouch]

And sure of course abbey don’t moan at all

[southern kid]

Not defending Abbey at all. All clubs moan, it's only natural..glin on the other hand play on the edge and sometimes beyond it and unless u have strong ref they get away with it..glin are not good ball players so have no choice but to try bully teams I guess.. I seen a few Abbey glin games over last few years and Abbey normally stand up to it.. I remember one game in particular where the present Abbey manager was involved with them but did not let his team be bullied on that day..

[Johnnie C]

Saw an interesting booklet in Newcastle library today, Adare FC - The early years- 1936-1948. Didn't hear about it at the time but it was put together by Billy O'Shaughnessy and published in 2016. 50 odd pages for €5. Anyone know if it's still on sale anywhere in Adare?

[westernflow]

Aside from the mad statements, there should be great concern over the number of officals in the league. I really think the referee count is going one way and that demand will exceed supply not before long.

On the field, I can only see a two horse race in both Premier and Div 1. Abbey will best Rathkeale in prem, with NCW a distant third. In Div 1, NCW won this division last year and will do the same this year as a new club. They will be joined by Rathkeale. I'd say promotion will fall to Breska or Shannonside (as 3rd and 4th could go up) and SURELY Feenagh will finally go down, along with Shountrade after their embarrassing social media during the summer.

[southern kid]

Big wins this morn for ncw Abbey and broadford.. massive slip up for ratkeale.. anyone at the games for reports.. I seen Newcastle carrig game.. 3 up before carrig equalized through 3 fast goals.. Sean mcsweeney had great game for carrig but ncw deserving winners

[westernflow]

Wasn't at a game but i heard Rathkeale pulled a point out of the bag with 2 very late goals. Farce the U17 cup, only 1 game of 4 played, 3 walkovers. GAA clash?

[Yorkshire rose]

Aunty Lenas pub in Adare have copies I think

[Desmond18]

Broadford tipping along nicely... i've heard they've a lot of training done ? Away to Newmarket Celtic on Sunday should really see how there going...

[Desmond18]

Just seen this post now... made me laugh !!! Broadford had 70% posession

[Desmond18]

That quote was replying to the day Broadford played KB & that KB were unlucky

[Gazza29]

Just seen this post now... made me laugh !!! Broadford had 70% posession

Which post made u laugh, u never quoted it?

[Desmond18]

Kb utd be kicking themselves goalkeeper error and so many wasted chances. Kb utd b won 3-2 against ncw

[fanaticfan]

Broadford going well locally is right but imo will not win on Sunday against newmarket

[Desmond18]

Broadford going well locally is right but imo will not win on Sunday against newmarket
Most def up against it !!! Newmarket in semis of FAI & Munster last year with junior internationals on show

[southern kid]

I do agree Newmarket are decent side but why should broadford fear them..Newmarket are playing in average lge also...just look at Abbey v st Mike's few seasons back, just went out and played them and showed no fear..Desmond sides always give teams too much respect

[Shearer]

Good point, even though everyone (myself included) had tipped Mick's against Abbeyfeale they still went out and asked questions of them, put it up to them and got the win. I might add on a personal aside, I still view that as one of the best, if not the best, games of junior football I've ever seen.
Broadford are still a great footballing team, definitely not ones to disgrace themselves anyway. They'll go into that game knowing there's little expected of them against a side with two boys not long off the plane from Romania but that's probably the best way to be.
You're as well off to be knocked out tomorrow as you are the Last 128 as people only really start getting interested at the last 64.
Best of luck to them.

[fanaticfan]

Broadford hammered 6 nil against Newmarket.
Carrig 4-3 Breska
St Brendan Park 9-0 Shauntrade
Ak Utd lost 7-3
Ballysteen 3-4 Ennis Town

[Kennycon]

Broadford hammered 6 nil against Newmarket.
Carrig 4-3 Breska
St Brendan Park 9-0 Shauntrade
Ak Utd lost 7-3
Ballysteen 3-4 Ennis Town

Very poor reflection on the standard of football in the Desmond league.

[southern kid]

All poor Desmond teams, division 2 teams I think v premier Clare and Kerry.. you would wonder why they bother entering the fai cup..but broadfords hammering in Clare was big shock for me and embarrassing if I'm being honest..

[Kennycon]

All poor Desmond teams, division 2 teams I think v premier Clare and Kerry.. you would wonder why they bother entering the fai cup..but broadfords hammering in Clare was big shock for me and embarrassing if I'm being honest..

Why has the standard dropped, no excuses now considering the facilities most clubs have in the Desmond

[fanaticfan]

There's only about 3 teams in the Desmond League that have a real chance of going a bit far in the Fai. Abbeyfeale Rathkeale and Ncw. Rathkeale hammered last year premier team shannonside 9-0 also today

[fanaticfan]

Sorry it was St Brendans Park 5-0 shauntrade not 9 nil

[Kennycon]

There's only about 3 teams in the Desmond League that have a real chance of going a bit far in the Fai. Abbeyfeale Rathkeale and Ncw. Rathkeale hammered last year premier team shannonside 9-0 also today

None of those teams stand a chance of winning a Munster junior.

[Shearer]

Sorry it was St Brendans Park 5-0 shauntrade not 9 nil
It was 9-0, up on the Kerry League's Facebook.
There's always one or two results with wrong scores every week.

[fanaticfan]

Ya I thought I saw 9 nil somewhere but I saw 5 nil on the Desmond League page on Facebook

[fanaticfan]

None of those teams stand a chance of winning a Munster junior.

I never said none of them would win a Munster Junior Cup. I said those 3 teams have a real chance of going a bit far in the Fai or even the Munster Junior Cup. But see not win it

[Shearer]

Chris Smith in the Irish squad for a game against Northern Ireland on Wednesday October 10.

[Johnnie C]

Some very poor results in this last weekend. We'll hope for better in round 3.
FAI Junior Cup Round 3 Draw
Shannon Olympic v Classic FC
Carrig Celtic v Lifford
Strand Rovers FC v Glin Rovers FC
Killarney Celtic FC v Moher Celtic
Newcastle West v Newmarket Celtic
Shannon Town v St. Brendans Park FC
Killorglin FC v Tralee Dynamoes FC
Castleisland FC v Ballingarry FC
Listowel Celtic v Avenue Utd.
Abbeyfeale Utd v Rathkeale FC
Killeaney/Bally Rovers v Shannon Hibs FC
Turnpike Rovers v Ennis Town
Ties to be played week ending the 21st October 2018

[fanaticfan]

2 good games in the Fai.
Ncw vs Newmarket
Abbeyfeale vs Rathkeale.

Newmarket and Abbeyfelae to go through

[Shearer]

Abbeyfeale draw Rathkeale in the FAI Junior Cup Third round and if Abbeyfeale win at home to Shannonside and Rathkeale win away to AK United, they will meet in the third round of the Munster Junior also.
That would make it five times in the last four seasons that they've drawn each other in either the FAI Junior Cup or Munster Junior Cup, a remarkable statistic especially with the FAI being tied in with two other leagues.

2018/19 - FAI Junior Cup Third Round and (potentially) Munster Junior Cup Third Round.
2017/18 - FAI Junior Cup Third Round.
2016/17 - FAI Junior Cup Second Round.
2015/16 - Munster Junior Cup Preliminary Round.