Nenagh pay the penalty in Cup exit

Limerick District League Review

By Pat Sheehan

Tuohy Cup

Nenagh AFC crashed out of the Tuohy Cup in dramatic circumstances on Saturday evening at the Fairgreen.

Tied 1-1 with the league champions Fairview Rangers at the end of the ninety minutes, Nenagh suffered the heartbreak of a 4-2 penalty shoot-out defeat.

The result was even harder to take considering Nenagh played so well throughout. They put in a real battling effort and with a little luck would have recorded an impressive win.

Ironically it was former Nenagh favourite, Aaron Savage who came up trumps with a crucial save in the shoot-out to help the home side to victory.

Fairview kicked off on the front foot and had Nenagh defending desperately for most of the opening half.

Goalkeeper Carl Williams produced a point blank save to deny Jason Cross and at the other end an Adam Ryan header forced Savage to a good save.

The keeper denied Ryan again minutes later from a free kick. Williams pulled off another impressive save to deny Brian Aherne as the first half closed out.

Nenagh took the lead after the restart with a superb goal. Dylan Morrison and Dylan Connolly combined and the latter’s back heel was blasted home by Dan O'Meara.

Fairview got back on level terms on seventy minutes when Jason Cross finished at the back post from Darragh Rainsford’s delivery.

Fairview failed to build on the momentum and it was Nenagh who finished strongest Adam Ryan’s last minute corner kick went within inches of winning the tie but it was not to be and the home side held their nerve in the resulting spot kicks to progress.

Fairview Rangers: Aaron Savage; Ryan Bowden; Blake Curran; Thomas O'Connor; Jason Cross; Jeffery Judge; Brian Aherne; Shane Duggan; Adam Dore; Cian McNamara; Josh McCarthy. Subs: Conor Kavanagh; Darragh Rainsford

Nenagh AFC: Carl Williams; Saeed Ryan; Lee Mowatt; Kieran Barr; Ciaran O'Reilly; Pa Steed; Adam Ryan; Aaron Cusack; Daniel Connolly; Dylan Morrison; Dan O'Meara. Sub: Colm Hayden

Premier ‘A’ League

Newport’s hopes of returning to the topflight took another blow on Sunday when they fell 1-0 to rival Star Rovers

The result puts Star top of the Premier ‘A’ League table, two points clear of Moyross, but with a couple of game extra played.

Newport’s bad run has now seen them take just one point from their last four games after an impressive start to the season.

This game was a tight affair with little to choose between the sides. Brian Thompson was the hero for Star, as his goal just after the hour mark decided the tie.

Newport Town: Stephen McCormack; Eoin Looney; Pa Murtagh; Elliot Slattery; Peter O'Sullivan; Sean Bonfield; Killian O'Malley; Aaron Coleman; Brian O'Sullivan; Callum O'Connell; Jamie Kavanagh. Subs: Conor Brett; Luke Ryan; Ciaran Carey; Sean Ryan.