St Fiacc's FC 10

Athy Town 0

The home side dominated this game from the start and opened the scoring on the fifth minute with a fine strike from Courtney Forbes. Forbes got her second when she got on the end of a long ball over the top to make it 2-0. She then sealed her hat-trick on 20 minutes, Fiacc’s dominated with plenty of possession and Courtney got her fourth, Stephanie Mannion got Fiaccs fifth and Caoimhe Fitz got Fiaccs’ sixth just before half time to leave it 6-0 at the break.

Fiacc’s came strong in the second and despite the fine goalkeeping from Athy, Aoife Nolan found the net. Laura Byrne heading in from a fine corner from Nolan to make it 8-0, Izzy Humphrey got Fiacc’s ninth and Aoife Nolan wrapped it up with her second to leave it 10-0. It was an excellent performance from a developing Athy team while the best players for Fiacc’s were Maggie Doogue, Chelsea Morgan and Mary Delaney.

Nurney Villa 1

Thomastown United 11

Thomastown United were too strong for Nurney Villa as they won their third game of the season.

Susan O’Leary came close for the home side in the first half when she was played through by Nicola Nolan but the visitors’ goalie came out and saved well. The visitors were the stronger of the two sides when they went into the break 4-0 up.

Nurney pushed forward in the second half in search of a goal and were often caught out on the counter attack which allowed the visitors to show no mercy in their hunt for goals. They kept trying to play their game and, to their credit, their heads didn’t drop. They were rewarded towards the end when Ellen Murphy was brought down in the penalty area and Zoe Curran scored from the spot. Thomastown’s goals came from Eva Hynes with four goals, Sinead Whelan with a brace, Fiona Cullen, Shauna Carroll, Meghan Hynes, Caroline Holden, Michelle Conway

The whole Nurney team gave it their all but Noeleen Maher, Philomena Clarke and Nicola Nolan stood out for the home team.

Parkville United 4

Hanover Harps 1

A great first half performance from Parkville United set them up well for a home win over Hanover Harps.

After three minutes, the Tullow side had the lead when an accurate cross from Bridget Kenny was finished by Melanie Daniel. 18 minutes later, it was 2-0 when Katie Brennan struck it past the keeper. Parkville didn’t let up and they made it 3-0 before half-time when Brennan drilled in a cross for Jamie Albrecht and she scored.

Both sides pushed on for a goal after the restart but Parkville scored when Daniel got her second strike of the game to make it 4-0. Hanover pushed on for a consolation goal and got it with 20 minutes remaining when Sarah Keating was fouled in the penalty area and Essmay Mannix struck from the spot.

Best for Hanover were Melanie Walker, Michelle Dermody, Steph Kehoe and Becky Walsh while it was a strong all round performance for Parkville.

Crettyard United 1

Ballymurphy Celtic 0

A Chloe Ryan strike just after the half-time break was the decider in this tight clash in Crettyard.

Ballymurphy, with the wind in their backs in the first half, started off the brighter of the two sides with plenty of chances in the opening 20 minutes. However, they could not turn those chances into goals. Crettyard came close with a chance of their own as Aisling Behan hit the crossbar with a shot just before the half-time whistle as the half finished scoreless.

Crettyard began the second half stronger and early in the second half, Ryan made no mistake from the edge of the penalty area as she struck the decisive blow. Crettyard held on as they got their second win of the season. Best for Crettyard were Mary Claire Kelly, Sarah Purcell and Collen Rickard and for Ballymurphy, Grainne Nolan and Cathriona Scully played well.

Burrin Celtic 2

Hanover Harps 4

This game was played in very windy conditions, in the wide-open grounds of Burrin and was always going to be a key factor in the outcome of this game.

Burrin took an early lead on two minutes as Aaron Goodwin scored for 1-0 but Hanover started to dominate the game and on 15 minutes some sharp passing by Ben Doorley and Joe Dorian put Keelan Lacey through and he scored easily to make it 1-1. A quick-fire double from Dylan Delaney put Hanover 3-1 as the interval came and this was well deserved as Burrin just weren’t at the races.

After a strong team-talk Burrin came out and were so much better and they scored a second goal when Padraic Nolan made a mazy run up the wing beating three opponents and crossing in to John Kinsella who had made a brilliant run in support from midfield and he finished off the move by putting the ball through the keeper’s legs for 2-3. It looked as if Burrin could get back into the game but they lost a player to injury and were down to ten men and Hanover took advantage with some great work by Corey Kelleher who set up Keelan Lacey to make it 2-4 and deservedly inflict Burrin’s first defeat of the season.

Best for Burrin were Nick Mullins, Padraic Nolan and Eli Byrne, whilst standing out for Hanover were Adam Nolan, Ben Doorley, Aaron Byrne and Corey Kelleher.

Bagenalstown FC 1

Nurney Villa 7

A strong wind blowing straight down the pitch dictated this game with Bagenalstown having first advantage of it and they piled in plenty of high balls to test the Nurney defence, but some stoic defending by Keegan Bradley and Padraig Hynes kept Bagenalstown at bay.

Nurney took an early lead inside five minutes when a fine cross from Jack Malone found Jack Treacy in the box and he headed home for a 0-1 lead. Bagenalstown responded very quickly when on eight minutes Matty Curran scored for 1-1 after some great play by Ryan Lundy and then Nurney pulled away as Sean Smithers put Jack Malone through to make it 1-2 on ten minutes. On 34 minutes some great work by Louis Brennan and Jack Treacy saw them set up Liam Ryan who finished well to give Nurney a 1-3 lead that they took into the interval.

Despite Bagenalstown battling hard in the early stages of the second-half, Nurney’s unbending pressure finally told and the floodgates opened as Jack Malone, Cormac Lomax and Jack Treacy all came close, before on 56 minutes, Jack Malone broke through to score his second and make it 1-4, after some excellent work in midfield by Liam Ryan and Aidan Lillis. Mark Foley scored on60 minutes to make it 1-5 and Jack Malone completed his hat-trick on 75 minutes for 1-6, but Bagenalstown sparked into life and it took two fine saves by Nurney’s Craig Lawlor to deny them scoring. On 82 minutes, Mark Foley finished well to make the final score 1-7 and give Nurney a convincing win against an inexperienced Bagenalstown team, who never gave up.

It was an outstanding team performance from Nurney, whilst standing out for Bagenalstown were Matty Curran, Nathan Holden and David Watkins.

Baltinglass Town 0

St Patrick’s Boys 13

St Pat’s completely dominated this game from start to finish and scored through Deano Marcu (2), Kian Kerr, Colin Dunne (3), Liam Seery, Diarmuid Ruth, Andrew Kehoe (3) and Lord Afrifa (2).

It was a fine team performance from St Pat’s, whilst Baltinglass battled hard they were just overwhelmed on the day but deserve praise for trying to the end.

Crettyard United 4

Kildare Town 3

Crettyard started off this semi- final the better with their midfield pulling all the strings, whilst Kildare started very cautiously, however, it was Kildare who opened the scoring, when they won a free-kick, just outside the Crettyard penalty area, when the smartly taken kick, nestled in the top corner of the net for a 0-1 lead, that was against the run of play.

Within five minutes Crettyard were level when Tom Dowling got on the end of a fine cross and headed home which better reflected the way the play had gone. Just before half-time Willie Kavanagh got on the end of a fine David Maher pass and finished well for 2-1 and they took this score into the interval which was well deserved.

Crettyard had played against the strong wind but had that advantage in the second half and they put it to good use as Willie Kavanagh latched on to a long ball over the top rounded the Kildare keeper and slotted the ball home for 3-1. Jimmy Dunne then played in Keith Nolan and he finished well to make it 4-1 and it seemed that Crettyard were cruising. However, Kildare came out all guns blazing and they pulled back two goals towards the end to make the score 4-3 and Crettyard had to face a few very nervous minutes as Kildare tried to find that vital equaliser. The final whistle came and it was Crettyard who came out the winners and they progress to the Leinster Final, which is a great achievement and the best of luck to them.

Standing out for Crettyard were Keith Nolan, Willie Kavanagh, Mark Kelly and Ciaran Hosey, but everyone played their part in this terrific victory, whilst it was a battling performance from Kildare but they were just edged out of it in the end.

Celtic Stars 6

St Joseph’s 3

A strong finish to the game saw Stars collect maximum points in Clonegal.

The home side were quick out of the traps and went ahead early with a Shaun Carroll goal. Joeys however settled into the game and a brace of John Fleming goals put them ahead on 20 minutes. The home side struck back with a long-range drive from John Connors went all the way to the net as the sides retired at half time 2-2.

Robert Ryan gave Stars a 3-2 lead early in the second half but a super individual goal by Dinny Farrell had the sides level again soon after. However, the home side dominated the remainder of the game and Shaun Carroll put them ahead followed immediately by goal number five when a fine run by Anthony Phelan saw him set up Brian Hancock to score from close range. The scoring was completed when Shaun Carroll notched his hat trick goal from the spot after Podge Watertown was brought down in the area.

Impressive for Stars were Anthony Phelan, Robert Ryan and Shaun Carroll for Joeys Kit Gaffney, Dinny Farrell and John Fleming stood out.

Nurney Villa 1

Wolfhill Athletic 4

Nurney’s unbeaten run in Division Three came to a halt against a strong Wolfhill side.

It was end to end in the first half with little chances for either side. Adam Waugh in the visitors’ goal did have to make a smart save from a Philip Murphy shot on the half hour. Then just on half time the visitors launched a quick attack and Enda Butler broke the deadlock with a snap shot low to the net.

The third quarter was again evenly fought out with Nurney unable to penetrate through a solid Wolfhill defence and when a defender for Villa lost possession on the halfway line Colin Campion broke away to shoot a second for Wolfhill and the writing was on the wall for the home side. PJ Rowan put the visitors further ahead with a retaken penalty after he blasted the first kick high and wide and then Michael Keogh dispossessed a defender and laid the ball on to Enda Butler for a fourth goal, with Villas lone reply from Colin Townsend only a consolation late on.

Excellent for the winners were Ciaran Carroll, Enda Butler and Michael Keogh, trying hard for Nurney were Eamon Dowling, John Paul Stringer and Brian Carroll

Kilree Celtic 5

Bagenalstown 1

Local bragging rights went to the red side of Bagenalstown in this local derby game.

Celtic were quick into their stride and went in front after five minutes when David McDonald stood over a penalty kick, his first shot was parried but he followed up to put away the rebound. McDonald widened the gap when he finished a cross from brother Mark. The Town got a goal back when Andrew Beaton places John Doyle who made it 2-1. However, another penalty was awarded to Kilree soon after and this time David McDonald scored at the first time of asking for a 3-1 interval lead for Kilree.

Two quick goals at the start of the second half from Mark McDonald and an Alan Salter header ended the game as a contest and an easier than expected victory for Kilree.

For the winners Paul Kehoe, Stephan Salter, Paddy Deevy and John Kelly were outstanding for a disappointing Town side Brian Murphy, Martin Cummins, Alan Corcoran and John Doyle were best.

Burrin Celtic 1

Nurney Villa 2

Nurney were deserving winners at the Valley on Sunday.

With a gale force wind at their backs in the first half Celtic opened well but Nurney defended well and contained the Celtic attacks comfortably, then on 18 minutes a very poor clearance from Burrin keeper was latched onto by Sean Taylor who netted the opener. Celtic tried to respond and Martin Cummins smacked a ball off the Villa crossbar but half time came with Nurney 1-0 up.

Six minutes into the second half Villa went further ahead when Joe Byrne got to the end line and set up Aiden Lillis for an easy finish. With the elements at their back and a two-goal lead it looked set for an easy win for Nurney but credit to Burrin they did not give in and when Collie Quigley scored a spectacular goal they were right back in the game, however the Nurney defence again stood firm and saw out the contest.

For the winners John Ryan was man of the match with Val Fleming and Shane O’Reilly also notable, DJ Sinnott, James Hickey and Martin Cummins were best for Celtic.

Crettyard United 0

Slaney Rovers 3

The Rathvilly side made the long trip to Crettyard and came away with all three points to maintain their title challenge.

The visitors got off to a dream start when Keith Curran headed home an in-swinging corner from Paddy Farrell on six minutes. They continued to dominate and doubled their lead when Farrell squared the ball into the path of Paul Curran who shot low and hard to the far corner. The home goalie pulled off a fine save from a point-blank effort from Daniel O`Brien, only for the ball to fall kindly for Paul Curran who made no mistake from six yards to lead 3-0 at the break.

In the second half the Laois side came more into the game and Fergal Harmon was forced into two good saves to deny them a foothold into game.

Outstanding for the winners were Shane Murphy, Shane McGannon and Regan Murphy.

Dolmen Celtic 2

Baltinglass Town 4

Dolmen suffered their first defeat of the season when Baltinglass ended their unbeaten run in Carlow on Sunday.

The home side got off to a flyer when John Nangle converted a Colin Nolan cross on ten minutes. Celtic continued to dominate and some neat play between Nangle and Joe Lea resulted in Lea firing home on 20 minutes. Balto responded almost immediately when Sean Horan finished to the net following some good football. They were on level terms just before the break when Thomas Fogarty was fouled in the penalty area and Gareth Doyle converted the spot kick.

The Wicklow side started the second half on the up and were awarded a second penalty for a hand ball incident. Gareth Doyle was again entrusted with the spot kick duties and he duly obliged to make it 3-2 on 55 minutes. The Carlow town side clawed their way back into the game and Paul Core and Danny Thompson went close to level matters. However, Dolmen conceded a third penalty for another hand ball and Doyle completed his unique hat-trick when slotting home the spot kick on 62 minutes. On 80 minutes it was Celtic’s turn to be awarded a penalty but Danny Thompson was denied by a great save from Paddy Cronin.

Best for the winners were Dan Fogarty, Thomas Redmond and Paddy Cronin while Owen O’Gorman and John Nangle tried hard for Celtic.