Bagenalstown AFC
Form: L W L W W L

Carnew Fc
Form: W W L L L

Bagenalstown finished the season on a high and claimed 4th spot in the league with a good win in very windy conditions on Wednesday evening. Town took the league after a great turnover from Marty Curran who released Robbie Kane and he slotted home the to make it 1-0 to the home side. Pats, aided by a strong wind, launched balls up front but Towns back four held strong. Pats eventually got back on level terms directly from a corner by Dave Kenny which the wind caught and went straight into the net which left the sides all square at the break.

Town came out in the second half hoping for the wind to help and it didn’t take long for them to retake the lead when a flicked header from David Miley found Darren Crooks who flipped the ball over the defender and caught it on the volley which flew into the net to give Town the lead. Town took control when a loose ball from the keeper found Matty Curran who finished from all of 40 yards as the keeper struggled to get back to his goal. Town, who had the bear 11 players, started to tire as Pats rang in the changes. Thomas Sheenan broke through the Town defence to finish at the near post to take him top goal scorer in the league and set up a nail biting finish. Pats pushed for the equaliser but Darren Crooks had a different ideas as he turned over the Pat’s defence to riffle his shot to the top corner and put the game to bed.

Best for Town were David Miley,Robbie Kane,Matty Curran and Trevor Nolan while best for St Pats were Jake Doyle, Thomas Sheehan and Harry Walker.

Parkville finished their league campaign on a high overcoming a strong Bagenalstown side on Sunday morning in Hawkins Lane. The win moved Parkville in fourth in the league with Bagenalstown having one more chance next week to get fourth should they get a win. Both teams started well with the first chance falling to Martin Fitzgerald whose shot hit the crossbar on 10 minutes. 5 minutes later it was Bagenalstown who broke the deadlock with good work from Thomas Kinsella and James Lillis setting Darren Crooks through 1 on 1 to slot past the Parkville keeper. Parkville didn’t drop the heads and on 30 minutes Keane Drea scored with a lovely volley to make it 1-1. It was back and forth for the rest of the half with both teams happy to go in all square at the break.

Town started brightly in the second half and good work from Darren Crooks allowed Trevor Nolan to find the net with a lovely finish. Town looked to be taking control of the game, but Parkville had other ideas and a quickly taken corner found Barry Flynn free to nod Parkville level once again. Parkville went through the gears from here and it didn’t take long for Parkville to take the lead when Jamie Farrell turned the defender inside out and fired home from a tight angle. On 80mins Farrell did the same with a fine finish to bottom corner to finish the game 4 - 2 to Parkville. A great team performance from Parkville with David James, Tommy Murphy and Jamie Farrell standing out while best for Town were James Hickey, Darren Crooks and Trevor Nolan.

Bagenalstown AFC 0

Mill Celtic 1

Mill Celtic travelled to Bagenalstown this morning looking to get back into the winning habit after a poor run of late and as the league table suggested, this would be a tight affair. Town started brilliantly but found it hard to get their shots away. James Lillis and Trevor Nolan both had shots saved from the Mill keeper. Mill did have a few half chances early in the half but nothing to trouble the town keeper. The games sole goal came 5 minutes before half time after what was arguably the best move of the match, Daniel Mackey and Killian Harney Lawler combined to set Scott Keogh down the right wing whose low cross was expertly turned home by Padraig Carmody to put Mill 1 up at the break.

The second half saw both teams struggle to get control in what was a very stop start game. Town’s task became even harder when they were reduced to ten men with half an hour to play. Town had glorious chances late in the second half to equalize as Robbie Kane and Marty Curran saw efforts sail wide. Ultimately this was a game of few chances with Carmody’s goal proving to be the winner.

Best for Mill on the day were Gary Lambe, Conor O Sullivan, and Scott Keogh while best for town were James Hickey, Trevor Nolan and Thomas Kinsella.

Bagenalstown 3

Castle Rangers 0

On a blustery day in Bagenalstown, it was the home team which advanced with a comfortable victory where both teams started with the bare 11 players in each squad. Bagnalstown started well and dominated much of the first half. The deadlock was broked on 20 minutes when a long ball over the top found Matty Curran who was pulled down in the box with Jimmy Cullen converting the spot kick. Another long ball from Nathan Holden found the ever running Robbie Kane to make it 2-0 which it stayed this way until half time. Castle Rangers started the second half better but found it hard to break down the Town defence. The wind played havoc for much of the half which made it very difficult for either team to play any sort of decent football. Castles best chances fell to Jason kehoe and Rory Mcdonald but neither could find the target. Town did score a 3rd late on after a great run from Robbie Kane playing a one two with Dion Wall and Kane finding the net. Best for town were David Miley, James Hickey, Dion Wall and Robbie Kane. While best for Castle were Paul Preston, Dale Mcgee and Jason Kehoe

In a game of limited opportunities, it was the away side who took all 3 points on Sunday morning. Castle had the first big chance on 20 minutes when Mick Curran broke through the Bagenalstown rear guard and he found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper only to be denied by a great save. Soon after, Bagenastown had their own chance when a long ball over the top from Nathan Holden found Trevor Nolan who chipped over the keeper only for the ball to dribble past the post. Just before the break, a header across the box from Bagenalstown’s Matty Curran found James Farrell who took two attempts to beat the keeper to make it 1 nil to the visitors at the break.

Castle started the better of the two teams after the break which saw them create a few half chances but none seriously testing Dinny Byrne in the Bagenastown goal. Dion Wall at centre back took matters into his own hands for Bagenastown running all of 50 yards with the ball to cross to Farrell who converted for his second. Castle were given a lifeline when Tommy Kerrigan found Peter Fagan to score from close range and set up a tense final few minutes. Bagenastown gathered themselves again and managed to see out out the last ten minutes and held on for all 3 points. Best for town were David Miley, Eoghan Dowling and Dion Wall while it was an all round team effort from Castle.

There was a slight breeze behind Bagenalstown in the first half and they had most of the ball but it was Crettyard who had the best chances in an entertaining first half. Bagenalstown started well and peppered the Crettyard goal in the opening exchanges but found their keeper in great form. Chances for Trevor Nolan, Matty Curran and Paddy O Brien were held out well. This spurred Crettyard into life and a Jack Delaney shot was saved well by the Bagenalstown keeper. Jonah Kelly had the best chance of the half, but he missed an open goal, putting the ball wide when he seemed destined to score. The sides somehow went in 0-0 at the break.

The second half kicked off and it was Crettyard who were making all the running and scored after 20 minutes from a great individual goal by Willie Kavanagh who slotted past his brother-in-law, Dinny Byrne in Town goal. Bagenalstown heads didn’t drop, and they continued to push forward. Dion Wall broke into the box and was pulled down. Jimmy Cullen stepped up and tucked the penalty away. Again, town asked the questions and great work form Paddy O Brien found Dion Wall who chipped past the oncoming keeper to give Town the lead which they managed to hold onto until the final whistle.

Best for Bagenalstown were Jimmy Cullen, Paddy O Brien and Marty Curran while best for Crettyard were John Brennan, Jamie Conway and Jonah Kelly.

This local derby started at a frantic pace with both teams attacking in numbers. Bagenalstown started on top and had a few half chances but the Vale defence stood firm and kept them out. On the 25 minutes, Town had the ball in the vale net from a free kick from Robbie Kane which found Jimmy Cullen but it was ruled out for a hand ball. Vale had a few chances themselves but their forwards were struggling to hit the target. The home side took the lead with the best phase of the game which started from the goalkeeper and worked their way through the lines before Robert Bulmer unlocked the Bagenalstown defence with a sensational no look reversed ball into the path of Sean Smithers who slotted home. Bagenastown battled back and some great work from Eoghan Dowling and Marty Curran set Craig Fogarty up to squeeze the ball past the advancing Vale keeper. Vale took the lead again just before the half, when Martin Bridgett rose highest to head home a Podge Nolan corner to leave the sides 2-1 at the break.

Vale upped the tempo in the second half and Bagenalstown decided to drop deep and were happy to concede possession to the home side. Vale made the possession count with chance after chance and constant waves of attacks with Bagenalstown looking to counter attack at every opportunity. Vale got their 3rd goal when Jack Treacys free kick was saved by David Miley in the Town goal but James Dowling made no mistake with finishing the rebound. Vales 4th came after good play from Jack Treacy who set up Sean Smithers for his second of the game where it finished 4-1 to the home side

Best for Vale were Sean Smithers, Jason Daly, and Martin Bridgett while Paddy O Brien, Robbie Kane and Dion Wall workied hard for Bagenastown.

Vale Wanderers AFC 5 - 0 Bagenalstown AFC.

Vale faced their local rivals – Bagenalstown and they started very poorly, as they conceded in the very first minute, when Paul Fitzgerald volleyed home from a corner, from the edge of the box, to take an early 1-0 lead.

Bagenalstown started to get into the game, but then they gave away another penalty, which was missed by Vale and Vale also missed another penalty when they hit the post from it and they also hit the crossbar on two occasions and they took their slender lead into the interval.

Bagenalstown went down to only ten men, when they conceded another penalty for a handball and this time it was converted by Mark Fitzgerald to make the score 2-0.

Vale then put the pressure on and dominated the play, with Mark Fitzgerald completing his hat-trick and Dylan Hand with some lovely footwork, completed the scoring to make it 5-0.

Standing out for Bagenalstown were Paul Fitz, Liam McDonald and Sean Wall, whilst best for Vale were Paul Fitzgerald, Mark Fitzgerald and Zac Gladney.

Bagenalstown AFC 5 – 1 Ballymurphy Celtic AFC.

Bagenalstown started very well, dominating play for the opening twenty minutes and good play from James Farrell found Kyle O’Neill, who squared the ball to Sean Wall, who put it in the net, but it was disallowed for offside.

Ballymurphy defended well and were rewarded for their hard work with a goal before the interval and they took their slender 0-1 lead into half-time.

In the second half, Bagenalstown ‘hit the ground running’ and Eoghan Hickey scored a hat-trick and James Farrell scored a brace to give Bagenalstown a thumping 5 – 1 victory.

Best for Bagenalstown were Adam Walsh, Eoghan Hickey, James Farrell and Billy Fitzpatrick, whilst it was a battling performance from Ballymurphy, who were just overwhelmed by Bagenalstown.

Ardattin Athletic FC 4-0 Bagenalstown AFC

A largely young and inexperienced Bagenalstown outfit took on an Ardattin team that has had a very strong start to the season. Ardattin started off strong with a powerful shot from Robbie Byrne in the opening 5 minutes. Shortly after this, Bagenalstown lost their key player in Matty Curran through an injury on 15 mins which saw them struggle to get the ball around in the middle. Good pressure by Ardattin on 30 minutes saw Glenn Higgins and Graham Byrne denied by the Bagenalstown defence and Griffin Kennedy's goal was disallowed in the 32nd minute. No breakthrough could be found so the sides stayed level at 0-0 at halftime.

Ardattin started the second half brightly but still found no way past the resolute Bagenalstown defense. Ardattin emptied the bench and the addition of Ronan Byrne piled more pressure on Bagenalstown which paid off in the 75th minute when he linked up with Graham Byrne for the opener. Ronan was involved again a few minutes later when he was fouled in the box which Graham Byrne converted on 81 minutes to make it 2-0. Ardattin piled the pressure on for the rest of the game with Will Doran scoring on 87 minutes after great battling by Robbie Byrne and Brian Byrne finished the scoring 2 minutes later to finish the game 4-0.

A great team performance from Ardattin with Glen Higgins, Ronan Byrne, Mark Curry and Shane Smith the standouts while for Bagenalstown, Konrad Sokal, Eoghan Dowling and the evergreen Trevor Nolan never gave up.

Killeshin AFC 6 – 2 Bagenalstown AFC.

This match was pretty much a ‘one-sided’ affair, as Killeshin went ahead after only ten minutes when Scott Rycroft was put through on goal by Aaron Dargan and he calmly slotted home into the bottom corner, giving Bagenalstown keeper no chance and a deserved 1-0 lead.

Scott added a second for his brace, following a solo run from midfield and it was 2-0 and before the interval they went 3-0 up when Aaron Dargan finished well.

The second half was much the same as the first-half as Scott Roycroft ‘bagged’ his hat-trick after only five minutes when he latched on to a ball over the top by Jack Byrne and finished really well for 4-0.

Bagenalstown pulled a goal back when Killeshin’s keeper – Lee Byrne handled outside the box, and this was converted easily by Aidan Dowling to make the score 4 – 1.

Killeshin pulled further away from Bagenalstown when Aaron Dargan got his second for 5– 1 and soon afterwards Jack Byrne netted for 6 – 1.

Late on Bagenalstown were awarded a penalty which was duly converted to make the final score 6 – 2.

Best for Killeshin were Conor Harte, Jack Byrne and Aaron Dargan, whilst standing out for Bagenalstown were Aidan Dowling, Paul Fitzpatrick and Sean Wall