Crettyard United
Form: L W D W

Slaney Rovers has yet to be beaten in this competition, having won 3 out of its last 4 games.
Form: W W D W

A second half brace from Jason Murphy was enough for Hanover to claim the points in Rathvilly on Sunday as Rovers were left to rue a series of missed chances in the opening half hour. The hosts started the better of the teams, Dominic Byrne and Conor O'Brien both dragging efforts wide before the 15-minute mark. A glancing header from Lubohir Lesko also failed to trouble Jason Brennan in the Harps goal before Brandon Ryan forced Brennan into a fine save, the keeper at full stretch to tip his effort onto the crossbar and away to safety. Hanover began to find their feet with Mark Davis and Nicolas Perdriau both getting in behind the Rovers defence but neither could convert as half time arrived goalless. Harps were on the offensive on the restart and within 5 minutes had the opening goal. Mark Davis sent in a corner; Johnny Waters initial effort was blocked down but Jason Murphy was quickest to the loose ball to put Hanover in front. Moments later it was 2-0, another corner, this time from Stephen Scanlon, found Murphy unmarked in the 6-yard box and the big defender made no mistake as he doubled the lead. Harps continued to threaten, and young Spanish forward Nicolas Perdriau was proving a real handful for the Slaney back line. Hanover failed to add to their Talley and had to endure a nervy finale when Rovers were awarded a penalty on 85 minutes following a foul on Dominic Byrne, Peter Kehoe firing the spot kick past Brennan to leave it 2-1 at the final whistle.

Best for Hanover were Dylan Walsh, Aaron Kinsella, Mark Davis and Nicolas Perdriau.

Slaney Rovers 0

Crettyard United 4

Gearoid Cuddihy netted a brace of penalties as Crettyard made it 5 wins in a row to move into second place, 9 points adrift but with 2 crucial games in hand. Conditions were difficult for both sides but it was the visitors that adapted better and were ahead on 20 minutes when Danny Doyle won a penalty which was duly despatched to the net by Cuddihy. Fergal Harmon in the Rovers goal then pulled off two smart saves to deny Lee Salter and Cuddihy. Lubohir Lesko responded with a long-range effort for Rovers which just cleared the bar as United went into half time 1-0 ahead. Two goals in 7 minutes shortly after the restart put the game to bed for the visitors. Cuddihy was involved again as he released Danny Doyle on goal, Doyle keeping his cool as he rounded the keeper and slotted into an empty net on 53 minutes. On the hour Crettyard had their third, another penalty awarded, and the outcome was the same as Cuddihy again converted from 12 yards. Lee Salter finished off the scoring for the visitors with 20 minutes left as Doyle turned provider to leave it 4-0 at the finish. Best for Crettyard included Gearoid Cuddihy, Colin Osborne, and Danny Doyle. Slaney's best included Joe Tompkins, Shane Murphy, and Mick Foley.

Slaney Rovers 4

St Patrick's Boys 0

Rovers ran out convincing winners as St Pats slipped to a sixth straight loss and sit bottom of the pile as we near the half point in the league. The first half was a tight enough affair with few clear chances for either side. Chris Gaul had the visitors best chance on the half hour but couldn't convert when well placed and 5 minutes later they paid the price as Slaney hit the front. Gareth Doyle's inch perfect cross from the left wing was brilliantly headed to the net by Lubohir Lesko to put the hosts ahead. Tomas Murphy wasted a chance to equalise 5 minutes later as Rovers held their lead into the break. Within minutes of the restart Pats lost a man to a red card and lost another goal shortly afterwards. Colm O'Connor released Lesko down the left and once he cut inside he curled a beauty into the far corner vi's the foot of the post to make it 2-0. St Pats rallied and Murphy saw 2 efforts well saved before Rovers added number 3, Conor O’Brien's pass finding Dominic Byrne unmarked in the six yard box as he slotted home the third on 70 minutes. With time running out and the 10 men of Pats starting to tire Rovers netted a fourth, Andy Foley teeing up O'Brien for a goal his performance deserved. Best for Slaney were Rob O'Neill, Mick Foley and Eoin Curran. While Tomas Murphy, Chris Gaul, David Brennan and Liam Byrne battled to the end for St Pats.

Slaney Rovers 4

Parkville United 0

Rovers booked a place in the KCLR Shield Final against New Oak with this win over United. Parkville went into the game as favourites, unbeaten in the league, against a Rovers side whose form had deserted them in recent weeks but as so often happens in Knock out competition, the form book was burnt. United were the better side for most of the first half, but despite piling on the pressure and carving out decent chances, none of Michael Dobosz, Nick Nolan or Jack O'Neill could convert when well placed. With 5 minutes to the break Slaney made them pay for those missed chances, Adam Keogh and Lubohir Lesko combined brilliantly to set up Dominic Byrne and despite loud appeals for offside Byrne kept his cool to fire Rovers into a half time lead. Parkville dominated the early second half exchanges but were denied twice by the goal frame as both Nolan and O'Neill saw efforts come back off the post. With Parkville pressing forward their high defensive line was exposed when Lesko put a simple ball over the top for the on running Adam Keogh to smash home Rovers' second goal just after the hour. 15 minutes later it was 3-0, Conor O'Brien gliding by 3 defenders before picking his spot and leaving Parkville with a mountain to climb. United to their credit kept plugging away but got no joy from a defence led by Regan Murphy. With time almost up Rovers added their fourth, Shane Murphy heading home from a Joe Thompson corner as Slaney eased into the final in bid to win their first Carlow Shield since 2011. Best on the day for Slaney were Paddy Farrell, Mick Foley and Joe Thompson while Michael Dobosz and Jack O'Neill stood out for Parkville.

Kilree Celtic 4

Slaney Rovers 2

Kilree picked up their second win of the season as Slaney slipped to a fourth loss in five games, all the goals coming in a pulsating first 45 minutes. Kilree set the tempo when they opened the scoring on 5 minutes through Alan MacDonald. Slaney's response was almost immediate, Rob O'Neill crossing for Gareth Doyle to score with a sweet strike for 1-1. Almost from the tip off Kilree went back on the attack, winning a corner which was sent in by Alan Salter and headed home by MacDonald for his and Celtic's second with barely 11 minutes on the clock. The pace slowed a little but not much, Dominic Byrne passed up a chance to make it 2-2 just on the half hour and Rovers paid for that shortly afterwards when Paul Kehoe sliced through their backline and finished brilliantly to make it 3-1. Slaney again replied, Eoin Curran teeing up Adam Keogh who found the net via a deflection to halve the deficit on 38 minutes. But in the half that kept on giving Kilree struck for a fourth, Mark MacDonald's free kick finding the top corner to leave it 4-2 at the break. Not surprisingly the second half was a little less hectic, Mark MacDonald had another free kick saved as did Slaney's Gareth Doyle as Kilree held on for the points that sees them up into mid table, reward for the efforts of Stephen Crowe, Paul Kehoe and Mark MacDonald. Best on the day for Rovers were Adam Keogh, Mick Foley, and Conor O'Brien.

Slaney Rovers 1

New Oak Boys 2

Two goals in the opening 15 minutes ultimately proved enough for New Oak to claim the points in this keenly contested tie in Rathvilly. The Boys started really well and were ahead inside 5 minutes, Dean Kelly and Jamie McGrath combining to letal effect as they set up Conor Byrne to make it 1-0. With New Oak controlling the middle of the park the second goal arrived 10 minutes later, Lee Murphy fed the ball to David Doyle, his touch on the turn created the space for him to shot across the keeper and into the far corner via the post. Slaney grew into the game and only a goal line clearance from Graham Delaney stopped Shane Murphy's header from reducing the arrears before the break. Slaney came out really strong after the interval with Keelan Gaffney in the New Oak goal producing saves to deny Murphy again and Dan O'Brien. But Slaney kept plugging away, Gareth Doyle's effort beat Gaffney but not the crossbar before Rovers eventually got the goal their play deserved with 25 minutes left. Mick Foley's pass opened the Boys rearguard for Joe Thompson and he made no mistake from 6 yards as he cut the lead in half. With time running out Shane Murphy's goal bound effort was brilliantly tipped away by Gaffney for what proved to be a match winning save as New Oak held on for the points. Best for Rovers on the day were Mick Foley, Lubohir Lesko and Shane Murphy while impressing for New Oak were Keelan Gaffney in goal, Cathal Gaffney, Conor Byrne and Dylan Keighley.

Slaney Rovers 4

Killeshin FC 1

A hat trick from Daniel O'Brien proved the difference between the teams as Rovers overcame Killeshin in Rathvilly. Rovers wasted no time getting off the mark, O'Brien's speculative effort from distance just sipping under the crossbar with barely 5 minutes played. Killeshin dominated much of the remainder of the half though and Slaney's slim advantage was only preserved into the break by a pair of excellent saves by Fergal Harmon, the first from a Michael O'Rourke free kick and the second a from Kieran Hennessy. After the restart it was Rovers turn to push on and the second goal arrived just after the hour, Eoin Curran and Conor O'Brien combining to set up O'Brien to make it 2-0. 10 minutes later it was 3-0, Brandon Ryan's clever pass setting up Conor O'Brien to score. Killeshin pulled a goal back almost immediately, a free header at the back post from Kieran Hennessy but any thoughts of a comeback were dashed when Ryan set up O'Brien for his hat trick to wrap up the points for the hosts. Impressing for Rovers were Eoin Curran, Michael Foley and Paddy Farrell. Killeshin were best served on the day by Bryan Lawlor, Kieran Hennessy and Jake Haughney

Parkville United 1

Slaney Rovers 0

Nick Nolan's strike midway through the first half proved enough for United in this derby at Hawkins Lane. The visitors started much the better of the sides, Lubohir Lesko denied a goal on 10 minutes by a last ditch goal line clearance by Dave McCarney. Conor O'Brien was also denied by some solid defending as United weathered an early storm. Towards the end of the first quarter Slaney paid dearly for those missed chances. Eoin Dempsey won possession and fed Jamie Walsh on the overlap, Walsh finding Nick Nolan with a pin point cross for Nolan to finish low into the corner for 1-0. Only an excellent save by Fergal Harmon from Jack O'Neill shortly afterwards prevented United from doubling the lead. The second half was very stop start, free kicks and offsides disrupting the flow of the game. Parkville's Tom Pollard had an effort well saved by Harmon before a tight offside call pulled up Michael Dobosz when he was through on goal on the hour.The introduction of Craig Staunton and TJ Kavanagh gave Parkville fresh legs and when the pair combined on the left, Kavanagh let fly with an audacious shot from 35 yards that just went over the bar. With time running out Slaney's last chance fell to Gareth Doyle but his well struck free kick was brilliantly saved by Sean Tompkins as Parkville held on for a well deserved 3 points. Dave McCarney stood out for United on the day while Slaney were well served by Shane Murphy, Adam Keogh and Mick Foley.

Slaney Rovers 1

Dolmen Celtic 0

Dominic Byrne scored the only goal of the game as Slaney opened their Premier Division campaign win a win. Despite the scoreline there was plenty of goalmouth action as both sides created and missed chances. Dolmen created a couple of openings for Joe Doran and Keelan Lacey but neither could find a way past Fergal Harmon in the Rovers goal. On the half hour it was the turn of Celtic net minder Jamie Hennessy to deny Dominic Byrne. On the stroke of half time Daniel O'Brien set Byrne up again but with Hennessy beaten Celtic were saved by the post and it remained goalless at the break. 10 minutes after the restart Rovers and Byrne had their goal, Eoin Curran with the assist and this time Byrne left Hennessy with no chance and he calmly slotted home. Dolmen responded well enough but despite creating chances for Doran and Lacey again they couldn't make them count. Byrne had another chance for Rovers late on but Hennessy produced another save to keep his side in the game. Dolmen pushed forward late on but couldn't force a way past Harmon as Slaney claimed the points, rewarding the efforts of Mick Foley, Joe Thompson and Paddy Farrell. Celtic's best included Mubatisiri Mudawapi, Daniel Rossiter and Patrick O'Brien.