5th placed Moone Celtic play host to 6th placed Village FC at Fortfield Park at 7:30 pm

Moone Celtic come from a narrow 1-2 win away against Dolmen Celtic.
Form: W L L L    Home Form: L

Village FC has yet to win in this competition, having lost all 4 games.
Form: L L L L    Away Form: L L

Match Photographs

Bagenalstown 4 1 Village FC

Bagenalstown started strong with a goal in the first two minutes with a great strike from Johnny Dowling. The Town got a penalty in the 15th minute but a great safe from the Village keeper kept the score at 1-0. Bagenalstown had lots of the ball but couldn't break down the the Village defence again until the 20th minute with Richie Kearney slotting the ball into the bottom left corner. Both teams shared possession for the next 10 minutes until Bagenalstown took control before half time and Trevor Nolan headed home for the town to go in 3-0 up. Bagenalstown started the second half strong but good work for the Village keeper kept them out. The village started to get a hold of the game and came back with a goal in the 50th minute when Paul Dunne slotted home from close-range after some great work from Brendan O'Driscoll to chase down a back-pass. Bagenalstown were again awarded a penalty but again the Village keeper made a brilliant save to keep the score at 3-1. In the 68th minute Bagenalstown got their 4th goal and the second for Trevor Nolan after taking control of the game for the last 10 minutes. Best for Village FC were Eoin Ray who saved two penalties, Brendan O'Driscoll and Mareks Bridags.

Village AFC 0

Crettyard United 3

Village faced a strong Crettyard side and were more than a match for them, in the first quarter, although Crettyard’s Eddie O’Reilly had a chance, but his shot just clipped the Village post and went wide.

Village replied with a chance of their own, when Darren Foley shot which just went over the cross-bar, but it was Crettyard who opened the scoring, when William Kavanagh put in a dangerous cross, which was deflected into his own net by a Village defender for 0-1.

Crettyard stepped up the tempo in the second-half and with village running out of steam in the hot conditions and Crettyard made the game safe, as they scored their second on forty-five minutes, as a William Kavanagh cross found Eddie O’Reilly, who converted easily for 0-2. Three minutes later and Eddie O’Reilly returned the compliment as he crossed in for William Kavanagh to head home and make the final score 0-3.

Best for Village were Paddy Foley and Gerry Foley, whilst standing out for Crettyard were Mark Fox, William Kavanagh and Ciaran Hosey.

St. Joseph's FC
Form: W L L W

Village FC has yet to win in this competition, having lost all 4 games.
Form: L L L L

Village 1 0 St Fiaccs

Village FC recorded their first win of the season with a gritty performance against unbeaten league leaders St. Fiacc's FC at the Superbowl in Leighlinbridge on Saturday evening. St Fiacc's started the brighter of the two sides and pressed the Village goal with slick passages of play during the opening 20 minutes. However, they were frustrated time and again by stout defending and resolute goal keeping from the home side. Village settled into the game and their counterattacking drew two corners before half-time. St Fiaccs started the second half as they had the first, and although they came close with an effort that hit the crossbar, the failed to put away several changes that came their way. Village continued to counter-attack and were awarded a penalty 25 minutes in when Brendan O'Driscoll was taken down in the box. Liam Walsh converted it, narrowly beating the keeper who got a hand to the ball. St Fiaccs looked for an equaliser, bombarding the Village goal in the last ten minutes, but couldn't find a way through. Best for Village were Liam Walsh, Jamie Horan and Paul Dunne.

Village Fc 1 3 Carlow Rovers

Carlow Rovers started of their league campaign where they finished the cup final last weekend with a hard-fought win. The first game of the 2021 season for both teams at Leighlinbridge, was an evenly contested, spirited match, which could have gone either way on the evening. The visitors started the game with the bare eleven but took the game to village and where in front early on when Billy McDonald raided down the right and crossed in for him McGuill to finish close in. A defensive mix up soon after allowed village to equalise when a pinpoint cross from Paul Dunne landed at the feet of Noel Doyle, who coolly slotted home from just outside the box. It remained level at the break. Into the second half and rovers continued to pressurise both wings. A quick free kick by Damien Sheehan played in Billy McDonald who passed across the goal for Eddie Dooley to finish into the bottom corner. On the left-wing McGill played in Damien Sheehan who was fouled in the box. He picked himself up and scored the penalty himself. Best players for Carlow Rovers were Damien Sheehan Billy McDonald and Stephen Phelan. Best for Village FC were Noel Doyle, Mick Nolan, and Liam Walsh

Village FC 1 - 0 Slaney Rovers

Village, with the strong wind at their backs in the first-half, dominated possession and were wide with their first effort on five minutes, got closer on 20 minutes when they hit the woodwork before making the break-through from a long range effort on 27 minutes to lead 1-0 at the break. With the wind in the second half, Slaney came more into the contest with Gary Halpin getting onto the end of a Peter Keogh free kick but could not find the target. Later on the normally reliable Declan Brennan shot wide from close range. Plenty of dogged defending by Village denied late efforts from David Nolan and Tony Carthy, as they held on to win the play-off despite the best efforts of Eddie Byrne, Tony Carthy and Peter Keogh.

Village FC 1

Baltinglass Town 3

Extremely blustery conditions in Bagenalstown on Friday evening meant that both sides had difficulty gaining a foothold during a particularly lacklustre first half.

Paddy Sinnott, Derek Nolan and James Gahan all went close with chances for the Wicklow side with Gahan heading short of the goal in the tenth minute. The deadlock was eventually broken after Village took the match to Baltinglass from the opening of the second half and were awarded a corner for their efforts. Darren Foley's beautiful in-swinger was unmet and sailed straight into the left top-corner. Baltinglass however soon rallied and turned the game around with three goals to close out the game as victors in spite of some stout defending by Village. Sinnott struck first on the hour mark. Two more chances gave Balto their second and third goal to win the game after coming back from one down.

Best for Village FC were John Monaghan, Jerry Walsh and Liam Walsh. Best for Baltinglass were John Gillespie Brian Nolan and James Gahan.

New Oak Boys 3

Village AFC 0

Village will be disappointed with the final score line, as they were well in the game, until the last quarter.

The first-half was even with the Village defence being well organised and they were very combative in mid-field which restricted the current reigning champions to just a couple of chances from set pieces.

Village could have taken the lead, just before the interval, as a goalmouth scramble ensued, following a corner, with the ball eventually, going agonisingly, the wrong side of the post and it was 0-0 at half-time. New Oak rang the changes and the introduction of fresh legs saw them break the deadlock, when Shamie Doran crossed well from the left and Seamus Farrell scored with a neat header for 1-0. Village were undeterred, by this set-back and they fought gamely to try and get back into the game, with Peter Brophy and Richie Sutton linking up well in midfield, but New Oak held firm. Village were caught on the counter as they conceded two more goals as they pressed forward and New Oak caught them out twice, from defensive errors as goals came from Seamus Farrell, for his brace for 2-0 and then Greg Sykula grabbed another to make the final score 3-0 to New Oak, which flattered the winners, somewhat.

Standing out for New Oak were Shamie Doran, Seamus Farrell, Dale Lacey and Shane Fitzharris, whilst best for Village were Jerry Walsh, Paddy Foley, John McMullen and John Monaghan.

Village AFC 2

St Joseph’s AFC 2

The first-half was an even-sided but scrappy affair, with both sides failing to capitalise on the numerous chances that they created and it was 0-0 at the interval.

Joey’s broke the deadlock not long after the break through a Barry Purcell ‘screamer’ for 0-1, but this reverse galvanised Village and they rallied, made some tactical changes and started to press the Joey’s goal. Their fresh efforts were rewarded when Paul Dunne scored from a Darren Foley corner to make the score 1-1.

Village were now dominating, and they went into a 2-1 lead when Donal Kelly scored with a neat finish, from just inside the box, to put Village firmly in control.

Village had a call for a penalty denied and then a clash between the Village keeper and a Joey’s striker was deemed to be a penalty, however, a fine save from Jamie Horan, meant that it looked as if Village were going to be victorious. However, Joey’s were undaunted and wouldn’t give up and in the dying moments of the game, they scored again, following a defensive error by Village, through Barry Purcell, for his brace and it finally finished with a fair 2-2 score line.

Best for Village were Joe Byrne, Jamie Hogan, Michael O’Hara and Darren Foley, whilst Joint Men of the Match for Joey’s were Colm Ward and Barry Purcell, for their outstanding performances.

Tombrack United 1

Village FC 5

Village FC began their 2018 campaign with an emphatic win over Tombrack United in this Over 35s clash at Ballyboy in Wexford on Saturday evening.

After a tense opening, both teams eventually settled into the first half before the deadlock was broken mid-way through by Ritchie Sutton who finished neatly after a fine through pass from Aidan Nolan. Tombrack United equalised shortly afterwards after a mix-up in the Village defence and both side looked to be going to the break on even terms before Ritchie Sutton put through David Gavin who finished at close range to give Village the advantage at the break.

Village capitalised within five minutes of the second half after Aidan Nolan met Vivian Foley's corner to make it 3-1. A fine finish just before the hour mark by John Monaghan, put the game beyond Tombrack, who despite a late flourish, were caught out by a ball over the top that was put home in fine fashion by Vivian Foley's diving header.

Best for Village were the valiant Paddy Foley, Ritchie Sutton and Aidan Nolan.

Village FC 0

Killeshin FC 3

Village had advantage of the slope and the first half was very equal, with Village having the best chances.

The second half was a much harder battle for Village, with a few good chances, where they were unlucky not to score, but Killeshin scored on three occasions to progress to the next round on a 0-3 score line.

Best for Village, were man of the match Gareth Robinson and Gerry Walsh, Joe Byrne and David Gavin, whilst it was a good, all-round team performance from Killeshin.

Village FC 5

Burrin Celtic 2

Village got their first, well deserved, victory of the season, in their final League match, as they defeated Burrin 5-2, with a great, all-round team performance.

Burrin went 0-1 up, but Gareth Robinson equalised for Village at 1-1 and then they went in front 2-1 through Barry Fitzgerald, however, Burrin then equalised for 2-2 and with half-time fast approaching, Paul Dunne made it 3-2 to Village and that was the score at the interval.

Village continued to pile on the pressure and Gareth Robinson grabbed his brace, from well outside the box for 4-2 and then Barry Fitzgerald also got his second, as Village royally finished off this comprehensive win and picked up three points.

It was a great all-round team performance from Village, whilst Burrin put in a good shift, but they couldn’t contain a rampant Village.

St Joseph’s FC 1

Village FC 0

Joey’s controlled this game from start to finish, but despite their superiority, they only managed a single goal, but it was enough to take all three points.

Village battled hard and were denied a penalty, but their losing run continues.

It was a brilliant team performance from Joey’s and best for Village were Peter Brophy, Joe Byrne and Paul Dunne.

Village FC 1

Vale Wanderers FC 2

A poor first half by both teams, produced no goals, although Village created the better opportunities and the interval came with a 0-0 score-line.

Village took a 1-0 lead, ten minutes into the second-half, against the run of play through Barry Fitzgerald, with a well worked goal, but Pa Deane equalised for 1-1, with a fine solo effort his first of the season and soon after Mick Nevin got another to give Vale a 1-2 victory.

It was a good, all-round team performance from Village, whilst standing out for Vale were Pa Dowling, John Dowling and Trev Nolan.

Fiacc’s took control of this game in the early stages and after only two minutes, they won a penalty that was expertly despatched by PJ Connolly for 1-0 and Fiacc’s were dominant for the rest of the half, with further goals coming from Roy Pearson and Sean Maher for an interval lead of 3-0.

Village had some good chances but just couldn’t put them away.

In the second half Village’s Gareth Robinson unluckily hit a post with the Fiacc’s keeper beaten and then Barry Fitzgerald pulled a goal back for 3-1 following a great run, however, Fiacc’s scored the goal of the match as Oisin Ayers scored a ‘screamer’ for a final score of 4-1.

Best for Fiacc’s were PJ Connolly and Nicky Brannigan, whilst standing out for Village were Ritchie Sutton, Paul Dunne and Jaakko Ranta.