Desmonds finish 13th in Kennedy Cup

The Limerick Desmond finished 13th overall in the Kennedy Cup held at UL over the past week but will consider themselves unlucky not to have achieved a higher finishing position. They kicked off the competition against SDSL with a 3-0 win on June 13 where Seamus Flanagan (Broadford United) got two and captain Kyle Cotter (Granagh United) got the third. Ballingarrys Mikey Morrissey and Nathan Clancy started while Cathal O’Keeffe was a late substitute.

Two games the following day saw them draw against eventual Kennedy Cup winners NDSL 1-1. A cracking game saw Liam McCarthan (NCW) give the Desmonds the lead before a headed equaliser ten minutes from time secured a draw for the Dublin side. It was to prove a defining result as the Dubs would progress on goal difference from Desmonds in second place. Morrissey and Clancy started and finished. The second game involving the Desmonds that day ended in heart break as they could only muster a 0-0 draw against Drogheda. Second half domination couldent produce the goal that would have seen them through to the cup quarter finals. Clancy and Morrissey again started while Cathal O’Keeffe was introduced in the second half.

On Wednesday the Desmonds faced Mayo in the Bowl quarter final where a Van goal (NCW) was not enough as their medal hopes faded in a 2-1 defeat. Morrissey, Clancy and Mikey Hickey making his Kennedy Cup debut, all started and finished. Their final day at the competition saw them face and defeat West Cork 1-0 with Seamus Flanagan getting the all important goal and in their final game they beat NEC 2-0 where Nathan Clancy (Ballingarry) and Padraig O’Connor (Breska Rovers) were on the mark. Morrissey, O’Keeffe and Hickey all saw action while in the last game Clancy, Morrissey and Hickey played the full game. After the game Mikey Morrissey was named as joint winner of the Desmond player of the tournament along with Padraig O’Connor of Breska.