Saints qualified for the final of the Munster Champions Cup final by virtue of a strong second half performance. On 7 mins a cross from Gavin Dillon saw Ray Lynch get in a shot at Adrian Walsh. Saints took the lead on 8 mins when Shane Ryan released John Connery on the left wing and he squared the ball for Olly O’Driscoll to score from six yards. On 12 mins Billy Quirke did well to punch away a Joey Mulcahy free kick. On 15 mins a through ball saw Ray Lynch test Adrian Walsh who a minute later had to come off his line to clear a ball. On 20 mins John O’Brien did well to clear a cross from Pakie O’Connor. A minute later Chris Higgins did well to thwart Kevin Murphy. On 25 mins Abbeyfeale’s good spell continued with Fiachra Cotter bringing a good save from Adrian Walsh. A Colin Bargary cross was too long for Olly O’Driscoll on 27 mins. Joey Mulcahy rose well to John O’Briens cross on 29 mins to win a corner kick. Shane Ryan shot wide on the half hour. John Connery nearly freed Shane Ryan on 32 mins. Aido Walsh did well on 36 mins to catch a corner kick. Jimmy Carr played in Olly O’Driscoll but he shot straight at Billy Quirke from a right angle. Olly did well on 42 mins to take down a high ball but John Connery was flagged from offside. A one two between Jamie and Pakie O’Connor saw the latter fouled by Joey Mulcahy and in the last action of the half Gavin Dillon’s free went tamely to Aido Walsh.
HALF TIME: ST.MICHAELS 1 ABBEYFEALE UTD 0
Saints upped the ante hugely in the second half. They went 2-0 up on 50 mins when Joey Mulcahy released Olly O’Driscoll who beat Billy Quirke with a left foot finish. Olly was unlucky to hit the post on 55 mins after a Shane Ryan run and pass. Olly again hit just wide on 59 mins from a John Connery pass. Olly played in Joey Mulcahy a minute later who brought a good save from Billy Quirke. Chris Smith volleyed over the bar following a free kick on 64 mins. Paul Breen did well to get in a tackle on Substitute Tom Smith and Aido Walsh then made a good save from Gavin Dillon. Shane Ryan was short of room on 73 mins and couldn’t get maximum power on his shot saved by Quirke. Colin Bargary shot straight at Quirke from an Olly O’Driscoll cross on 77 mins. Aido Walsh saved from Kevin Murphy on 78 mins. Jimmy Carr saw his shot saved on 88 mins after good work by David Slattery and John O’Brien. Willie Armshaw twice, Jimmy Carr and David Slattery all went close late on but Saints went comfortably into the final.
FULL TIME: ST.MICHAELS 2 ABBEYFEALE UTD 0

St Michaels got the goals here at vital times and had the discipline to withstand and defend well against second half pressure from an excellent Newmarket side. This was as good a game as was seen in Cooke Park for many a day with a great tempo to it and was an excellent advert for Junior Soccer. Saints started well and won two early frees. From the second one a foul on Jimmy Carr, the ball wasn’t cleared and fell kindly for David Slattery and his left foot shot from outside the area nestled in the corner of the net to make it 1-0 to Saints . David Reidy cut in well on 8 mins but his right foot shot sailed up and over the bar. John O’Brien did well to head away a dangerous free kick from the endline on 9 mins. Eoin Hayes who was a danger all day and had his first effort blocked on 12 mins. A David McCarthy effort from distance on 13 mins easily saved by Aido Walsh and at the other end a Willie Armshaw cross hopped over the touch of David Slattery. Saints won a corner on 23 mins and Shane Ryan’s delivery held up in the breeze for Paul Breen to rise up Stephen Kelly and head home to give Saints a 2-0 lead and a huge grip on the game. Saints won a free on 29 mins and Jimmy Carr’s effort went all the way to the net but the flag went up for offside. Aido Walsh did well on 33 mins to smother the ball from Tino Nevauro. Saints had the ball again in the net on 36 mins when Jimmy Carr released John Connery who showed good composure to beat Seamus Cusack but again an offside flag was raised. John Connery did well on 37 mins to cross but David Slattery’s effort went wide of goal. A pivotal moment came on 42 mins when Eoin Hayes got in on goal but fired wide and Saints went in two goals good at the break.
HALF TIME:ST. MICHAELS  2 NEWMARKET CELTIC 0
Celtic showed their intent at half time bringing in an attacker Garry Higgins for full back Colin Ryan. Eoin Hayes cut in on goal on 47 mins but shot straight at Aido Walsh and on the break Willie Armshaw saw his cross cut out by a last ditch tackle. David Slattery went close from a John Connery cross and Jimmy Carr saw an effort go just wide of goal. Aido Walsh did well on 50 mins to come out for a ball but sustained an injury in the process and the game was held up for a few minutes. Paul Breen did well to block an Eoin Hayes effort as the game opened up with thrills at each end. Darren Cullinan wasted a free kick on 58 mins hitting harmlessly over the bar from 20 yards. Shane Ryan did well on the hour to head away a Celtic corner. John O’Brien got a block on another Hayes effort in a pulsating game. Jimmy Carr did brilliantly on 62 mins weaving through the defence rounded Cusack but his effort hit the side netting. David Reidy brought a save from Walsh and at the other end Shane Ryan from a Willie Armshaw pass brought a save from Cusack.  Reidy again on 63 mins curled a ball wide of Saints goal. Stephen Kelly was relieved to clear after John Connery played in Jimmy Carr. Willie Armshaw was freed on the right by Carr on 64 mins but his left foot shot was easily gathered by Cusack.Colin Smith was having a good impact in midfield and was fouled by John Connery on 77 mins and Eoin Hayes free kick was deflected away from a corner. Saints brought in Joey Mulcahy to counteract the influence of Colin Smyth. A long ball from Sean Guerins on 78 mins saw John Connery do superbly but his effort on goal went just wide. Another Celtic free on 81 mins dropped down kindly for Eoin Hayes but again his lob went wide of goal. Paul Breen cleared superbly as the clock ticked down. In a frantic finish Shane Ryan’s cross sailed across the area. Chris Higgins and a Newmarket player were booked as tempers frayed following Aido Walsh going down on a through ball. Celtic were awarded a penalty at the death and the kick summed up Eoin Hayes day as his spot kick sailed over the bar. Saints were well served by Aido Walsh, Paul Breen, Sean Guerins, David Slattery, Jimmy Carr and John Connery. Newmarket brought a lot to a superb game with Colin Smith, David Reidy and Eoin Hayes their stand out players.

Saints were always the better team here and a scoring blitz before and just after the interval put the tie to bed. On two minutes Kyle Cuddy hit over the bar for Town following a corner kick. On 11 mins Cuddy crossed for Evan Maguire but his header went wide of the goal. David Slattery saw his shot blocked on 13 mins following a corner kick. On 15 mins John Connery did well on the right to keep the ball in play and his cross saw David Slattery chest the ball down but the ball ran away from him and wide of goal. Saints took the lead on 17 mins when John O’Brien crossed following good work from Richie Ryan and Jimmy Carr and David Slattery rose well to head to the net. Straight away Town hit back and levelled when a long ball was knocked down by Craig Guiry and though he looked to have a bit to do Evan Maguire got to the knock down to hit past Derek Breen. The game was nip and tuck though Saints managed to always get out of defence easily and with Town playing no wingers, Chris Higgins picked up a lot of loose ball. Saints went close on 27 mins when Chris Higgins burst down the wing got the bounce of the ball and crossed for Jimmy Carr in space and just when it looked like he would score, a defender deflected his goalbound shot out for a corner. Brandon O’Callaghan did well on 33 mins to deal with a Jimmy Carr cross. John Connery got on the end of a good move on 38 mins but pulled his shot from 18 yards well wide of goal. John Connery brought a good save from O’Callaghan on 41 mins from a Chris Higgins cross. Derek Breen did well on 43 mins to turn an Evan Maguire free kick round the post. A foul on Jimmy Carr on 44 mins saw Joey Mulcahy’s free kick from the left drop over O’Callaghan to give Saints a 2-1 lead at the break.
HALF TIME: ST .MICHAELS 2 CLONMEL TOWN 1
Any hopes Town had of staging a comeback were quashed as  Saints hit two goals at the start of the half to seal the tie. Firstly they won a free on the right after Richie Crowe fouled Chris Higgins and Joey Mulcahy turned Shane Ryan’s low free past O’Callaghan to make it 3-1on 47 mins. The cheers had barely died down when a silly foul on Jimmy Carr in the area a minute later saw a penalty awarded and Joey Mulcahy readily tucked away the spot kick to make it 4-1on 48 mins. Jimmy Carr did well on 56 mins to head a ball down and outpace the cover and his cross saw Joey Mulcahy’s shot blocked by a defender. Saints could afford to ease down as Town heads dropped and they brought in Willie Armshaw, Olly O’Driscoll and Rodrigo Goncalves introduced over the last half hour. Town battled away but couldn’t prise open the Saints defence.David Slattery burst through on 64 mins but pulled his shot wide of the goal. Chris Higgins did well to clear his lines late on and Sean O’Connor headed wide from an Evan Maguire free kick on 83 mins. Town were dissappointing on the day and never built on Evan Maguire’s goal. Saints were well organised with Chris Higgins and Sean Guerins in defence, RichIe Ryan in midfield and Joey Mulcahy and Jimmy Carr in the last third all catching the eye. Saints cruised through to the last 32 of the Competition

This game was dour and tough from the word go on a windy day and on a pitch where there was a game played earlier in the day. Saints too were coming down from the epic game with Newmarket last week. Carrick won a free on 4 mins but Conor O’Leary’s free didn’t beat the wall. On 6 mins Darren Murphy turned well but his snap shot went wide of goal. On 7 mins a Paul Breen lob from distance nearly caught out James Harrison but the ball went wide. Olly O’Driscoll got round the keeper on 9 mins at the endline  but Joey Mulcahy’s cross was cleared.  Jimmy Carr went close on 17 mins from an Olly O’Driscoll cross.  Carrick hit the post on 18 mins following a corner kick. Darren Murphy spurned a glorious chance on 21 mins but blazed over the bar. Olly O’Driscoll’s flicked header went narrowly wide on 35 mins from a Jimmy Carr cross. On 41 mins Olly turned well but his left foot shot went just wide of the far post..
HALF TIME:CARRICK UNITED B 0 ST. MICHAELS. 0 
On 47 mins Keith Walsh’s shot was blocked on route to goal. Saints took the lead on 49 mins when a John O’Brien cross was deflected into the net for an own goal. Substitute David Slattery made  a good impact and his cross saw John Connery hit over the bar on 58 mins. Richie Ryan nearly got in on goal a minute later. Joey Mulcahy nearly got in after a one two with David Slattery on 63 mins. At the other end Keith Walsh got in but shot harmlessly over the bar. David Slattery miscued over the bar following good work by Jimmy Carr and Olly O’Driscoll. Paul Breen saw his header from Joey Mulcahy’s corner cleared off the line on 70 mins. Carrick.were awarded a penalty on 75 mins but Darren Murphy hit it wide of Derek Breen’s goal. Carrick brought on a few subs and Martin Griffin chipped the ball straight to Derek Breen on 87 mins./Derek Breen saved well from Keith Walsh on 88 mins who shot from an angle. The subsequent corner was cleared and with time running out Joey Mulcahy crossed well from the right for John O’Brien to head home from six yards and spark a mass exodus from the ground. 
FULL TIME:CARRICK UNITED B 0/ST. MICHAELS 2

St. Michaels had to dig deep here playing with ten men in the second half but their greater application and fitness saw them reach the quarter final for the second succesive year. Sean Guerins went close on 4 mins heading narrowly wide from a Jimmy Carr corner kick.A Willie Armshaw cross was overhit on 5 mins. Saints were rocked back on 6 mins when  Mervue won a throw and Barry Moran crossed for Enda Curran to head home and make it 1-0 to Mervue. Barry Moran shot tamely at Aido Walsh on 17 mins. Jimmy Carr’s flicked header from a John Connery cross on 23 mins went just wide.Jimmy Carr brought a good save from Colm Power following a Shane Ryan strong run and pull back from the endline. Peter Walsh”s cross was too long at the other end. Jimmy Carr again brought a good save from Power from a David Slattery pass on the half hour. Jason Mulvey’s shot from distance was well gathered by Aido Walsh on 40 mins. Saints levelled it at 1-1 on 41 mins following a corner kick, the ball broke for Shane Ryan who saw his left foot shot go under a defenders legs on the line to make it all square in Cooke Park. A huge turning point on 44 mins when John Connery received a straight red card for an off the ball kick on Gary Bailey. Jimmy Carr had a strong run and shot on 43 mins and in the last action of an eventful half a Barry Moran shot saw Aido Walsh save brilliantly and touch it away for a corner kick.
HALF TIME: ST.MICHAELS 1.MERVUE LTD.  1
Saints had to regroup with ten men and if anything they upped the pace of the match chasing and harrying as if their lives depended on it. David Slattery hit over from a Shane Ryan cross on 47 mins. A long ball on 53 mins saw David Slattery get in behind the defence but shot wide from an acute angle. John O’Brien did well on 57 mins to head away a dangerous cross from Jason Mulvey. A great run from Willie Armshaw on 58 mins nearly saw him in on goal. The pace of Carr, Slattery and Armshaw kept the Mervue defence deep in the second half. Shane Ryan’s cross was too long from the left on 61 mins. A Colin Bargary cross hopped really high when it looked like Shane Ryan would score and it was easily gathered by Colm Power. Shane Ryan nearly got in on 65 mins after a one two with Jimmy Carr and despite the numerical disadvantage Saints looked the more dangerous on the attack. Paul Breen did well to cut out a cross on 67  mins from Substitute Steve Larkin for a corner. Colin Bargary who bossed the midfield in the second half saw his goal bound shot blocked by a defender on 72 mins. Saints got the all important goal on 76 mins when Jimmy Carr’s cross saw David Slattery hook the ball with his back to goal and it nestled in the corner of the net. Paul Breen went close on 83 mins from a Jimmy Carr corner. Saints managed the game well and despite frantic late efforts held out to deservedly win tie.Huge defensive effort and great wing play were the foundation for a memorable victory. The Wagons are rolling again and there is a buzz around Cooke Park.
FULL TIME: ST.MICHAELS  2  MERVUE UTD 1

Saints B Team were the better team here but were hanging on a bit towards the finish in a game when they should have been comfortable. David Joyce made a comeback after a long spell out with injury. Brian Jones shot from a Joyce cross was deflected out for a corner on 3 mins. Jason Sutton shot at Joe Byrnes on 9 mins. Alan O’Dwyer gave Saints a 1-0 lead on 13 mins when he hammered the ball home after it dropped for him in the area. Jason Sutton’s effort went just wide after David Joyce pulled a ball back at pace from the byline on 22 mins. Eoghan Tinkler saved well from a Mohaillet Yousif header on 27 mins. Mikey Nash made it 2-0 on 35 mins when his free kick from an angle saw Joe Byrnes off his line and the ball dipped into the net. Eoghan Tinkler did well on 37 mins to come out after Brendan Dempsey looked to free Rob Buckley.
HALF TIME:ST.MICHAELS 2 WILDERNESS ROVERS 0
DJ Cremins did well to block a goal bound effort on 46 mins after Yousif found Kelly.  Eoghan Tinkler saved well from Graham Kelly on 47 mins. Jason Sutton shot wide from a Brian Jones pass on 53 mins. Simon Aherne shot just wide on 58 mins following a free kick. Liam McGrath went close on 60 mins and following up David Joyce saw his effort come back off the post.Wilderness were coming into it as Saints got a bit sloppy with erratic passing. It was 2-1 on 64 mins after Aaron Ryan conceded a free kick and Niall Kelly’s flick crept inside the post. Eoghan Tinkler made a superb save getting down at the post on 69 mins to keep it level. Alan O’Dwyer had a strong run on 82 mins as Saints regrouped bringing in Mark Flannery and Michael Byrne. Wilderness won a few late corners and Niall Kelly went close late on to levelling matters. Saints held on to claim the points.
FULL TIME:ST.MICHAELS 2 WILDERNESS ROVERS 1
STARMAN: EOGHAN TINKLER

Saints were always a stride faster here, having the bulk of possession and easily winning the ball back and the second ball. John Connery saw an early effort touched out for a corner after a one two with David Slattery following a good initial cross from Willie Armshaw. Armshaw turned well on 5 mins but pulled his left foot shot wide. John Connery saw his effort go agonisingly wide from a Willie Armshaw cross on 9 mins. Aido Walsh who had a quiet day did well to gather a Vee corner on 11 mins. Willie Armshaw hit a good effort on 16 mins but Quirke did well to get down and make the save.  A Colin Bargary lob went just over the bar on 19 mins. Willie Armshaw cut in on 21 mins and Quirke parried his effort away for a corner. Saints went 1-0 up on 23 mins when Willie Armshaw popped up in the middle and his left foot effort found the corner of the net. Vee won a corner on 37 mins but it was slightly overhit and Kieran Macken headed well wide of goal. Willie Armshaw turned well on 43 mins but his left foot effort rose over the bar. Saints were full value in the strong wind for a goal lead.
HALF TIME:ST. MICHAELS 1 VEE ROVERS.   0
Saints brought in Jimmy Carr and David Joyce for John Connery and Rodrigo Goncalves. Saints won a corner kick on 48 mins and the ball broke for Colin Bargary and even though Thomas Quirke saved his initial shot, Jonny Kennedy was on hand to bundle the rebound home and make it 2-0. A deft chip from David Slattery was just too long for Colin Bargary on 54 mins. Joey Mulcahy was unlucky on 58 mins after a good run the ball ran over the endline. Vee then had to clear the ball off the line after a pull back from David Slattery. Quirke again did well on the hour to save after a good run and shot from Willie Armshaw.  Colin Bargary had an effort saved and Shane Ryan saw a left foot shot come back off the post.Quirke did well on 64 mins to get out to Colin Bargary who was played in by Willie Armshaw. Colin Bargary saw his header on 70 mins go just over the bar from a deep David Slattery cross. Eoghan Tinkler came in for his first team debut replacing Aido Walsh on 80 mins.David Slattery rose well on 80 mins but Quirke managed to parry his goal bound header and Colin Bargary pulled the rebound wide of the far post. Willie Armshaw saw another chip go narrowly wide on 86 mins and late drama on 90 mins saw Jimmy Carr taken down for a penalty but Joey Mulcahy’s effort came back off the post and into the hands of Thomas Quirke who was Vee’s best player on the day. All in all it was a good prep for next weeks Fai game for Saints. Vee will be happy not to get a heavier defeat and look in pole position to retain their Premier League Status.  
FULL TIME:ST. MICHAELS 2 VEE ROVERS.   0

2014 winners St Michaels battled hard on Sunday in appalling conditions to qualify for the second successive year. The first fifteen minutes saw the first hailstorm of the day and the driving wind negated against good control and the ball was out of play a lot as both sides sized each other up. A Shane Ryan pass nearly broke the Evergreen rearguard. David Slattery shot over the bar and a Jimmy Carr snap shot just sailed past the far post from a Willie Armshaw pass. On 17 mins Paul Breen did well to head away a dangerous Chris Whearty cross. On 21 mins Willie Armshaw shot straight at Philly Johnson after a good saints build up. On 28 mins Johnson had to be sharp off his line after Willie Armshaw played in John O’Brien on the left. On 30 mins Darragh Walsh did well to control, turn and shoot but Adrian Walsh saved well at his left post. Saints were coming more into the game and on 42 mins took the lead when a good move saw Shane Ryan in shooting space and his left foot shot beat Johnson to give first blood to St Michaels in a largely scrappy half. Just on the whistle a David Slattery dummy set up Colin Bargary but Johnson saved superbly for a corner.  The wind was the most mitigating factor in a dour tense half.
HALF TIME: EVERGREEN 0 ST. MICHAELS 1
The start of the second half saw another hailstorm.Evergreen came into the game more but their best tactic a high ball from frees and play was well dealt with by Paul Breen and Sean Guerins at the heart of the Saints defence. A Jimmy Carr cross was just too long and with half an hour left both sides made changes. A Shane Ryan cross just went wide and in the conditions one goal was always likely to prove solitary and decisive. With ten minutes left a half chance saw Deccie McQuillan slice his effort wide of goal. Saints were defending comfortably and even with Evergreen gambling on three at the back, and having a few frees late on, Saints had the look of winners and goalscorer Shane Ryan did well to head away a free at the death and the final whistle was greeted with a mixture of relief and joy as Saints were back in the semi final. The victory was built on a solid defence with Aido Walsh behind a solid back four that didn’t give an inch. The midfield and attack worked well and Saints strength in depth saw them introduce Joey Mulcahy, Olly O’Driscoll and David Joyce and the fresh legs took pressure off the defence in the last quarter. Neil Andrews was good in defence for Evergreen, Darragh Walsh did well upfront and Darragh Kelly had a good impact from the bench. Saints are now at home to Glengad in the Semi Final but its one game at a time for James Walsh’s side.
FULL TIME: EVERGREEN 0 ST. MICHAELS 1

Saints had enough of the ball to win the game but Bansha chased and harried well allied to some last ditch defending and some heroics from Calum Fanning saw the game go all the way to penalties. Richie Ryan saw his back header from a Shane Ryan free turned around the post by Callum Fanning. A Bernard Fitzgerald cross on 7 mins shaved the bar. Jimmy Carr and Shane Ryan combined well and Ryan’s cross was deflected wide of goal. Paul Breen headed over from a Shane Ryan corner on 12 mins. Willie Armshaw failed to connect cleanly with a Jimmy Carr cross on 16 mins. Canning did well on 37 mins to touch a David Slattery effort over the bar from a Jimmy Carr cross. Paul Breen did well to clear off the line on 39 mins from Niall Daly following a free kick. Chris Higgins did well on 42 mins after Niall Daly tried to release Bernard Fifzgerald. Fitzgerald headed tamely at Aido Walsh from a Celtic corner in the last action of the half. HALF TIME: St. Michaels 0-0 Bansha Celtic. Saints were having the better of the possession and near the end of the first period, Shane Ryan when in on goal tried to pass to Olly O’Driscoll and the chance was gone Jimmy Carr looked sure to score but hit wide after been released by Colin Bargary. The second period saw John O’Brien cross from the byline but no Saints player got on the end of it. PENALTIES:
Richie Ryan, John O’Brien and Jimmy Carr converted for Saints while Bernard Fitzgerald, Dylan Fitzelle and Darren Mcgrath had the score at 3-3 before Shane Egan missed a crucial kick to win the tie for Bansha. It meant sudden death and Chris Higgins kept his head to score for Saints while Mickey Coleman missed to put Saints in the semi final.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton