Mike Kerley’s side had to travel to Lissymullen twice inside 48 hours to play Athlown Town after Saturday’s initial fixture fell victim to the weather after a 4pm pitch inspection by which stage Limerick had travelled.

The junior season got off to a goal-rich start under the jurisdiction of LDMC with 23 goals being scored in the six Premier League ties.

The biggest win was the 7-0 drubbing handed out by Ballynanty Rovers to the newly promoted Dromore Celtic. Frankie Lee scored twice for the winners who had other goals from Paul Quinn, Ken McNamara, Damien Lee, Robert Earls and Jamie McNamara.

The other club who gained promotion last season, Kilmallock, also made a losing start. It looked like being somewhat different when Colm Moloney put the home side in front. But the dismissal of Tommy Heffernan proved a major blow to the county side and Wembley Rovers came back to take the three points thanks to goals by Diarmuid O’Connor and John Connery who came off the bench to grab the winner.

There are many who believe that Fairview Rangers could be champions this season and they certainly made a spectacular start when they scored five goals without reply against Carew Park.

And nobody fared better than Colm Heffernan who returned to junior football in style when scoring two of their four first half goals and he completed his hat-trick when he converted a second half penalty. Heffernan was with Limerick FC and latterly, Athlone Town, before returning to Fairview and Darren Harrington who was with Limerick 37 earlier on this season marked his return with two goals.

Janesboro Utd also made a bright start when beating Corbally Utd by 5-1. Stephen Grant opened the scoring for the winners for whom Thomas Butler scored twice and Alan Carroll was also on the mark with an own goal also helping.

Granville Rangers, who survived in the Premier division thanks to a penalty shoot-out play off win against Summerville Rovers, are keen to avoid such tension this time and they began with a surprise 1-0 win against Aisling Annacotty thanks to a goal by central defender, Barry Kenny.

Another round of games is scheduled for to-morrow night with the meeting of Janesboro and Fairview the most attractive tie.
Defending champions, Newcastle West, got off to a winning start in defence of the Premier title. They were amongst three home teams to win when they beat Old Mill 3-0.

Glin Rovers also kept a clean sheet when having a 2-0 win over Newcastle West Rovers while Rathkeale were the sole away winners when they had a 1-0 success against Killeaney.

Broadford Utd and Carrig Celtic drew 1-1.
 
The Joe Purcell tournament was once again hosted by Geraldines who had two teams involved together with Athlunkard Villa and Janesboro who met in the first semi-final which was an exciting affair which ended with a penalty shoot-out which Athlunkard won 4-1.

Paul Franklin, Villa, and Alan Sheehan scored the goals in normal time.

A goal by Ian Steward and an own goal gave Geraldines A 2-0 win over their own B team and in the final the ‘Dines staged a remarkable comeback after Athlunkard led 4-1 at the break with goals by Roy O’Connell, Alan Colbert, Mike Curran and Ray Kerley.

Goals by Danny Kelleher, Ger Fitzgerald, Jason Mullins and an own goal had Geraldines on terms two minutes into stoppage time and they went on to win 4-2 on penalties.

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