Moneygall shock the league-leaders Ballymackey

SOCCER: North Tipperary & District League Review

 

By Gary Culbert

Ballymackey 1-2 Moneygall
Ballymackey suffered their first defeat of the season with a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Moneygall on Sunday. 
The visitors were quickly out of the traps and were rewarded with an early goal; Joe Callaghan won a free kick centrally and some quick thinking from Stephen Maher on the set-piece found Stephen Delaney who played in Cian Galvin who cut inside onto his right foot and unleashed a curling effort at goal which deceived Timmy Fleming in the Ballymackey goals.
Ballymackey responded from the set-back with a shot which hit the woodwork. The Ballinree outfit had most of the possession in the first half but did not make it count, only forcing Dwayne Collison into one save of note. Moneygall had chances of their own on the counterattack through Joe Callaghan but could not double their lead. Ballymackey equalised on 40 minutes when Shaun Kevin timed his run to break the offside trap and tipping the ball past the onrushing Dwayne Collison.
The home dominated after the break until Moneygall manager Eddie Brady made two changes most notably bringing on returning Moneygall native Paul Costello. With half an hour remaining, Costello capped his return with a goal after Stephen Maher won possession in the middle of the pitch and found Joe Callaghan, who played a fine through pass into Costello’s path who found himself one-on-one with the keeper and finished well.
The Ballinree men threw everything at the visitors and went close to equalising from a corner through veteran Tony Delaney. This is a disappointing result for Ger Hogan’s men, however, they have no time to feel sorry for themselves, as they have a tough trip to Nenagh Celtic next Sunday. The result of which will have a huge bearing on where the title ends up this season.

Killavilla United 2-1 Cloughjordan
On a hot day in Roscrea, Killavilla United came from behind to grab all three points from a much-improved Cloughjordan side. 
The away side had the better of the opening exchanges, going close on several occasions only to be denied by Jason Ryan in goal. Villa’s three centre-backs were being run ragged by Clough’s front-three, but the risk the home were taking at the back was being rewarded out wide, as Dylan Buckley and Tom Ahern continually had time and space in their wing-back roles. Cloughjordan took a deserved lead midway through the first half as a result of some fine link-up play on the edge of the box between Dean O’Meara and Luke Morkan, the latter unleashing a low drive into the bottom right corner.
Killavilla were without their veteran goal scorer Paul Kirwan with the difficult task to replace him up front shared by Craig Phelan and Ruairi Murphy. The latter’s pace was the most prominent route ‘Villa had of getting back into the game. However, he did beat the offside trap just before half-time, hacked down 35 yards from goal. From the free kick, Michael Cordial lost his marker at the back post and powerfully headed the ball across the face of goal with Dylan Buckley was in the right place to tap in the equaliser.
Killavilla took control in the second half, taking the lead midway through, off the back of some fine play by Craig Phelan who used all his experience to round the keeper out wide and square the ball unmarked striking partner Ruairi Murphy, who calmly finished for his sixth goal of the season. 
Cloughjordan pushed hard for an equaliser, going close through Nathan Fogarty and Martin Grace, the latter thought he had brought his side level when he rounded Jason Ryan and finished well, only to see his powerful effort miraculously headed off the line by Ian Tracey.
It is an important win for Killavilla, who already find themselves slightly adrift of the front runners for the title.

Division 1
Ardcroney defied the odds to come away from Borrisokane with all three points, thanks to a 2-1 victory. 
Borrisokane took the lead with man-of-the-match Shane Stapleton getting the opening goal after thirteen minutes. Ardcroney replied through Jamie Finn and Dave Slattery to right the wrongs of the hammering they received in the reverse fixture.
Top of the table Clodiagh Rangers were pushed hard but got an important 2-1 win over local rivals Rearcross. The away side had their keeper Cathal Kennedy, to thank at half-time. He ensured the sides went in scoreless at the break, with a penalty save and a fine fingertip stop to deny the Drombane men. It took a speculative long-range free kick from Jack Kennedy to give Clodiagh the lead, the missile-like shot took a slight deflection, leaving Cathal Kennedy with no chance. Rearcross pushed hard for an equalizer, only to be caught on the break by the home side’s Mark Butler. The visitors got a consolation goal with three minutes remaining; Michael O’Gorman dispatching his tenth of the season. 

Youth League
On Saturday, an extremely physical Lough Derg side travelled to Moneygall and won 5-3. The hosts were 3-2 down at the break and levelled with ten minutes remaining, but the fitness and physicality of the Ballina/Killaloe men paid dividends as they scored twice more to quell the host’s comeback with the goals coming from an Adam Stuart hat-trick, Pearce Mooney and Cian Oakley. Best for Moneygall was Conor Longe, whilst the goals for the hosts came from Jack Hassett, Sean Kenneally and Aaron Ryan. 
Killavilla United lost 3-1 when they hosted BT Harps on Sunday. The sides were level at the break with a goal each, but Harps pulled away in the second half with goals from Eddie Ryan and Jamie Monaghan, while Paddy Moloney also had a fine game. The standout performers for Killavilla were Enda Moore and Nathan Carroll, whilst Jamie Ryan got their goal. 
Silvermines secured three points with an impressive 2-1 win away to Knigh United. Sean Ryan Prendiville had the visitors in front at the break and Luke O’Brien got the winner in the second half. Knigh United will take heart from the performance, especially given the fact that the opposition keeper Michael Ryan Prendiville was man-of-the-match. Shane Gleeson was the goal scorer for Knigh United.
On Saturday, Arra Rovers hosted Ardcroney and won 7-1. The side were tied 1-1 at the break but Arra were always on top and finally started converting their dominance to goals in the second half, scoring four times in a ten minutes spell. Ross Austin went off injured for the away side on 60 minutes, this and their increasing tiredness ended the game as a contest. Arra went on the score two more times. Goals for Arra came from Aodhan Ryan (2), Aidan Dwyer, Eoin Grace, Aaron Sharkey, Kiefer O’Brien, and an O.G., while the away side scored through Jamie Coyle.