Rearcross continue their run of Cup upsets
By Gary Culbert
Last Friday night, under the lights, an exciting and young Ballymackey side outplayed their hosts Rearcross, but still became the fourth Premier Division team this season to be dumped out of a Cup competition by Eamon Devitt’s charges on a 2-1 scoreline in the second round of the Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup.
Ballymackey turned up with a youthful swagger and played some fantastic football throughout, but Rea’s direct style of play paid dividends late on. The visitors dominated possession in the first half, but the hosts had the best chance, James Deegan drawing a fine save from Brendan Hayes with his shot from close range in the 13th minute. Rea’ were a bit taken aback by their young counterpart’s ability to play around their press; having not been penned in like this by any team this season. Ballymackey’s central midfielder Gearoid Murphy epitomized the away sides approach; a confident young player who oozed class and backed his footwork to get him out of any situation, irrespective of the number of bodies around him.
Indeed, it was Murphy who assisted the opening goal in the 55th minute; the former Moneygall man received the ball just inside his own half before picking out a defence splitting pass for Cathal Connelly, who latched onto the through ball and struck it across the advancing keeper and high into the net. Seven minutes later David Haverty thought he had doubled Bally’s lead, but his header at the back post from a corner cannoned off the crossbar.
The Division 1 champions looked down and out, but an off-the-ball skirmish fired up the crowd and ignited something in the Rea’ boys who ultimately changed the course of this tie. Greg Kennedy and Darragh Kennedy in particular gained an extra lease of life, in fact it was the latter who forced his way to the end line before digging out a deep cross which Rea’ would equalize from in the 67th minute. The keeper attempted to catch the high ball, but the swirling wind meant he fumbled to the back post where Michael O’Gorman was in the right place at the right time to blast home from close range.
With five minutes to go the rejuvenated home side took the lead from the spot through captain Greg Kennedy. The penalty was awarded when O’Gorman showed for the ball to feet on the 18-yard line and spun as he received the pass, only for Cathal Delaney to bring him down.
Ballymackey pushed hard for an equaliser but the best they could do was find the side netting from an Alan Ryan header following a corner.
There are endless positives for Damien Bentley and Johnny Kenneally to take from the silky performance, but there are also learnings there for their young side. Had they not gotten involved in the skirmish midway through the second half, it may well have been a very different outcome at full time.
After the match, Rearcross captain, Greg Kennedy, was presented with the Division 1 league trophy by North Tipp and District League secretary Adrian Cooke.
Next weekend, Rearcross travel to Portumna for their second last league game. Rearcross will be looking to complete their league campaign unbeaten but will also view this as an opportunity to prepare for their away day in the last 32 of the Munster Junior Cup versus Carrigaline United ‘A’ on the 19th of February at 5.00pm.
Portumna Town know that a win against the champions will see them beat the drop, whilst a draw would force a relegation play-off against Birdhill.
The Premier Division relegation battle may also get a conclusion this weekend, with Borroway Rovers needing at least a draw to force rivals BT Harps to the final league game.
BT Harps themselves have seen a dramatic turn of fortunes of late and were impressive again when this physically fit side made the trip to Tierney Park to take on Cloughjordan and won 2-1 to progress to the quarter finals of the Tipperary Cup.
The visitors opened the scoring early on from the penalty spot after Martin Grace fouled Ben Stapleton and Stapleton stepped up and hit a tame penalty down the middle which somehow found the net.
Cloughjordan worked their way into the game and with the help of the wind and the hill they were able to turn the screw on Richie Kennedy’s side. Their breakthrough came from a Richard King free kick which deflected kindly into the path of Eoin Hogan, who smashed in from eight yards for his third goal in as many games. Clough piled on the pressure and took the lead just before the break when a teasing Matthew Moyles corner had to be dealt with by the visitors, but instead of clearing the danger Jordan Moloney unintentionally headed the ball into his own net.
Harps had the conditions in their favour in the second half and they really penned in the hosts. On 55 minutes they got their reward; Ben Stapleton levelling, again from the penalty spot.
Clough had their chances to win the game late on, but it would not have been a fair result as Harps went agonizingly close on multiple occasions throughout the second half.
Extra time was needed, and Harps had the elements for the first period of it. They pushed for a goal and were rewarded when Ben Stapleton broke down the left before caressing in a teasing cross for Jordan Moloney, who made amends for his earlier own-goal by rifling into the net from an acute angle.
Cloughjordan desperately pushed for an equaliser in the second period of extra time, but their season was ended at the hands of BT Harps, who are fast becoming favourites to lift the Tipperary Cup. A real test of how much they’ve improved of late is their trip to Ballinree on Sunday to take on Ballymackey in the first round of the Ricky Fogarty Premier Cup.
Moneygall travelled to the Greyhound Stadium to take on Thurles Town but fell to a 4-3 defeat. The visitors took the lead after ten minutes through Matthew Longe and continued to dominate and added a second in the 20th minute when player/manager Stephen Maher rifled a free into the top right corner from just outside the box.
The hosts replied two minutes later from Curtis Ryan and then equalized through Willie Creedon. Moneygall regained the lead just before half-time, Matthew Longe once again stepping up when needed. Billy Minogue’s side levelled with a Dylan Gayson goal in the 60th minute, before taking the lead for the first time and ultimately the winning goal with ten minutes remaining, Gayson again doing the damage.
Thurles face the daunting prospect of a trip to Villa Park in the next round to face Killavilla United
One of the charms of the Tipperary Cup is the potential for ‘A’ teams to face ‘B’ teams from the same club. This very phenomenon happened on Sunday in Drombane, where it was an all Clodiagh affair! However, there was to be no fairy-tale end to the season for the ‘B’ team, as they went fell to a 3-1 defeat to their Premier Division clubmates. Paul Doyle, James Murray, and energetic midfielder John Carew all found the net for Clodiagh ‘A’ in the first half while the ‘B’ team did get a consolation in the second half through an own goal, but it is the Premier Division side who will host Rearcross in the last eight.