Killavilla continue to set the early pace

By Gary Culbert

PREMIER DIVISION

Killavilla United 2-0 Rearcross

Newly promoted Rearcross made the long trip to Roscrea on Sunday to take on the champions Killavilla United in their own backyard and fell to a 2-0 defeat.

The hosts took the lead when a free kick from their centre back Joe Moloney took a deflection off the wall before arrowing into the corner of the net. Aidan Bryan and Robert Harrington had half chances for Rearcross in the first half, whilst Cathal Kennedy had to be in top form at the other end to deny Villa with a low save.

Denis Moloney’s double-winners went two goals up with as many minutes remaining in the first half when Brian Moloney connected with the ball perfectly to send the ball flying into the top corner despite the keeper getting a fingertip to the effort.

The second half saw Rearcross battle hard, Eamon Devitt’s charges did not have an abundance of chances, but Oisin Kelly did force a good save from Vlad Bodrov and on another occasion rounded the big man in goals before firing wide what was admittedly a difficult finish.

Once they get their noses in front, this Killavilla team (and their back three in particular) push high up to the halfway line and pin their opponents in, and just like a Boa Constrictor they squeeze the life out of their opponents, forcing opposition attackers to live off scraps. And that is exactly what happened in this one as Villa used all their experience to kill the game off with possession and passing to continue their perfect start.

Lough Derg 3-2 BT Harps

Lough Derg welcomed BT Harps to Clarisford Park on Sunday and recorded a 3-2 win.

The home side needed a big first half performance from young keeper Oisin Conacur to keep it scoreless at the interval. They got on top in the second half, but the home fans had to wait until after the second water break to see the net rattle, and like London buses Derg were suddenly 2-0 up on 75 minutes, with both goals coming from Darragh Hickey.

BT Harps pulled one back from a Ben Stapleton penalty, but the hosts had Dean Lawlor to thank when he restored Derg’s two goal cushion shortly after. Lawlor’s goal would turn out to be crucial as Ben Stapleton was on target again late on for Harps with his fourth goal in the opening two league games.

Arra Rovers 4-1 Ballymackey

Arra Rovers recorded their first win back in the top flight with a 4-1 win over Ballymackey in Portroe on Sunday.

The opening goal was quite outrageous as Cathal Spillane lobbed the home keeper from the halfway line, but in the end, it turned out to only be the second-best goal in this highly entertaining contest.

Dermot O’Halloran’s side levelled in the 60th minute when goal machine Ruadhan Mulrooney powered home a well-placed header off the back of an Eoin Maloney cross. Next up was a goal of the season contender from AJ Willis, rifling a thunderous strike into the top corner from all of 35 yards out. Arra doubled their lead in the 71st minute when Ruadhan Mulrooney dispatched a penalty that was awarded when Callan Cottrell was brought down by the visiting keeper. AJ Willis added to his already impressive day by rounding off the scoring with his second of the game in the 75th minute.

Borrisokane 3-5 Clodiagh Rangers

Adrian Cooke’s Clodiagh Rangers continued their impressive unbeaten start to the season with a high-scoring away win over Borrisokane, who remain point-less after their opening two fixtures.

The sides were level at half time with two goals each, but the visitors flexed their muscles in the second half. Stephen D’Arcy scored twice, and Luke Morkan strike once for the hosts; whilst Paul Doyle, John Carew, Oisin Treacy, Paudie Guidera and Conor O’Brien were all on target for last season’s nearest title challengers.

DIVISION 1

Sallypark made the trip to Thurles on Sunday to take on Borroway Rovers but fell to a 3-1 defeat.

The hosts took the lead in the twelfth minute when a ball in from a corner deflected off a Sallypark leg and ended up in the net. The goal settled Borroway and just eight minutes later they had another; Keith Moore stealing in at the back post. Former Celts men Paul Walsh and Brian Mitchell were naturally causing lots of problems and in 35th minute Walsh unleased a rocket from all of 25 yards which nestled neatly into the bottom right-hand corner to halve the deficit.

The second half was a very even contest in which both teams had good chances to score, but it was Gary Dunne who extended Borroway's lead in the 65th minute with his second goal in as many games. Sallypark pushed hard; Brian Mitchell clipped the outside of the post with a right footed curling effort and they also hit the crossbar, but Paul Gould's rear-guard held strong for a deserved victory which sees them unbeaten at the top of the league.

Thurles Town almost caused a big upset on their travels to Ardcroney, but a last-minute clutch goal from Shane Doran spared the blushes of this young side with ambitions for the title.

The visitors took a lead into the break courtesy of Willie Creedon, who has scored in both of Town's opening league games. This Thurles side do not possess the same free-flowing attacking threat they did last season, but they still defend their goal line ferociously.

In the second half Ardcroney found a route back into the game from the penalty spot. Kieran Spain slotted home and now Glen Austin's young guns needed to muster up a winner. Cometh the hour cometh the man: Shane Doran showed some of his winners’ mentality when he fired home a last-minute goal to snatch all three points.

Elsewhere, Portumna Town travelled to Tierney Park to take on Cloughjordan and fell to a 3-1 defeat. It was the tribesmen who opened the scoring after five minutes when Clough gave away a cheap corner, which Ronan O'Meara fired in off the underside of the crossbar from sixteen yards. The home side rallied and found a route back into the game from the penalty spot after Matthew Moyles was unceremoniously brought down in the box. On his first league appearance this season, former Portumna man Dean O'Meara took on the responsibility from twelve yards and made no mistake. Veteran goal ace Kevin Kennedy then gave Clough a half time lead when he netted his second goal in as many games.

Dean O'Meara is making a habit out of finding the net against Graham Fogarty's side, and in the second half he done just that to secure the points for Eoin Killackey's Cloughjordan FC.

Moneygall were toppled by newly promoted Holycross 2-0 in Moneygall. Jesse Maher and Callum O’Connor found the net to secure the win for the visitors, whilst Moneygall’s best player was Mike Ryan.

DIVISION 2

Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ defeated Shinrone 3-2 in the Division 2 Shield final in Drombane on Saturday evening.

It was a very tight game, and the teams were level at a goal apiece at the break; James Hayes scored for Shinrone, whilst Aiden Slattery was on target for the home side. Nathan Fogarty was on target in the second half for the visitors, but goals from captain Jack Butler and a late late strike from substitute Dermot Grant broke Shinrone hearts.

In the league, Templetuohy continued their bright start with a 3-2 home win over Rearcross ‘B’ on Sunday. It was the home side who opened the scoring in the 25th minute, JJ McLoughlin netting off the back of a counter attack. Goal-poacher Christy Moore was in the right place at the right time seven minutes later to double the lead for Richard Fogarty’s side. Rearcross got back into the game before the break when Aiden Bryan found Gavin Denihan in the box for his first goal of the game. Denihan was on target again 15 minutes after the break, levelling from all of 25 yards. Christy Moore would have the last say in this song however, the poacher nipping in ahead of Paul Carey to snatch three points.

Lough Derg ‘B’ travelled to Birdhill and were on the wrong end of an eleven-goal thriller. The home side were quickly two goals ahead courtesy of goals from Colin Floyd and Conor Hickey. Jack Grace scored a deflected goal to keep Derg in it, but Floyd was on target again to leave it 3-1 at half time. Mark McInerney scored a penalty before Colin Floyd competed his hat-trick, and Chris Carew rounded off Birdhill’s scoring to make it 6-3 to the hosts heading into the final furlong with Kieran Larkin scoring twice for the visitors during this period. In a strong finish, Cian McAuley and Daniel Tighe pulled it back to a one goal deficit, but in the end, Lough Derg left without any points.