North Tipperary and District League Report
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
BT Harps 1-1 Killavilla
LAST Wednesday Killavilla and BT Harps kicked off a bumper weekend of NT&DL action with a highly entertaining 1-1 draw in Michael Fennell Park, Templemore.
The champions found themselves in unfamiliar waters as a Joe Bourke header had BT in front at the break. The goal came after Marco Quinlan won a free kick down the inside left channel, about 25 yards from Vlad Bodrov’s goal, which Steffan Leahy expertly curled into the path of the onrushing Bourke.
Ruairi Murphy equalised in the second half for Villa but they could not find a winner. It’s the first time that Denis Moloney’s double winners have dropped points this season, but in truth it could have been worse as Ben Stapleton struck the visitor’s crossbar with a free kick late in the day. Darragh Doyle was the best on the day for BT, whilst ex-Moneygall skipper Eddie Simmons had a fine game on the flank for the Shield winners.
Borrisokane 2-1 Ballymackey
Borrisokane caused a big upset on Friday when they overcame Ballymackey 2-1 to secure their first win of the campaign. This new look Ballymackey outfit did find the net through Cathal Spillane, but a Jack Mahoney goal had the hosts two up at the break and in the end his brace was enough to ensure that the Balinree men stay point-less, having played four league games. The loss of Nenagh Celtic from the Premier Division means that only one team gets relegated from the Premier Division this season; with that being said, this is a huge three points for Borrisokane as they would have been - and probably still are - one of the teams in danger of going down. George Haverty and Damien Bentley have a big job on their hands to turn the tide on this run of poor results and will be looking for the likes of Kevin Kennedy, Michael Hynes, Timmy Flemming and Brendan Hayes to step up and lead the way for this very young squad.
Clodiagh Rangers 0-1 Rearcross
There was an even bigger upset on Saturday evening when newly promoted and injury ravaged Rearcross scored the only goal of the game to put a sizable dent in Clodiagh’s title aspirations. This is a fixture with plenty of history in recent times. Rea’s recent resurgence in NT&DL football started in Drombane when they came out the right side of sudden death penalties in the 2020 Barry Cup final, and they also got the better of Adrian Cooke’s men in the quarter final of the Kevin Fogarty cup last season. It was scoreless at half time on Saturday before a trademark passage of Rearcross play on the 55th minute saw Michael O’Gorman cross from the right flank for Brian Nolan to head into the net and secure the points to continue Rea’s winning run in Drombane.
Killavilla 6-2 Lough Derg
Killavilla got back to winning ways on Sunday morning thank to a 6-2 demolition of Lough Derg in Villa Park. Unfortunately for Lough Derg this is their third heavy defeat on the trot in Villa Park; their attacking philosophy is admirable but it doesn’t seem that lessons are being learned season on season. Leon Kerin and Jason Comley did find the net for the Shannonsiders, but the superior firepower of Villa washed them away as Ruairi Murphy and Gavin Clarke scored a brace each, whilst the strike partners Brian Moloney and Paul Kirwan helped themselves to a goal apiece. Joe Moloney was the man of the match for the champions, who go a point clear of Clodiagh.
Arra Rovers 7-2 BT Harps
On Sunday morning Arra got their second league win on the bounce when BT Harps travelled to Portroe in a repeat of the Shield semifinal. Cathal O’Brien put the hosts in front on 18th minute from the penalty spot and they doubled their lead a minute later through Brian McEvoy. Stevie Quinlan responded for Harps on the 26th minute before AJ Willis restored Arra’s cushion. Quinlan netted again on the 41st minute to leave BT just one goal behind at the interval. When Dermot O’Halloran’s Arra Rovers click they have the ability steamroll any side in North Tipp football. Unfortunately for BT the hosts did click and they rattled the net four times in a 13-minute spell to annihilate the visitors. Powerful front man Ruadhan Mulrooney started the rout on the 69th minute before AJ Willis netted two minutes later. Man of the match Stephen Kennedy was on target in the 75th minute before Mulrooney finally concluded the onslaught on the 82nd minute.
DIVISION 1
A much-changed Cloughjordan side bounced back from their capitulation a week previous by coming from behind to dig out a 2-1 home win over Holycross. The visitors took the lead on the stroke of half time through wide forward Aaron Ryan. When Clough need him most Matthew Moyles is never found wanting and, on this occasion, the wide playmaker netted a second half brace to secure an important three points for Eoin Killackey’s side. Kevin Kennedy drew a blank for the first time this league campaign, but the veteran was impressive before coming off. Martin Grace and Jamie Twamley both put in impressive performances on their return to the starting eleven, whilst Gerard Corcoran made crucial saves throughout to deny Jojo O’Meara and co.
Ardcroney continued their march to promotion (and possibly the title) when they sent Portumna Town packing with four unanswered goals. Jack Daly had Glen Austin’s young side 1-0 at the break before man of the match Andrew Hayes doubled the host’s lead after the interval. Jack Daly completed his brace to make it 3-0 before Jamie Heffernan completed the scoring.
Sallypark came out the right end of a nine-goal thriller when Thurles Town came to Latteragh. As ever Jack O’Donnell was on the scoresheet for the visitors; the veteran netted a brace early on to give Thurles a 2-0 lead after 15 minutes. Man of the match Tom McCutcheon was running at the ageing Thurles side every chance he got and on the 35th minute he was brought down in the box, Eoin Ryan dispatched the resulting penalty to drag Sally back into the game. Five minutes later the hosts were level when ex-Celt Brian Mitchell scored his first league goal for his new club. In the second half Tommy Brophy reminded everyone in the ground that class is permanent; the veteran striker scored a delightful free kick on the 55th minute before putting Thurles 4-2 up on the hour mark.
For the second week in a row Sally found themselves two goals down with 20 minutes to go against aging opposition that travelled with limited options to bring off the bench. Paul Walsh was the driving force for the comeback, just as he was against Cloughjordan a week previous; with 15 minutes remaining the former Celtic man drove from midfield before Mikey Hallinan converted the pressure into a goal on his return to the side.
Eoin Ryan scored his second of the game on the 80th minute to make it 4-4. The equaliser was a header from a rebound off the crossbar after Walsh met a corner with his head. Walsh completed his hat trick of goal involvements and indeed the comeback when he was taken down in the box with five minutes remaining. Veteran defender Eoin Ryan stepped up and with ice in his veins made it 5-4 and in turn completed a rare hat-trick for the industrious centre back.
The pattern is clear to see and the message is even clearer: a two-goal lead is no good against Sallypark in Latteragh. Just as some pundits are quipping that Man City should be given the Premier League trophy already, this writer suggests that the Tipp Cup may as well get comfortable in Young’s Pub for another year.
DIVISION 2
Sixteen-year-old goal keeper Brian Hammersly was the hero as his penalty save ensured Rearcross ‘B’ overcame Ballymackey ‘B’ 2-1 on Friday evening in Rearcross. Gary Ryan gave Rea a 1-0 lead at the break and Liam Kelly scored in the second half for the hosts. Kieran Boyle did score for the visitors but man of the match Brian Hammersly made sure the points stayed in Rearcross.
Lough Derg ‘B’ beat Borrisokane ‘B’ 4-2 on Saturday night in Clarisford. Jack Grace netted a brace for the hosts, whilst man of the match Cian Oakley and Dan Furey scored a goal each. Emmanuel Musina and Jason Carey were on target for Darren Molloy’s side.
Shinrone got their title charge back on track with a 4-2 home win over Borrisoleigh. Dan Bevans, Riann McLoughlin, James Hayes, and Conor Ryan scored for the hosts, whilst Fintan Holland and former Sallypark man Alvis Danko netted for the travelling side. Templetouhy continued their impressive start with a 1-0 home win over Birdhill. Stephen Byrne’s penalty kick was the only goal of the game.