Killavilla and Clodiagh continue to set the early pace

By Gary Culbert

PREMIER DIVISION

Killavilla United 6-0 Borrisokane

On Friday evening, Killavilla United scored six unanswered goals when Borrisokane made the trip to Villa Park.

Paul Kirwan opened the scoring before right wing back Fionn Ryan made it two. Young Mark Dwyer added a third before Kirwan left it 4-0 at the break with his second of the game.

Eddie Simmons scored number five from the wing before the debut double winning manager himself, Denis Moloney, got in on the action, when he scored the sixth and final goal after coming on as a substitute.

Despite not finding the net himself Brian Moloney was the best for the Roscrea side, who have a tough trip to Portroe next weekend.

Rearcross 0-0 Ballymackey

Rearcross hosted Ballymackey on Saturday night in a repeat of their Munster Junior Cup fixture from last season, but unlike that game this one ended scoreless.

Cathal Spillane was the best for the away side, whilst goalkeeper Brian Hammersley was the stand out performer for the hosts, who stay third on the table.

BT Harps 0-1 Clodiagh Rangers

On Sunday, Clodiagh Rangers stayed within a point of the leaders’ courtesy of a hard fought 1-0 away win over BT Harps.

It was scoreless at the break and remained that way very late on when former Harps man Sam Van Dam snatched an 80th minute goal to secure all three points for Adrian Cooke’s title chasers.

Brian Hanrahan had a fine game for the visitors in midfield, but man of the match must go to Harps’ Eoin Brophy, who was excellent in goals for the hosts.

Division 1

On Friday evening, Cloughjordan kicked off the weekend’s action with a hard fought 1-0 away win over Moneygall.

The ageing visitors dominated the first half and should have been two or three goals up, but unfortunately for them Matthew Moyles left his shooting boots at home. In truth, Dwayne Collison in the Moneygall goal deserves credit for denying both Moyles and Kevin Kennedy, but he could not deny Bryan Williams, who forced home the only goal of the game early in the first half before going off injured.

The second half was a completely different story, however, as this very young Moneygall side dominated possession. However, the Moneygall offensive was very central and without much penetration, that being said Ger Corcoran did have to make a fine save late on and Gary Culbert had to be in the right place at the right time to nick the ball off the toe of young Sean Moroney.

The best for Billy Hayes’s young guns were Jack O’Brien, whilst Barry Gillespie put in a man of the match performance on the left wing for Eoin Killackey’s side. Elsewhere in the Clough ranks, Michael Cleary was slick in midfield and Jamie Twamley put in a very solid display at right back, whilst Kevin Kennedy done superbly well to salvage any ball in the second half as he was very isolated up top.

Next up for Moneygall is a similar assignment against Thurles Town, but if the youngsters start how they did against Cloughjordan they could find themselves four or five goals down at the break, as Tommy Brophy and Jack O’Donnell will not be as forgiving in front of goal. That being said Moneygall will have the legs to go all the way against Thurles, who have dropped points on three occasions this season from conceding late goals.

On Sunday afternoon, Sallypark played their third home game in a row and won 2-1 against bottom of the table Portumna Town.

The hosts saw a lot the ball in the first half but could not find a way through. The visitors had a strong breeze in the first half, and they almost capitalized on two occasions, only for Sallypark keeper Damien Corcoran making two fine saves to deny the Galway men.

For the second game in a row, Paul Walsh was fouled in the opposition area, and with Eoin Ryan gone off injured, the responsibility was passed to Kieran Ryan, who made no mistake from the spot to give Sallypark the lead in the 55th minute.

The Tipp Cup holders remained on top and got their reward on the 80th minute when Brian Mitchell was put through one-on-one with the keeper for the third time in the game, but on this occasion the former Nenagh Celtic man made no mistake. Portumna pulled one back late on through Oisin Fogarty, but it was merely a consolation.

Sallypark’s Padraig Ryan ran the game from centre midfield and was the man of the match. Portumna remain point-less having played five games, whilst Sallypark go level on points with Ardcroney in third place with a game more played.

Ardcroney’s title hopes suffered a blow on Sunday when Borroway Rovers scored the only goal of the game in Thurles.

It was scoreless at the break, but Liam McCormack netted a hugely important goal in the second half to secure a second successive 1-0 win for Paul Gould’s side, who stay perfect with four games played. Glen Austin’s young side will look to bounce back next week in Sallypark, but that is no easy task.

Holycross recorded an impressive 5-1 home win over Thurles Town in Glenbane on Sunday. Jojo O’Meara netted a brace for the hosts, whilst Aaron Ryan, Callum O’Connor, and Tony Lambe all found the net once for the newly promoted side. Jack O’Donnell scored Town’s only goal of the game.

Division 2

Borrisoleigh comprehensively defeated Ballymackey ‘B’ 7-4 in Ballinree on Sunday.

The new entrants to the league were 4-1 up at the break where Fintan Holland netted a hat-trick for the visitors and Alvis Danko helped himself to a brace, whilst Dan Ryan and Pauric Stapleton were also on target for the away side.

The hosts found the net through a Kieran Boyle brace and goals from Adam McAuliffe and Gary McCarthy. The man of the match was David Carroll, with Fintan Holland a narrow runner-up.

Borrisokane ‘B’ defeated Rearcross ‘B’ 4-1 in Borrisokane on Sunday. Matthew Hardy opened the scoring for the hosts just after the interval and Michael Egan netted direct from a long-range free kick shortly after. Declan Moroney made it three before Rearcross pulled one back from a corner through Willie Horrigan. Emmanuel Masina made it 4-1 from the penalty spot late on.

Clodiagh Rangers 'B' continued their fine start to the season when they overcame fellow title hopefuls Templetouhy in a five-goal thriller in Drombane.

The experienced Greg Fewer opened the scoring for the home side from close range. Clodiagh captain Jack Butler set up David Fitzgerald for their the second goal before Templetuohy rallied and pulled one back through James Kavanagh.

The hosts pushed on and went 3-1 up with fifteen minutes to play after Aiden Slattery and Stephen Gleeson combined to play in Niall Shanahan, who sprinted from midfield to fire home with an unstoppable shot. Templetuohy worked hard and got a goal back late on through James Kavanagh but Clodiagh held on for the win.