Killavilla earn big win over Arra Rovers

By Gary Culbert

PREMIER DIVISION

Rearcross 5-0 Borrisokane

Rearcross kicked off the weekend’s action on Friday night by scoring five goals without reply at home to Borrisokane.

This was a very one-sided contest, but to Borrisokane’s credit there was only a goal in it at half time. Rea’s opener was a family affair; after a period of controlled possession the ball was slipped through to Phillip Deegan on the edge of the box; bearing down on goal he then slid through his brother James, who finished into the bottom corner on his return from injury. It was a very well-worked team goal, but more importantly for Rea’ it gets their talisman off the mark in the league.

In the second half, man of the match Philly Deegan added two more, whilst Michael O’Gorman and Paddy Deegan were also on target.

The win sees Rearcross just about keep pace with the top two and more than doubling their goal tally to date in the league. Finding the net has been a problem for Rea’ this season, Eamon Devitt will be hoping that Friday’s performance can be a breakthrough moment in their season.

At the other end, Rearcross have now kept four clean sheets in a row and only conceded two goals in the league, and that was in their opening game away to the champions. With that being said – and given the injury situation at Clodiagh Rangers – Rearcross may well now be the team best placed to push Killavilla.

Arra Rovers 1-3 Killavilla United

Killavilla United continued their march to the title on Saturday evening with an impressive 3-1 win over newly promoted Arra Rovers in Portroe.

Central midfielder Mark Dwyer netted for the away side in the first half, whilst Eoin Maloney scored for the hosts to go in level at the break.

In the second half, Paul Kirwan was once again the difference, the veteran goal-scorer netting twice to see the champions clear.

Killavilla captain John Cordial, was named man of the match in his second game back after two seasons out after recovering from a serious leg injury. The win sees Villa climb three points clear at the top of the table.

Clodiagh Rangers 2-2 Lough Derg

Lough Derg came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against an injury ravaged Clodiagh Rangers in Drombane on Sunday.

It was a frantic start as the rain poured down; James Griffin gave the hosts the lead after just three minutes before Dave Cassidy levelled for the visitors with a lobbed finish four minutes later.

Jason Comely went close for Derg in the 25th minute, but it was Clodiagh who re-took the lead three minutes later through Brian Hanrahan. The home side should have extended their lead but they were wasteful in front of goal; John Carew, Rhys Loughnane and Brian Hanrahan were all guilty of not taking well-worked opportunities.

Lough Derg saw much more of the ball in the second half but struggled to find a way through the stubborn Clodiagh rear-guard until the 82nd minute when the pressure resulted in a penalty but it was well-saved by Adrian Cooke.

With the clock running out, Dean Lawlor stepped up to fire an equaliser into bottom corner. Derg had a brilliant chance to win it in injury time, but an excellent double save from Adrian Cooke meant the spoils were shared.

Given the heavily depleted nature of their squad, Clodiagh Rangers will be happy to escape with a point, but truth be told Killavilla are slowly escaping the reach of the Drombane men.

Division 1

Cloughjordan and Borroway Rovers played out a rare stalemate when first met second in Tierney Park on Sunday.

Clough played down hill in the first half and rained long throws down on top of the stand-in keeper whenever possible. Kevin Kennedy went close but really there were no clear-cut chances for either side. The second half was a similar story, but Borroway saw more of the ball and more of the chances. Alas, neither side could find a way through and, in truth, the longer the game went on both sides seemed content with a point. Ger Corcoran in goals was rock solid as ever for the hosts, whilst Bryan Williams put in his usual 110% from central midfield.

Holycross put seven unanswered goals past Portumna Town in rainy Galway on Sunday. Ben Slattery and Mikey Nally both found the net twice, whilst Jack Ryan, Stephen Maher, and Callum O’Connor all scored a goal apiece.

It’s a difficult period for Graham Fogarty and his players, especially given the big effort they put in last season to stay up on the final day, but despite having no points on the board they are only six points from safety, so all hope is not lost yet.

Ardcroney got their promotion charge back on track with a hard earned 3-2 win away to Sallypark on Sunday.

The visitors took a one-goal lead into the break courtesy of a Jamie Heffernan strike. Jack Sanders scored from the penalty spot for Sallypark, whilst Paul Walsh was also on target for the hosts. Jamie Heffernan scored again for the visitors before a Kieran Spain penalty secured the three points which moved Glen Austin’s side back into second place. Shane Doran put in yet another man of the match display for Ardcroney.

Moneygall ran out 4-1 winners when Thurles Town travelled to Offaly on Sunday. Dylan Gayson scored Thurles’ only goal, but it was the man of the match Jack O’Brien, who stole the show with a superb hat-trick for the hosts. Matt Longe was the other scorer for Billy Hayes’ side.

Division 2

Rearcross ‘B’ scored with the last kick of the ball to secure all three points in a 5-4 win over Borrisoleigh on Saturday night.

Dan Ryan gave the visitors the lead from the spot after fifteen minutes and they doubled it two minutes later, Alvis Danko the man on target. Donny O’Brien pulled on back for Rea’ before Dan Ryan scored on the stroke of half time to make it 3-1. O’Brien was on target again after the interval before Oisin Kelly converted from the spot to level on 65 minutes. Fintan Holland restored the visitors lead, but a missed Rearcross penalty and two unanswered Cillian Kennedy goals later and the Borrisoleigh boys were going home empty handed.

Ballymackey ‘B’ lost 7-3 at home to Birdhill on Sunday. Colin Floyd lobbed the young Ballymackey keeper early on and then he added a second from the spot when Damien McCarthy was taken down in the box. Kevin Kennedy replied for the hosts before McCarthy got on the scoresheet to make it 3-1. A poor clearance allowed Kennedy to pull one back just before half time to leave it 3-2 at the break.

Colin Floyd completed his hat-trick with a strike from outside the box just five minutes into the second half. McCarthy got his second shortly after from inside the box before James Tobin capitalized on a goalkeeping error to tap home their sixth. Adam McAuliffe pulled one back for the hosts, who also rattled the crossbar from the spot, but it would be the man of the match Colin Floyd, who had the last say, scoring his fourth with another strike from outside the area.

Borrisokane ‘B’ continued their fine form with a solid 2-1 home win over Templetouhy. The hosts found the net through a Luke Quigley free kick and a Declan Moroney tap in after pressing the goalie. Michael Egan was the best for Borrisokane.

Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ travelled to Shinrone, but the injury crisis within their first team setup meant that the ‘B’ team had to forfeit the game, which must have been a very difficult decision to make given their fine win over Templetouhy the week previous.