Killavilla slip up as Borrisokane are relegated
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
clodiagh rangers 1-1 killavilla united
Heading into their final three league games, Killavilla United knew that anything but full points would give Arra Rovers the advantage in the race for the Premier Division title ahead of their final game.
And so it was that the old enemy from last season, Clodiagh Rangers were to once again the thorn in Killavilla’s side as they held the Roscrea side to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
For the second week in a row Killavilla travelled to Drombane, no doubt the previous week's heavy cup defeat no doubt still in the minds of the Clodiagh faithful.
There wasn't much between the two sides in the early exchanges. Villa knew they had to press to force matters as any points dropped could pay havoc on their title defence. And it was this high press that caught them out in the 28th minute when Clodiagh’s Matty Stakelum switched the play with a long pass to Paudie Guidera, who burst past two of the Villa rear-guard before squaring for the in-form David Butler who slotted home from close range.
Expectedly, Killavilla roared into the second half and the home side bore large amounts of pressure but defended well with TJ Butler standing out in particular. However, Butler was soon replaced due to injury and this change coincided with half time substitute Paul Kirwan starting to find his footing in the game. Kirwan became the focal point of Villa's direct approach as the half wore on and was close with a number of trademark headers.
As the clock wound down, Villa were looking more and more threatening, Adrian Cooke was called into action for Clodiagh on a number of occasions. Indeed, it was the Drombane net-minder who denied Kirwan an acrobatic volley inside the area with a reflex save from close range to maintain the slimmest of leads.
However, Villa did score soon after in the 80th minute and it was a goal of the highest quality, which it needed to be to get passed the strong Clodiagh rear-guard of John Ryan and Brian Hanrahan. It came off the back of a corner, only cleared as far as Brian Moloney, who managed to orchestrate himself a half yard of space on the edge of the box, which allowed him to curl a spectacular effort into the top corner leaving Cooke flat footed.
Spurred on by this, Killavilla pushed again but the hosts stood firm to earn an unlikely point. It's a huge blow for Denis Moloney's charges, who now rely on an unlikely result when Arra Rovers take on Lough Derg in their final league game.
Borrisokane 2-3 Lough Derg
At the other end of the table, Borrisokane’s relegation was confirmed when Lough Derg handed the home side a 3-2 defeat, despite the best efforts of Padraig Quinn & co.
Indeed, it was Quinn who opened the scoring midway through the first half when he fired in a strike of the highest quality from 25 yards. Borris were weakest down their flanks and Derg eventually exploited this in the 40th minute when Finn Looney got down the left before pulling the ball back for an easy goal for Jay Collins.
Quinn and Collins exchanged goals again in the second half to leave the sides level heading into the final minutes, before Jack O'Mahony sentenced Borrisokane to relegation with a late winner.
Ballymackey 2-2 Rearcross
Rearcross travelled to Ballinree to take on Ballymackey in their final league game of the year and left with a point after a 2-2 draw.
Rearcross started slowest and were punished in the opening quarter when a Ballymackey corner was headed home on the rebound by Mark Carey.
The visitors equalised when a long delivery from goalkeeper Cathal Kennedy was flicked on by Michael O'Gorman to the onrushing James Deegan, who rushed onto the ball and steadied himself before finishing in off the post from a tight angle.
The hosts retook the lead shortly after the break when a long range strike from rattled the post before falling back to the onrushing Josh McCarthy, who made no mistake.
Cathal Kennedy was the busier of the two keepers throughout and made a number of fine saves to keep Rea' in contention before they got the equalizer when Conor Nolan was brought down on route to goal. Michael O'Gorman stepped up and whipped the resulting free kick into the top corner from all of 25 yards. An excellent finish from the Rearcross striker.
DIVISION 1
In difficult windy conditions in Latteragh, Thurles Town moved closer to the drop when Sallypark netted three unanswered goals on Sunday.
The deadlock was broken after some good passing put Tom McCutcheon through on goal and his lobbed shot evaded the Thurles Town goalkeeper only to hit the post, however, the ever ready Mikey Hallinan was the first to react as he gathered the rebound and finished from a tight angle.
Sallypark’s second came from some individual brilliance from Padraig Ryan, the leggy attacking midfielder reeled in the years by skipping through the visitors defence before finishing well.
The host's third goal came in the second half from a speculative long-range effort from Joe Shanahan which bounced over the helpless Thurles goalkeeper. Jack Sanders moved back the pitch to right back and performed his duties well, whilst Paddy Rohan showed all his experience by filling in at left back. Padraig Ryan was the player of the match in centre midfield.
In Tierney Park, an experienced Cloughjordan side showed superior fight and nous to further compile this youthful Moneygall side's relegation woes courtesy of a 2-1 win, which itself secured division 1 football next year for Eoin Killackey's charges.
Clough were by far the better team in the first half with Dean O'Meara and Cian Doyle firing on all cylinders. Indeed, it was O'Meara who continued his purple patch to open the scoring with a daisy-cutter which travelled across the keeper from a tight angle and inside the post.
Cian Doyle & co. could and should have doubled, if not tripled, the hosts lead. Moneygall broke on the counter just before half time and some calamitous Clough defending saw Jack O'Brien tap into an empty net.
Clough came out firing again and regained their advantage fifteen minutes into the second half when substitute Matthew Moyles capitalised on confusion in the Moneygall box during a Clough corner.
Moneygall never really got going, but some experienced defensive work from Seamus Williams, complemented by aerial superiority from Richard King ensured that the young side had no chances of note in the second half. In the end the game petered away from Moneygall, who will have to seriously think about repositioning their star man, Jack O'Brien, into a more central midfield role if they are to have any hope of survival.
Graham Fogarty is guiding Portumna Town to the greatest of escapes for the second consecutive season. On Sunday, the Galway side came from behind twice against title chasing Ardcroney to record a 3-2 win and leapfrog Thurles Town to move out of the dreaded drop zone.
Ardcroney took an early lead thanks to another Darren Moran strike, but the hosts struck back two minutes later through Donnacha O'Meara.
The visitors went back in front with an early second half Darren Moran goal. Both sides had chances but in the 85th minute Gary Hogan struck an equaliser on the half volley after a corner kick was swung in by Mike Ward. Three minutes later, Hogan played an inviting ball through to Donnacha O'Meara who burst through one-on-one with keeper Taylor Duffy and let fly into the bottom left corner.
With Ardcroney's title hopes hanging by a thread, Portumna had to withstand massive pressure in the final minutes, but in the end came out winners in a brilliant battle. Portumna are now out of the relegation zone and have two games left to finish the job.
DIVISION 2
Shinrone were 5-1 winners over Rearcross 'B' keep their title push on track. Nathan Fogarty, Aaron Kirwan, Simon Hayes, AJ Deane, and James Hayes found the net for the home side.
Ballymackey ‘B’ were 4-1 winners away to Borrisokane 'B'. Player of the match, Kevin Kennedy, netted a brace; whilst Colm Maher helped himself to the same.
Lough Derg 'B' continued to climb the table with a walkover victory against Templetouhy.
UNDER 19 PREMIER DIVISION
Ardcroney were embarrassed 7-0 at the hands of Lough Derg two weeks ago but on Saturday in the reverse fixture, they righted the wrongs and came away with an astonishing 6-0 win. Jack Mulcahy netted a brace while Ross Austin, Andrew Hayes, Jack Gleeson, and Liam O'Regan were also on target.
Moneygall and Killavilla United played out a 1-1 in Moneygall on Saturday. Dylan McCormack netted and was the best for the home side while Ben Lynch found the net for Villa.
UNDER 19 CHAMPIONSHIP
Title chasing Arra Rovers were 5-0 winners at home to Ballymackey 'B' on Saturday. Eoin Moloney scored twice while Jack O’Brien, Jack McGrath and Kieran Grace all hit one apiece. Oisin Tucker was player of the match.