Shinrone claim Division 2 League title

By Gary Culbert

Division 2

A Riann McLoughlin hat-trick was the difference as Shinrone United overcame Birdhill 4-1 in the NT&DL Division 2 title decider on Sunday at the Shinrone Community Centre.

Young McLoughlin followed in the footsteps of his father Derek, who was player-manager the last time Shinrone – named Village FC at the time - won Division 2.

That was the 2017/2018 season, since then Shinrone United went on to finish second in Division 1 at the hands of a late late Paidi Williams goal, before disbanding the team entirely prior to the 2019/2020 season. There had not been a men’s team in Shinrone since then and there likely would have been no team again this year were it not for the drive of Declan Mullally, the current manager and an all-round complete Shinrone United club man.

Mullally kept some of the youthful remnants of the disbanded team that won the Division 1 Barry Cup in 2018/2019, but seems to have made a conscious effort also to change the guard and move away from the last regime, which has paid dividends.

Expecting a summer season, this young Shinrone team started their pre-season preparation exactly one year ago, so it is just rewards that ‘the Reds’ got to lift the league trophy on Sunday with Dan Bevans getting the other goal in the win.

Birdhill did find the net through Conor Hickey, but it was not enough to deny Shinrone, but even more concerning for Anthony Floyd’s side is the fact that Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ can still nip into the second promotion spot if they win all their three games in hand.

When the celebrations die down, Shinrone United will have to start planning for a home semi-final in the Nora Kennedy Cup, where Rearcross ‘B’ await. On paper the league winners should prevail, but experience generally defeats youth in the NT&DL, and Rearcross have an abundance of experience in their ranks.

Division 1 League

Sallypark won 3-2 away to Portumna Town to secure fifth place in the league. David Young, Brian Duffy, and Paul Walsh were all on target for the visitors whilst an own goal and an Adam Fogarty strike did the damage for the Galway men.

Division 1 - Barry Cup

Cloughjordan travelled with limited resources to take on fierce local rivals Ardcroney in the quarter finals of the Barry Cup on Sunday, and just like the week before in the league, the experienced Clough men dug deep to defy their league position by dishing out a comprehensive 3-0 trashing to their noisy neighbours.

This game had all the needle and bite that you would expect in a local derby. There were plenty of early cards dished out in a tense first half that ended scoreless despite both sides having plenty of chances.

Alan Darcy and Martin Grace once again went head-to-head in an extremely physical battle in the centre of midfield, and as you’d expect there wasn’t an inch given by either. Similarly, Luke Dervan picked up Kevin Kennedy for the second time in as many weeks; there aren’t many that will get the better of the young centre back in the air, but the ageless Kennedy won his fair share as Clough went long routinely.

It was the home side that marginally had the better of the first half chances, but they came up against a Clough defence in defiant and stubborn form. Kevin Quinlan had an impossible task on his hands to marshal the in-form Darren Moran, but the vastly experienced Clough centre back was well able to match his younger counterpart for pace and power, which limited Moran’s opportunities to run in behind.

Be that as it may, the best chance of the half did fall to the Kiladangan man when he was slipped in down the centre of Clough’s defence, but an unfortunate bobble saw Moran balloon his shot over when everyone was expecting the net to rattle.

On more than one occasion, Richard ‘Dusty’ King and Gary Culbert had to be in the right place at the right time to clear the danger for the visitors, whilst goalkeeper Ger Corcoran did not miss a beat despite just about being well enough to play.

At the other end, Clough’s best chances in the first half mostly came through set-pieces; Kevin Kennedy headed one in which was ruled out for offside, whilst Shane Williams really should have rattled the net when a lucky bounce sent him through.

Ardcroney started the second half brightest, but a perfectly timed substitution from Eoin Killackey turned the game on its head as Clough’s star man was introduced from the bench.

The match was even enough up until Dean O’Meara’s introduction, but the game changed in the 68th minute when a quick free kick from Kevin Quinlan on the halfway line sent the nippy substitute through on goal before he was unceremoniously brought down by Alan McGrath. O’Meara picked himself up before dispatching a poor enough penalty right down the middle, which Taylor Duffy will be disappointed not to have saved.

The visitor’s tails were up now, and they doubled their lead just three minutes later, again exploiting Dean O’Meara’s rapid pace down Ardcroney’s notably weak right side. This time O’Meara turned provider with a perfect cross from the end-line for veteran fox in the box, Kevin Kennedy, who made the finish look very easy with a cushioned header back across goal from eight yards out.

Kilruane clubmates Oisin O’Meara and Eoin Hogan covered an immense amount of ground for the visitors, in fact it was some selfless pressing from Hogan off the restart which led to Clough’s third which killed the game. Once again, the home side were penetrated down their right, but this time it was Gary Culbert who advanced from full back to skip past Alan McGrath before hanging it up nicely at the back post for Oisin O’Meara, who rose above Shane Doran to set up Matthew Moyles. Much like Martin Grace, the former Ardcroney man always ups his game against his old club and usually finds a way onto the scoresheet. On this occasion, Moyles lashed home a particularly venomous daisy cutter to get his now customary goal against Ardcroney - a goal which killed any fight the recently promoted youngsters had left.

The promotion run that Ardcroney went on since January is a fine achievement and was entirely against the odds, but it looks to have understandably taken a toll on them. Clough’s thee goals came in just an eight minute spell that absolutely shell-shocked Glen Austin’s young side and they never really regained their composure after the first hit the net.

However, Ardcroney’s impressive season is not over yet, there is still the small matter of a trip to Michael Fennell Park, Templemore, in the last four of the Tipperary Cup. Glen Austin will have to shuffle his deck for that one though, as Shane Doran will miss the game through suspension having picked up a silly yellow card for a needless tackle in their league defeat to Cloughjordan.

Bryan Williams came on to help see out back-to-back clean sheets in the Kilruane derby for Cloughjordan, who will welcome Borroway Rovers to Tierney Park in the Barry Cup semi-final.

Best on the day for Ardcroney were Luke Dervan and Andrew Hayes. The player of the match award could have went to any of Eoin Killackey’s players, but the calming influence that Kevin Quinlan has had on this Clough team since coming back from injury cannot be overstated; in his two games back Clough have put seven unanswered goals past Ardcroney.

Under 19 Championship

Arra Rovers stayed perfect in their second last league game thanks to another four goals from hit man Brian McEvoy in a 4-1 win. Ballymackey were only 2-1 down at half time thanks to Seamus Connolly finish, but the Ballinree men failed to get a handle on the player of the match McEvoy in the second half and they paid the price.