North Tipperary and District League Review

RICKY FOGARTY CUP

BT Harps 3-1 Borrisokane

The sun was shining on Sunday in Ballinree as a new-look Killavilla United side overcame a battling young Ballymackey 3-1 to progress to the semi-finals of the Premier Division Ricky Fogarty Cup.

The visitors rode out the early pressing and exuberance of the inexperienced hosts, before taking control of possession and the game without ever getting into fifth gear.

Denis Moloney was without Ruairi Murphy and Paul Kirwan, but he did introduce two returning ex-pats, David McNamara came in up front, while Darren Coleman slotted seamlessly into the number six role. McNamara is a mobile target man and was a handful for the young Bally backs defenders but Patrick Mounsey at centre back did not irk his responsibility; the youngster’s grá for a physical battle stood out as he flew into challenges throughout.

Darren Coleman was the other new addition to the Villa fold, and it was the composed playmaker that actually got the first goal of the game in the fifteenth minute with a cool finish past Timmy Fleming after he was cheekily played in around the corner of a very flat footed Ballymackey defensive line, which was pinned in on the edge of their own box. McNamara almost doubled the lead five minutes later with a curler from the left, but the fiery forward’s effort cannoned off the crossbar to the relief of Fleming, who was rooted to his line.

The home side failed to capitalize on a promising indirect free kick inside the Villa box, but apart from that their chances were few and far between.

Villa had numerous chances to double their lead early in the second half, but Brian Moloney, Eddie Simmons and Dylan Carroll all found Timmy Fleming instead of the net. The pressure finally told from a corner kick as McNamara rose highest at the back post and Carroll forced it over the line.

There was a small Ballymackey resurgence midway through the half when an exquisite Cathal Spillane free kick halved the deficit, but the hosts got caught on the counter-attack late on when substitute Roddy Teehan ended the contest with a diving header of the highest quality.

Eddie Simons was the player of the match while Mark Dwyer was more than an honourable mention, but the youngster’s endless energy proceeds him these days as he goes from strength to strength, taking a leading role in this team.

Ballymackey’s season ended in defeat, but there were plenty of positives for the management team of George Haverty and Damien Bentley to take from the day. In midfield, David Haverty was composed and inventive alongside Damien Bergin, who covered every blade of grass. Bergin was definitely the surprise package and had the result gone differently he would surely have been the player of the match.

Like many clubs in the NT&DL this season, Ballymackey have gone through a serious number of players. Competing sports is one reason for this. On Sunday, we saw a young side that may have slightly lacked some of the technical skill of the players they replaced, but they made up for that tenfold with passion, energy, and fight for the jersey. If Ballymackey can stick with these youngsters from the start of next season and build with them, it could be the start of a good team for years to come.

BT Harps 3-1 Borrisokane

A depleted BT Harps side secured a home semi-final with Killavilla United thanks to a 3-1 win over Borrisokane in Michael Fennel Park on Sunday.

Ben Stapleton opened the scoring for Harps with a half volley from a Mickey O'Connell cross. BT doubled their lead in the second half from a superb Lorcan Roche free kick from 25 yards out which nestled powerfully into the top corner of the net.

Harps were in control, but they were caught out by a long ball and all of a sudden, they were down to ten men: Jim Kennedy fouling the Borrisokane striker in the box and conceding a penalty in the process. Gordon Harding converted for Borrisokane to halve the deficit. Jamie Donnelly’s side pushed on for the last 25 minutes, but BT held out, thanks in no small part to a great double save from Byrne in goals.

Harps were understandably killing time up at the Borris corner flag in injury time, to see out the win but they added a third goal from a throw-in which found Niall Moloney in the box, and he applied a great finish to see Harps into the semi-finals against the old enemy from Roscrea.

Division 1 Barry Cup

Sallypark reached their first Barry Cup final in seventeen years thanks to a 3-2 win away to Holycross on Sunday.

The visitors started the better, applying pressure for the first ten minutes, but Holycross weathered the early storm before passing their way into the game. Sallypark had the better of the chances in the first half, however, it was Holycross who had the ball in the net first, on the half hour, only for it to be ruled out for a handball. Both teams tried to play football on what was an admittedly bobbly surface. The sides went into the break scoreless, despite Sallypark having a great chance late in the half only to be denied by a great save from five yards out.

Sallypark started the second half all guns blazing and got their reward after ten minutes when a corner was headed goalwards by Paul Walsh, before being added to with a flick over the Holycross keeper by Padraig Ryan. The ageless Ryan had the ball in the net again five minutes later after some brilliant individual play from a tight angle.

Sallypark freshened things up by bringing on Brian Mitchell, Tommy McLoughlin, and Danny O’Donoghue. Holycross pushed forward in search of a route back into the game, but Sally’ hit them on the break with a third goal, which you would have thought would kill the tie with fifteen minutes to go. Again, the goal came from some brilliant play down the wing by Padraig Ryan, who went past three Holycross men before crossing the ball onto the head of the on-rushing Danny O’Donoghue who did the rest.

Holycross could have dropped their heads and admitted defeat, but the Division 1 Shield holders instead pushed back against Sallypark. They were given a lifeline with five minutes to go when they were awarded a penalty after an obvious push in the back just inside the box. Callum O’Connor tucked away the spot kick neatly into the side-netting and there was a real feeling in Glenbane that they could maybe perform a miracle late on.

Holycross continued to pile on the pressure and in the 90th minute made it 3-2 when a free kick, which wasn’t cleared, bounced around the box before eventually being forced home by Liam Ryan.

Sallypark weathered the storm for the final four minutes of added time to reach the final, where they will face either Cloughjordan or Borroway Rovers.

Paul Walsh was again in great form at the back, whilst Dan Keogh and Joe Shanahan covered every blade of grass from midfield.

However, the player of the match award has to go to Padraig Ryan, as the big man’s two goals and assist were crucial in seeing Sallypark through to yet another Cup final.

As usual, things are really starting to come together at the right time for Sallypark, but in the Tipp Cup semi-final they do face one of the only teams to beat them in cup competition this season, Killavilla United.

Under 19 Premier Division

On Saturday, Ballymackey came out the right side of a nine-goal thriller when Ardcroney travelled to Ballinree. The visitors actually went in 4-2 up at the break thanks to a brace each from Sean Hayes and Paul Molloy, who was Ardcroney’s best player.

Ballymackey struck three second half goals thanks to a hat-trick from player of the match James Kenneally, and a goal apiece from Denis Sheehan and Colm Maher.