Arra humbled by Peake

SOCCER: North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Munster Champions Cup

Arra Rovers bowed out of the Munster Champions Cup at the quarter final stage on Sunday. The NT&DL champions suffered a debilitating 9-0 defeat at the hands of a very impressive Peake Villa side in Thurles.

The North Tipp men made a decent start as Peake struggled to match their physicality early on. Arra rattled the crossbar with a volley from all of 30 yards on the fifteenth minute, but unfortunately that was as good as it got for the Portroe men, who suffered three injuries before the 20th minute mark which greatly reduced their competitiveness in the tie.

Munster Junior Cup

Moneygall hosted Shinrone on Friday night in the Offaly derby and recorded an impressive 5-2 win. The hosts took a one-goal lead to the break courtesy of a Cameron Fleming penalty but were pegged back in the 50th minute as Michael Cordial drew Shinrone level. Dan Bevans gave Shinrone the lead in the 75th minute, but an inspired substitution from Billy Hayes swung the game in the home sides favour, going onto score four unanswered goals through Cian Ryan, Michael Ryan, Cameron Fleming, and Dara Lee, which secured a home tie against Sallypark next Friday.

Sallypark will be clear favourites, but Billy Hayes has Moneygall playing some fine football, particularly at home, and if they can get Niall Maher fit, they are in with a shout against the cup experts.

FAI Junior Cup

Killavilla United welcomed Tipperary Town to sunny Villa Park on Sunday and recorded an impressive 2-0 victory.

The home side started the brighter and 19-year-old Michael Fitzgerald had the Roscrea men in front when he tapped in an early goal on the rebound after an Eric Higgins save. Ryan Maher and Caleb Hickey both went close for Tipp Town, but Villa went in a goal to the good at the break thanks to some fine goalkeeping and the help of the woodwork.

Tom Ahearn played a back seat role last season, but he is back in the fold and is finding his form again. The all-action midfielder has a habit of turning up on the big occasion and in the 75th minute he once again had the crowd off their feet when he lashed a screamer into the top corner to double the Villa lead. They could have had more but for some wayward finishing, ultimately it did not matter in the end as Michael Lynch’s side continue to impress. The player of the match was up and coming Killavilla forward Ben Lynch, who is just 18-years-old.

Premier Division

The tightest defence in North Tipperary over the past few seasons has been Rearcross, and at home they are particularly hard to break down, and on Saturday they recorded their second clean-sheet in as many games against Clodiagh Rangers.

A well-taken but albeit scrappy goal from James Deegan in the 55th minute was enough for Rea’ to secure their first win of the campaign. Player of the match was Michael O’Gorman, who covered every blade of grass from a slightly deeper role than his usual striker position.

Ardcroney kicked off their league campaign on Sunday with a 3-2 win over BT Harps. Lee Doran opened the scoring for the home side inside five minutes with a calm finish inside the box. Henry Newman’s side rallied and hit the crossbar within thirty seconds of the restart, indeed Harps went on to create many chances in the first half, but were denied by Taylor Duffy, who was in inspired form between the posts.

Ardcroney fought back and with a slice of luck doubled their lead. Jamie Ryan rose highest following a Kieran Spain cross and will get the credit for the goal, but actually Ryan’s header went in off the keeper’s back after smashing off the crossbar. Ardcroney did not care either way and went in with a commanding two-goal lead.

Mid-way through the second half, Jack Daly found a crucial third goal for the home side as he unleashed a cracker from all of thirty yards into the bottom corner, leaving Eoin Brophy with no chance.

Ardcroney thought they had the game wrapped up, but BT Harps had other ideas. A change to a front-two and the introduction of former Nenagh Celtic star Szymon Popeila saw the Templemore men pull two goals back and push the newly promoted side to their limit. Substitute Lorcan Campion netted the first in the 80th minute, before Ben Stapleton reduced the deficit further in the 88th minute. In the end, Ardcroney were relieved to hear the full time whistle and secure a sweet victory over the side which dumped them out of last season’s Tipperary Cup at the semi-final stage.

There is no denying that Ardcroney will be a formidable side this season – particularly at home - and are capable of taking points off of any team in the Premier Division, however the title may be a step too far this season due to a lack of squad depth.

Division 1

Holycross made a huge statement in the Division 1 title race by going away to Sallypark and winning 4-2 on Sunday. Holycross took the lead after fifteen minutes when Calum O’Connor nodded in a Jack Ryan corner. Brian Mitchell continuing his purple patch for Sallypark with a goal in the 25th minute from a tight angle following a rebound from corner.

Callum O’Connor put the visitors ahead in the 55th minute and their task was made easier in the 70th minute, as Sallypark stalwart Eoin Ryan picked up his second yellow card. Sallypark did not accept defeat though, Jack Sanders drawing the home side level from the spot soon after. Holycross rallied once more, and Callum O’Connor completed his hat-trick with header from a Ben Slattery corner. Substitute Jojo O’Meara came off the bench to secure the win in the 80th minute having been played through by fellow substitute Seanie Comerford. It is a huge win for Davy English’s charges, who had player of the match Callum O’Connor to thank for the three points.

Portumna Town made the short trip to Borrisokane and added to home sides poor start with a 4-1 win. Borrisokane had it all to do as star centre-midfielder Brian Donnelly was shown the line after just three minutes following two yellow cards in as many minutes. Adam Fogarty and Matthew Roche had the visitors two-up by the 25th minute before Andrew Nevin immediately pulled one back for the hosts.

Portumna coach David Flaherty was shown a red card in the 75th minute, but it did not negatively affect the Galway men’s performance with Adam Fogarty netting a penalty in the 85th minute with Patrick O’Sullivan concluded the scoring three minutes later.

Division 2

Templetouhy was the venue as Borrisoleigh won 5-2 against Cloughjordan ‘B’ on Sunday. Dan Ryan scored twice in the first half for Borris either side of a Clough goal headed in by Leander Jorgensen from a corner. Eddie Ryan added one before the break to leave the hosts 3-1 up.

James Devaney and Kevin Maher scored a goal each in the second half before a bizarre period of play saw substitutes Fintan Holland and Alvis Danko needlessly get themselves sent off for silly yellow cards. Alex Wade pulled back a consolation goal from outside the box.

Moneygall ‘B’ were 8-0 winners away to Shinrone ‘B’. Sean Moroney and Stephen Maher netted one apiece, while Tommy Sheedy helped himself to just the four goals, whilst Billy Hayes reeled in the years with a six-minute brace in the second half.

Division 2 Shield

Grange United defeated Rearcross ‘B’ 5-2 in the semi-final on Sunday. Jason McCormack got the first two for Grange, before Jamie Dooley, Steven Finnan and Vinnie Cleere completed the scoring for the hosts. Oisin Kelly and David Brennan scored midway through the first half for Rearcross, but they had no answer for the newcomers to the league in the second half.

Thurles Town ran out 6-4 winners over Ballymackey ‘B’ in the second semi-final. Jordan Wetton netted a hat-trick for the hosts in the first half, whilst Tommy Brophy added a fourth to cancel out Jack Keneally’s reply. James Kenneally scored a hat-trick for Ballymackey in the second half, but goals from Dylan Gayson and Curtis Ryan secured safe passage to the final for Thurles.

Youths

In the only Youths game of the weekend, Killavilla United progressed in the FAI Cup after a 2-1 win over Galbally with Miko Pasalic and Matthew Moore on target.