Ardcroney and Borroway continue strong starts

By Gary Culbert

Premier Division

Ballymackey 1-2 Ardcroney

Ardcroney continued their fine start to the season with a nervy 2-1 win away to Ballymackey on Sunday.

The match started with a slow and nervy atmosphere. Ballymackey created the better chances in the early few minutes but some vital blocks from Ardcroney’s centre-back trio of Luke Dervan, Dylan Armstrong and Shane Doran kept the hosts at bay.

Midway through the half, the ball fell kindly to Ardcroney’s Brazilian talisman Wesley, who caught Brendan Hayes off-guard and off his line and his shot from 35 yards flew into the back of the net.

Ardcroney pushed on and got further reward five minutes later when a Jack Daly cross was floated into the box and Jamie Ryan rose the highest using the back of his head to direct it goalwards into the corner. The Roscrea native further proving that his start to the season was no fluke.

Clear cut chances were few and far between in the second half, so a moment of magic would be needed if Ballymackey were to claw their way back into this game. Substitute Dylan Kennedy produced just what the doctor ordered with a moment of supreme quality in the 80th minute. The ball was fizzed into Kennedy who completed a fantastic flick around the corner and spun the Ardcroney defence before poking the ball past goalkeeper Taylor Duffy from six yards.

Ardcroney held out with some good game management to take all three points off the home side. Ardcroney’s Alan Darcy was the player of the match.

Borroway Rovers 3-2 Clodiagh Rangers

Early pace-setters Borroway Rovers won 3-2 at home to Clodiagh Rangers on Sunday thanks to goals from Jake Moore, Jamie Ferncombe and Dean McCormack. James Griffin and Matty Stakelum netted Clodiagh’s replies.

Division 1

Holycross and Birdhill continued their respective contrasting starts to the season on Sunday in Glenbane, where the hosts hitting seven unanswered goals. Callum O’Connor got the show on the road with a penalty on 23 minutes, and Ben Slattery doubled the lead two minutes later. Substitute Jack Dwan added one shortly after to leave Holycross three up at the break. Dwan netted two more around the hour mark, before Callum O’Connor completed his own hat-trick with goals in the 71st & 80th minutes.

Division 2

Sallypark Odhrans ‘B’ upset the odds on Sunday by holding Thurles Town to a 2-2 draw in Latteragh. The home side started the strongest and had a couple of good chances that went to waste. Jack Hogan’s running power was causing serious problems for the Thurles rearguard, but it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play.

The opener came after fifteen minutes, direct from a corner on the right that was whipped in by the left boot of Dylan Gayson to Dylan Reid got his head to it but could not keep it out at near post.

Sallypark were level just five minutes later when Jack Hogan linked up well with David Young before burying a great strike from twenty yards. The ‘Park then took the lead five minutes before half time when Paddy Ronan played the ball into the feet of Padraig Ryan just inside the box, who spun his man before being brought down in the box. Brian McGahey sauntered up from full back to convert his third penalty in as many league games to give the hosts a 2-1 lead at the break.

The second half continued how the first left off, Sallypark had numerous opportunities to put the game to bed, but Thurles hung in there and eventually turned the tide. The visitors took control of midfield and were rewarded with a penalty in the 75th minute, which Patryk Wisniewski struck home to draw the sides level once more.

Both teams had chances to win the game, but both keepers made fine saves in one-on-one situations. The best chance for either side to achieve maximum points fell to Paddy Ronan, but the Sallypark man put his free header over the bar.

Eoin Ryan had a fine game in goals for Sallypark and Aaron Reid was impressive at centre back, whilst Jack Hogan was the biggest threat for the hosts all game.

The biggest upset of the weekend’s NT&DL action came in the Shinrone United ‘B’ and Grange United game, where the Shield winners had to share the spoils despite leading 3-0 with ten minutes to go in Shinrone.

Darren Drennan scored in the 25th & 39th minutes to leave Grange two-up at the break, before assisting substitute Stephen Dunphy for their third. Grange could have been excused for thinking they were home and hosed in the 82nd minute, and even after Cathal Bergin pulled one back for the hosts a minute later you would still expect a team of their calibre to hold out for the win.

But that was not the case, goals from James Kelly and DJ McLoughlin in the 86th & 88th minutes saw Grange slump to a disappointing draw on their debut in the league, which they will be expected to win. Ray Cordial and David McLoughlin impressed for Shinrone, whilst the introduction of Dan Bevans from the bench was important too.

A strong Cloughjordan ‘B’ side travelled to Drombane on Sunday but came out on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline to Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’. Luke Morkan had the visitors in front after ten minutes, but goals from Pa Dwyer and Dylan O’Grady in the 15th & 40th minutes had the home side 2-1 up at the break. Paul Ryan gave Clodiagh breathing room in the 50th minute and they never looked back from there to claim an impressive three points.

Youths Premier Division

On Saturday afternoon, Cloughjordan picked up three points from local rivals Ballymackey, courtesy of a 6-1 win in Tierney Park. Dylan Delaney hit a hat-trick for Clough, whilst Fiachradh Ahearne Woods, Scott Kenny and Thomas O'Brien all chipped in with a goal apiece. Player of the match was Fiachradh Ahearne Woods.