Killavilla and Sallypark head out on the road in Munster Junior Cup
By Gary Culbert
Munster Junior Cup
Killavilla United were comfortable 5-2 winners over Ballymackey in Ballinree on Sunday to progress to the open draw of the Munster Junior Cup.
Adam Healy scored a penalty for Ballymackey in the first half, but Tom Aherne goals either side of one apiece from Michael Fitzgerald and David McNamara saw the Roscrea outfit go in 4-1 up at the interval.
Former Moneygall goal ace Josh Wynne made it five in the second half and then they rang the changes. The home side took advantage of this and pulled goals back through Mark Carey and a Colm Maher penalty, but Killavilla were never in danger. The player of the match was Villa’s Darren Coleman.
Killavilla will host Portlaw United from Waterford in the last 32 of the Munster Junior Cup.
Sallypark Odhrans also advanced to the open draw of the Munster Junior Cup thanks to a 3-2 win away to Ardcroney on Sunday.
Ross Hughes gave Ardcroney the lead in the 26th minute, but goals from Craig Connelly and Danny O’Donoghue saw the ‘Park go in 2-1 up at the break. Paul Walsh put the division 1 side 3-1 up in the 53rd minute, before Lee Heffernan pulled one back for the premier division side in the 56th minute. Sallypark held out to end Ardcroney’s six game winning streak against NT&DL opposition.
Sallypark will host Regional United from Limerick in the last 32 of the Munster Junior Cup.
Premier Division
Title dark horses BT Harps won 5-1 in the home of the champions, Arra Rovers on Sunday to move top of the table.
The visitors victory was sealed early in the first period as a hat-trick from Ben Stapleton and a header from Jack Kennedy had the Templemore men 4-0 up at the break.
Stapleton made it five after the restart with his second headed goal. The home side pulled a goal back through a penalty, but it was only a consolation goal.
Jack Kennedy and Lyndon Fairbrother stood out in defence for Harps, whilst Emmet Moloney and Stevie Nolan ran the midfield. Ben Stapleton was a constant threat up front, and his partner Shane Doyle assisted him in a few of his goals. Rhys Loughnane was the pick of the substitutes introduced by Henry Newman.
Division 1
Portumna Town picked up the only points on offer in division 1 last weekend with two unanswered goals in Moneygall on Friday night.
The visitors took the lead in the 50th minute through David O’Meara, and Moneygall’s task was made increasingly difficult shortly after when both Jack Lee and Aaron Lee were sent off. Portumna’s new signing Neil Connelly scored in the 86th minute to put the game to bed.
Next up for Moneygall is a daunting away day in Holycross, whilst Portumna should easily pick up all three points at home to Shinrone.
It's early days in the league but this Portumna team could be right in the mix for promotion if they can get some consistency in their player availability. The youthful flair of Adam Fogarty, Oisin Fogarty and Neil Connolly mixed with the wise old heads in defence could be just the platform for this team under new management to thrive.
Division 2
A first half brace apiece from Andy Brennan and Alex Wade done the damage as a strong Cloughjordan ‘B’ side won 4-1 over Shinrone ‘B’ in Tierney Park on Sunday. Philip Murphy got the visitors only goal of the game in the first half.
Thurles Town were 4-3 winners over Rearcross ‘B’ in the Greyhound Stadium on Sunday. A Tommy Brophy brace and goals from Joe Hennessy and Andras Schlingloff were enough for the hosts to overcome Rea’s goals from a David Brennan brace and Oisin Kelly.
Borris-Ileigh were 5-0 winners over Templetuohy. Eddie Ryan netted a hat-trick in the opening 45 minutes and James Devaney added another to leave it 4-0 at the break. Alvis Danko scored a goal of his own in the second half to conclude the scoring.
Youths
Killavilla United bowed out of the FAI Youth Cup on Saturday following a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Borris St Kevins in Two-Mile Borris.
After a week of rain and more during the match, conditions underfoot in Villa Park were far from ideal, but the visitors started well and immediately went on the attack. The TS&DL side created several clear cut chances in the first half, but some fine goalkeeping meant the sides went in scoreless at the break.
Just after half time, Killavilla took the lead when a long ball eluded the St Kevin’s defence and was latched onto by Leigh Loughnane to give Killavilla the lead against the run of play. Borris were suddenly jolted into life and within a minute drew level through Tom Ryan.
The visitors dominated the rest of the match and had the result wrapped up in the next ten minutes with goals from Tristan Troy and another from Tom Ryan to make it 3-1. Tom Ryan put the game to bed in the 70th minute when he rounded the keeper to claim his hat-trick with Jake Jordan concluding the scoring at the death.
Best for Killavilla was Sam Dooley, but player of the match was Borris St. Kevin’s hat-trick hero Tom Ryan.
Rearcross came out the right side of a ten-goal thriller when they hosted Ballymackey on Saturday in the NT&DL Youth League.
Bally’ keeper Paraic Bergin kept the Rea’ boys at bay for the opening quarter, but he was beaten in the sixteenth minute by James Butler. Patrick Ryan netted next for the hosts, before James Kenneally pulled one back for Ballymackey. An acrobatic goal from Sean Griffin and a Calum Wallace penalty saw Rea’ go into the dressing room with a commanding 4-1 lead.
Ballymackey came out fired up and a hat-trick of James Kenneally goals in a ten-minute spell left the sides tied 4-4. Rearcross found another gear and were back in front on the hour mark when Larry Collins scored with a cracking thirty yard strike. The game had been hotly contested throughout and reached boiling point a minute later, which resulted in James Kenneally being shown a second yellow card. Rearcross were given breathing space four minutes from time when player of the match Luke Carroll scored from the halfway line following a Ballymackey goal kick.
BT Harps ran out 6-3 winners over Cloughjordan at Michael Fennell Park, Templemore on Sunday.
The home side found the net through Oisin Dwyer, Dayle Hogan, Marco Bovi, Ryan Coleman, Cormac Foy, and Ryan Loughnane. Cloughjordan’s scorers were Michael Hennelly, Cormac Hoolan and Thomas O’Brien. Best for Cloughjordan was Dylan Delaney, whilst player of the match was BT’s Oisin Dwyer.
Holycross were 3-1 winners over Arra Rovers in Portroe. It was scoreless for the first half hour until Conor O’Sullivan finished with class to put Holycross one-up at half time. Arra levelled direct from a free kick then Darragh Ryan headed the visitors in front once more. Sean Ryan ensured the points for Holycross with a late goal.