Ardcroney anguish as Ballymackey blow title race wide open
By Gary Culbert
Premier Division
Ardcroney 1-1 Ballymackey
Ballymackey were organised and determined when they went away to Ardcroney on Sunday morning, and they will feel somewhat disappointed to only come away with a point following a tight 1-1 draw against the league leaders.
Ill-discipline and injuries came back to haunt the title hopefuls; Shane Doran continues to serve his three-match ban and Jamie Ryan missed out after an accumulation of yellow cards, whilst Luke Dervan missed out through injury. All of this meant that Glen Austin had to shuffle his deck, handing debuts to Brendan Fogarty and Chris Fogarty at either end of the park. The Lorrha duo acquitted themselves well on their return to the NT&DL, but any team would miss the intensity that Dervan and Doran bring.
A lacklustre opening 45 minutes saw the teams go in level at the break. Ardcroney went close just after halftime; Darren Moran flicking on at the front post from a Jack Daly long throw, only for Ballymackey captain Brendan Hayes to produce an important save.
Ballymackey began to get joy down the left and Kevin McCarthy stood out in his central midfield role, mainly due to his composure on the ball. The visitors looked more likely as the game went on and no one was surprised to see the goal come from the left flank of their attack as they opened the scoring on the hour mark courtesy of a sublime curling effort from Adam Healy, which nestled right up into the top corner leaving Taylor Duffy stuck to his line. The former Nenagh Celtic man’s strike came at the second time of asking after his initial effort from a free-kick hit the wall. It was a silly free for Ardcroney to give away, particularly as the player was going away from goal.
Shortly after, Andrew Hayes missed a huge chance at the back post following another Jack Daly throw.
Ardcroney had a lot of the ball but were moving it slowly out from the back, compared to the visitors who were striking fast on the counter with open ground to run into. Indeed, they almost doubled their lead on the counter when a teasing ball across the box from David O’Brien almost found Adam Hall at the back post, but a timely interception from Dylan Armstrong saved the day.
Ballymackey continued to exploit the left side of their attack; Cathal Spillane linking up well with substitute Darragh McDonnell. They could have sealed an important three points when Kevin McCarthy was played through on the counter by Adam Hall, but he failed to convert.
Ardcroney looked most likely from long throws, they once again almost levelled from a Darren Moran flick on at the front post, but Damien Bergin smartly took up a front post position similar to defending a corner and was able to keep the ball out.
Ardcroney’s perseverance paid off with five minutes to go when Kieran Spain was alert to follow in on a deflected shot and rescue a point with a cushioned volley.
On the day, Ballymackey played well with the ball on the ground and were really good value for the draw. David Haverty impressed in his new role at centre back and Damien Bergin did surprisingly well to win the majority of his aerial duels against the physically imposing Darren Moran.
The reality now for Ardcroney is that all of their title rivals have enough games on hand to overtake them, but it has still been a hugely impressive first season in the Premier Division.
Just like last season Ballymackey have clicked near the business end, but on this occasion, they may have left themselves too much to do to avoid the drop. That being said, Rearcross have not being pulling trees up this season and will be looking over their shoulders at the fine outfit that Ballymackey have become.
Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup
Arra Rovers won 6-0 against Borrisoleigh, comprehensively avoiding a potential banana skin against a youthful side who are fighting for the title in Division 2.
John Sheedy put Arra ahead on twenty minutes before Kevin O'Halloran doubled the lead on the stroke of half time. Arra’s most influential player, Stephen Kennedy made it 3-0 on fifty minutes before Jack O’Brien scored a brace of goals in the 60th & 72nd minutes. Conor Ryan completed the rout in the 82nd minute to send the Portroe men into the last 8, where a trip to Grange United awaits.
BT Harps advanced to the quarter finals courtesy of a 3-1 win at home to Moneygall. The scoreline does not reflect how close this game was with Harps victory only secured in the last minute through a Ben Stapleton strike.
The young Moneygall team had nothing to lose coming up against the holders, what resulted was a tight enough game. The first chance of the game fell to Moneygall, but substitute keeper Jordan Moloney came out on top in the one on one. Harps made the breakthrough on the half hour mark when an Eanna McBride header towards goal was poked home by Cain Russell.
The hosts doubled their lead in the second half when Stapleton was taken down in the box, Stevie Nolan converting the resulting penalty. Harps should have seen it out from here, but Aodhan Ryan scored for Moneygall to ensure a nervy final quarter of an hour. Harps were on the back foot for long periods of the final fifteen minutes, but when Ben Stapleton made it 3-1 in the final minute the pressure was relieved, and Harps were one step closer to retaining the Tipperary Cup.
Moneygall ‘B’ were shock 3-2 winners over Shinrone ‘A’ on Friday night. Shinrone took a 2-1 lead into the break thanks to early goals from Darragh Landy and Peter Cleary, whilst Tommy Teehan netted for Moneygall. Kian Fallon stole the show with a brace of goals in the 84th & 87th minutes to see Moneygall ‘B’ into the last 16, where they will make the short trip to Ballinree to take on a very strong Ballymackey ‘A’ side.
Grange United progressed to the last eight on a 2-1 scoreline in Villa Park after a tough battle with Killavilla ‘B’, which required extra time. The home side took the lead after just two minutes with a fine strike from the edge of the box from Jamie Boland. Grange took some time to settle but eventually got on top and grabbed the leveller on 32 minutes from an Emmet Jones strike.
There was very little between the two teams for the remainder of the game, but Grange will feel they could have claimed the win in normal time with a couple of missed chances. However, not long after extra time began the two substitutes combined; Jason McCormack set Tommy Brophy away and the former Thurles man made no mistake slotting home the winner.
Clodiagh Rangers ‘A’ continued their fine cup run with a comprehensive 6-1 win away to Borrisokane on Sunday. Michael Carroll netted a brace from the bench for the visitors, whilst Brian Hanrahan, Edward Bergin, David Butler, and John Ryan were also on target to send the Drombane men into a home tie in the last 8.
Division 1
Sallypark went away to Glenbane in a top of the table clash against Holycross and came away with a 1-1 draw.
Holycross got an early goal from a corner, young Audie Lohan putting the hosts one up and that was how it remained heading into the break. Sallypark started the second half better and had more of the ball and chances.
The league leaders pressure was rewarded early in the half when they won a penalty following a corner. Stephen Murray confidently stepped up and slotted the ball into the corner. Both teams got chances to steal all three points, but both keepers made some good saves to keep the scores at one apiece. The standout players for Sallypark were the midfield trio of Roy Creagh, Dale Donnelly, and Brian Duffy, who covered every blade of grass.