Sallypark hit nine in Cup rout

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

FAI Junior Cup

Sallypark Odhrans got the round 1 action in the FAI Junior Cup underway with a 9-0 win away to Moneygall, under the lights on Friday night.

Sean Ryan helped himself to three goals and two assists while seventeen-year-old Tom Delaney also netted a hat-trick; and there was a goal apiece for Craig Connolly, Steven Murray, and Christopher Ryan.

Moneygall’s high line was always going to be a problem against the running power of Sallypark, and although this was a hard lesson to take, perhaps it will prove beneficial in the long run as they will face a similar threat from Adam Fogarty in their own division. The Park will be at home to the winner of Ballingarry Albion and Peake Villa.

Clodiagh Rangers advanced to the next round courtesy of a 3-2 win over Slievenamon Celtic/Kilsheelan United from the TSDL on Sunday.

Jack Lillis put Clodiagh ahead in the tenth minute, but the visitors drew level thanks to an early second half goal from Enis Birer. Youths player, Darren Kirwan was brought off the bench at half-time and made an immediate impact and the TSDL took the lead in the 54th minute. With just five minutes left, John Ryan fired home an equaliser for Clodiagh Rangers, and as both sides looked set for extra time, Jack Lillis popped up with his second goal in the final minute to send the NTDL side into the second-round.

Jack Lillis struggled for game time at Holycross last season, but his two goals will no doubt ensure he keeps his place in Clodiagh’s starting eleven. Adrian Cooke’s side face a difficult match away from home against Two Mile Borris St Kevin’s in round 2.

Killavilla United were 8-0 winners at away to TSDL Division 2 side Moyglass United. Frontmen Ruairi Murphy, Josh Wynne and Miko Pasalic netted a brace apiece while central midfielders Darren Coleman and David McNamara were also on target for the NTDL side. Villa are away to Cullen Lattin in round 2, which will be a significantly tougher test, but one that the NTDL champions will be expecting to edge.

Ballymackey lost 6-2 at home to Cashel Town, whilst Shinrone United lost 5-1 at home to Clonmel Town.

Premier Division

Last season’s challengers, Borroway Rovers made a disappointing start to their league campaign on Friday night, losing 3-0 away to a resurgent Rearcross outfit.

Usual suspect, James Deegan got the only goal of the first half after quarter on an hour. New signing Darragh O Siochru doubled the lead in the 69th minute, Deegan providing the assist. A key component to this side is Michael O’Gorman, and the returning captain showed just why in the 78th minute, when he netted having received a long range pass from goalkeeper Cathal Kennedy.

It was a tale of two halves in Michael Fennell Park on Sunday as an impressive and clinical BT Harps held on against a late Ardcroney onslaught.

Szymon Popiela was the star of the show, and it was the Polish strikers classy first half brace which separated the sides at the break. His first came on seventeen minutes from a free kick just outside the box; Popiela aimed for the keeper’s side and struck a dipping effort full of pace and top spin, which resulted in the ball taking a violent bounce off the hard ground and over the keeper’s dive.

The former Nenagh Celtic striker was dazzling again six minutes later with an even better goal, this time on the half volley, assisted by a cushioned header from the unassuming but talented youths player, Cormac Foy.

Due to his shot power and accuracy, Popiela is equally as dangerous inside the box as he is from the zone just outside it when Ardcroney gave him just a couple of yards of space on the edge of their area he violently smashed the ball high into the middle of the goal, the sheer speed of the effort beating the keeper on this occasion.

Harps were the better team in the first half, but there wasn’t a whole pile between the sides despite Ardcroney failing to create any significant chances. The introduction of Darren Moran for the visitors at half time was a big turning point in this game. The athletic and powerful striker was real handful for Harps, but he was equally matched by Filippo Fini, who will likely be the most influential signing in the NT&DL this season; the eighteen-year-old is tall, strong, and quick, and is showing already that he doesn’t mind getting stuck into the grittier side of the game.

Ardcroney pushed for a route back into the game and came close on multiple occasions, only to find goalkeeper Tom Bourke in inspired form, or a defender clearing off the line from a set-piece. The breakthrough finally came with four minutes remaining thanks to a Jack Daly penalty, but there just wasn’t enough time to get another significant attack on goal.

The big takeaway from this game is that Henry Newman’s BT Harps are going to mount a serious a title challenge this season. However, it will be interesting to see how they fair against a team that goes slightly more direct, such as Sallypark, as they seemed to sightly struggle when Ardcroney went long to Moran in the second half.

It was honours even at 3-3 when Arra Rovers made the long trip to take on Holycross on Sunday.

Holycross netted through Jack Dwan, Ben Hennessy, and John King while Callan Cottrell opened the scoring for Arra, before Diarmuid O’Donoghue chimed in with two powerful goals from range. Goalkeeper Conor Murphy, and the midfield duo of Michael King and Tomas Ryan are all new additions for Holycross who will be looking to consolidate their place in the premier division this season.

Division 1

On Sunday afternoon in Kilmastulla, Grange United reignited their fierce rivalry with Borrisoleigh, and much like last season in division 2, it was Grange who were convincing victors 7-3.

Borris took the lead on the half hour as an error at the back allowed James Devaney to slip past and cooly slot home from a tight angle. However, just before half time the hosts were awarded a penalty, which player of the match, Tommy Brophy tucked away.

Grange grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half, with goals from Jason McCormack, Steven Finan and Tommy Brophy all within the first seven minutes to turn the game on its head. Emmet Jones added a fifth with a powerful long range effort in the 68th minute, before former Thurles Town goal ace Tommy Brophy topped off a fine performance by securing his hat-trick with fifteen minutes to go. Substitute Taidhg Cuddy netted his first goal in the 82nd minute to make it a slick seven for Grange.

Borrisoleigh did add two more in between through Kevin Maher and Keiran Maher, however, they have a bit of work to do if they are to be competitive against the title chasing trio including Shinrone United and Portumna Town.

Division 2

Goalkeeper Taylor Duffy was the difference for Ardcroney ‘B’ on Sunday as they won 3-0 at home to Moneygall ‘B’. The sides went in level at the break, but it wasn't for a lack of chances. Duffy kept them out at one end whilst the hosts failed to find the target at the other.

Ronan Clifford opened the scoring just after half time with a towering leap and bullet header from a Liam Heffernan corner. Moneygall were gifted a chance to equalise shortly after when Eden Courtney fouled in the box, but captain Duffy got down well to save the resulting penalty. It was backs to the wall for Ardcroney for a while until a counter attacking goal late on from Sebastiao Ananias De Mesquita ‘Wesley’ secured the points. With time almost up, Ronan Clifford was brought down inside the Moneygall area and dispatched the resulting penalty himself to conclude the scoring.

Ballymackey ‘B’ won 6-2 away to Shinrone United ‘B’ thanks to a Paddy Touhy hat-trick, and goals from Timmy Fleming, Paul Duffey and Darragh Campbell.

Borrisokane ‘B’ were 2-1 winners at home to Templetouhy thanks to goals from Joshua Claffey and Adam Donnelly. Finbarr Ryan netted Templetouhy’s only reply.

Birdhill won 2-0 at home to Rearcross ‘B’ thanks to first half goals from Brian Tobin and Sean McHugo.

Sallypark Odhrans ‘B’ were a goal to the good at halftime away to Killavilla United ‘B’, but second half goals from substitutes Craig Phelan and Cillian Walsh meant the points stayed in Roscrea.