Sallypark show title potential in league opener
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
Ardcroney 1-4 Sallypark Odhrans
Sallypark got their Premier League campaign off to a flying start on Sunday, winning 4-1 away to Ardcroney in what can only be described as a crazy game.
The home side, playing into the strong wind at their backs in the opening half, started the brightest enjoying prolonged spells of possession which led to a couple of half chances. However, Sallypark were always going to be a threat from set-pieces and in the 39th minute Jack Sanders once again demonstrated this, not only with his ruthless finishing inside the box, but also his equally impressive reading of the game and where the ball is going to break. The Londoner has a real knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Sallypark smelled blood from the restart and just a minute later, Sanders neatly finished off an Alan Flynn cross at the back post. Ardcroney pulled one back from a Jack Daly free-kick shortly after to halve the deficit heading into the break.
A chaotic second half began and ended with red cards for Christopher Ryan and Eoin Ryan respectively, and also saw Ardcroney miss two penalties and hit the woodwork on two occasions.
However, despite all that, the truth is Sallypark were never really in any real jeopardy of dropping points. The closest that Ardcroney came to level was shortly after the first red card, when Kieran Spain saw his lob beat the keeper only to be heroically cleared off the line and onto the crossbar by Jonathan Mulqueen, who impressed from centre back on his debut for ‘The Park.
The ten-men from Latteragh made it 3-1 in the 73rd minute when seventeen-year-old Tom Delaney capitalised on a mistake in the Ardcroney defence.
The hosts continued to create decent chances, but the clock was not on their side, and when they failed to halve the deficit from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining, you could tell it was not going to be their day as Jack Sanders completed his hat-trick with a penalty of his own to copper-fasten the three points for the visitors.
Ardcroney thought they had pulled one back in the dying moments from another penalty, however a retake was required but not converted.
This win against the odds demonstrates Sallypark’s intentions this season on their return to the premier division; they are not a team to be taken lightly and have a very strong squad this season. As ever they are strong in defence and have pace and power up top, in fact the only position where they are a little bit light is in central midfield; then again it was never going to be easy to replace their best player last season - Bryan McGee. Lee Mitchell was joined by Christopher Ryan in central midfield expect to see them in many different combinations in the engine room this season, especially given the versatility of players such as Alan Flynn and Jack Sanders to play this role.
Arra Rovers 2-4 BT Harps
BT Harps were impressive in winning 4-2 away to Arra Rovers on Sunday to continue their winning start to the league.
Despite playing into a gale-force wind in the first half, it was the home side who took the lead, Kiefer O’Brien finding the net after ten minutes played.
The visitors equalised midway through the half through young Cormac Foy, whose strike was heavily assisted by the wind, which caused it to swerve violently before nestling into the top corner at the near post. Foy is enjoying a breakout season under Henry Newman, who recognised his talent and deserves credit for throwing him in at the deep end.
Arra almost got out of the wind with the scores level, but in first half injury time Harps won a penalty, which Szymon Popiela converted.
The killer blow was dealt five minutes after the interval, Popiela once again on target for Harps. Sean Purcell made it 4-1 midway through the half before Arra scored a penalty with ten minutes to go through Cathal O’Brien which proved to be a consolation.
Next up for Harps is an intriguing away match against Rearcross on Saturday night, where the pace of Filippo Fini will definitely be required against James Deegan and Michael O’Gorman.
Arra’s squad has received a welcome boost through the signing of former Ballymackey player Mark Carey, a much-needed midfielder given the absence of Stephen Kennedy so far this season. Arra will be eyeing up their first three points of the season next weekend when they welcome Holycross to Portroe.
Borroway Rovers 1-3 Holycross
Holycross breathed life into their league campaign courtesy of a 3-1 win away to Borroway on Sunday.
The home side took the lead inside five minutes, Damien Walczak firing home from a Dean McCormack assist. Holycross found a route back into the game on the half hour mark through centre back Cormac O’Connor, assisted by fellow defender Liam Ryan’s in-swinging corner. The turnaround was complete three minutes later when Ryan was once again on hand with an in-swinging corner, this time it was a different defender in Calum O’Connor who applied the finish.
Shortly before the break, Tomas Ryan provided an inch perfect cross-field pass for Philip Fogarty who made no mistake, beating Mick Mackey at the near post with a powerful effort to put clear daylight between the sides. There were no further goals in this one and its already looking like an uphill battle for Borroway this season.
DIVISION 1
The biggest shock in the entire NT&DL came in Galway, where Borrisoleigh overcame Portumna Town 5-2 on Sunday.
Kieran Maher gave Borris the lead inside two minutes and James Devaney doubled the advantage on eighteen. Powerful striker Adam Fogarty pulled one back in the 23rd minute for Portumna, but Devaney went on to complete a first half hat-trick thanks to two quick-fire goals just before half time to leave Borrisoleigh 4-1 to the good.
Conor Moore pulled one back for the home side midway through the second half, but Borrisoleigh’s Kevin Maher put the icing on the cake with a 90th minute goal.
This result throws the form book out the window and shows just how competitive the division will be this year.
Another huge result saw Shinrone United go away from home and hand Grange United their first league loss since joining the NT&DL.
The visitors took the lead inside two minutes through Riann McLoughlin, and he was on target again in the tenth minute to double the Offaly side’s lead. Five minutes later, Grange pulled one back from the spot through Gearoid Gaughan, the penalty awarded after Dwane Palmer was brought down inside the box. However, Shinrone had the ball in the back of the net once again on the half hour, this time Derek McLoughlin was the one to wheel away celebrating after his shot deflected into the net.
Grange upped their game in the second half with some better combinations in midfield. Jason McCormack halved the deficit with an effort from the edge of the box that made its way under the keeper, to make it 3-2.
In the 80th minute, Shinrone firmly but the game to bed with a cross making its way to the back post for a simple tap in for Alex Moloney, to make it 4-2.
It is a disappointing result for Grange, who admittedly are still waiting on players to come back, but with so few teams in the division this year, the damage to their league position could be done again they get their full quartet back.
Next up for the in-form Shinrone is a home tie against Killavilla United in the second round of the Munster Junior Cup. With almost half of the Shinrone team having played for ‘Villa at one time, there are bragging rights and reputations on the line, as well as a home tie against the winners of Rearcross v BT Harps to see who makes it out of North Tipperary into the open draw of the last 32. All things considered this is a game not to be missed.
Moneygall dispatched of Clodiagh Rangers 2-0 on Monday night thanks to goals from Darragh Lee and Jack O'Brien, while Dylan Maher was the player of the match.
Moneygall are a very impressive passing and possession team, more so at home; they are definitely a team that can take points off of the title hopefuls this season.