Reacross take flight in FAI Junior Cup
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
FAI Junior Cup
Cullen Lattin 0-1 Rearcross
Rearcross made the relatively short journey to face Cullen Lattin in the third round of the FAI Junior Cup on Sunday and came away with an incredibly impressive 1-0 victory, and a place in the open draw of the last 64 teams in Ireland.
An early chance saw Conor Nolan pick up the ball on the left, beat his marker and played a great through ball to James Deegan, but the usually lethal marksman shot straight at the keeper.
Cullen weathered this storm and began to grow into the contest and they thought they had their noses in front on twenty minutes when, after a foray of pinball in the area, they did eventually beat goalkeeper Cathal Kennedy, but the effort struck the inside of the post and bounce out of danger.
Cullen rattled the post for the second time ten minutes later, again coming from a mix up in the Rea' defence. This time the rebound off the post fell to a Cullen player, but with the goal at his mercy his strike went the wrong side of the post. This was a real let off for Rea’.
Rearcross finished the half strongly, and then started the second half very well and were very unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions. Paddy Deegan created a good chance, and then another fell to Tadgh O Siochrú, but his powerful volley from an acute angle was impressively tipped over the bar by the Cullen Lattin keeper, Darren Hueston.
Rearcross introduced Paddy Dawson in the 65th minute on the right wing and five minutes later he put the visitors in front from all of thirty yards out, with a strike which seemed to deceive the home keeper.
Cullen had to push men forward and it was the NT&DL side who nearly caught them on the counter-attack through the pacey James Deegan, who found himself one-on-one with the keeper after Daragh O Siochrú played him through, but just as he was about to pull the trigger the ball bobbled and his strike went the wrong side of the post.
A few minutes later, Rea' thought they had doubled their lead when Paddy Dawson got the ball on the right wing and his brilliant cross found Conor Nolan, whose first time strike hit the back of the net only for it to be ruled out for offside. The next chance again fell to Rea' when the ball broke to Deegan in the box, but his lob just went over the bar with the keeper beaten.
To their credit, Cullen Lattin kept pushing until the end and the last chance fell to them but a combination of the Rea' goalkeeper Cathal Kennedy and his experienced centre back, Greg Kennedy ensured the scoreline remained intact.
This was another great team performance for Rearcross, where once again their bench had a huge impact.
Premier Division
Arra Rovers 0-3 Ballymackey
Ballymackey have been the surprise package in the premier division so far this season, and on Sunday, they made the trip to 2023 champions Arra Rovers and came away with all three points.
The game started at a frantic pace with both teams putting in some hard tackles. Arra were dominant in midfield and pressing hard, but they couldn't find the final pass against a resolute Bally' defence. The visitors slowly got to grips with the midfield assignment and had a few chances, then, on the half-hour, James Kenneally finished a great through ball from Aidan White to the bottom corner of the net.
The second half started with Arra stepping up a gear and throwing the kitchen sink at the visitors, but their defence stood firm and particularly goalkeeper Brendan Hayes impressed under pressure, dominating his area.
This display of leadership spurred on Ballymackey and in the 65th minute they broke quickly with Colm Maher was free down the left wing, before crossing to the back post for the industrious Cillian Bergin, who finished from close range.
Ballymackey's tails were up and they put the game to bed in the 80th minute when Aidan White scored from the spot after James Kenneally was brought down in the penalty area.
Brendan Hayes was the best for Ballymackey, while Damien Bergin in defence had another impressive performance. Also notable was the manner in which Aiden White took control of the game when introduced off the bench.
Sallypark Odhrans 0-1 BT Harps
BT Harps continued their perfect league campaign when they came out the right side of a dog fight in Latteragh, claiming all three points in a 1-0 away win to newly promoted Sallypark.
The visitors started well, but the home side ground them down as the half went on and were unlucky not to have gone ahead. However, it was Harps that went in at the break one to the good, and it was that same old combination again - Cormac Foy providing the ammunition for goal machine Szymon Popiela, who converted the free kick that the youngster won.
It was admittedly a scrappy second half, which saw the Harps defence under pressure at times, but they did their job and so did young Tom Burke in goal when called upon. Harps had a couple of chances, but it was one of their own former players, Sallypark keeper David Kinnane who kept it at one.
Harps held out for the victory in what was a tough game. Their strength in depth is hugely impressive and rivals that of Killavilla. Lyndon Fairbrother was very impressive in defence, whilst Cormac Foy and Jack Johnston were always an outlet on the counter, their young quick feet causing the opposition problems.
Ardcroney 1-4 Killavilla United
It was the Johnny Corboy show in Ardcroney on Sunday as the 24-year-old attackers hat-trick proving to be the difference between the sides with Killavilla United winning 4-1.
Michael Fitzgerald had the champions ahead on the half hour, before Corboy netted his first just before the interval.
The hosts did pull one back early in the second half through Kieran Spain and were in the ascendancy, but they poked the bear and the Roscrea men replied instantly to make it 3-1. However, in celebrating the goal, Michael Ryan managed to get himself a straight red card, but it mattered for little as the champions rolled over another team on the way to face their real competitor this season – BT Harps.
It has to be said that it is really positive for the NT&DL to have these two powerful 'town' sides pushing eachothers standards every week. The attacking firepower that Villa have is embarrassingly rich; Ruairi Murphy, Ben Lynch and Tom Aherne were not even in the match day squad for this game, while there was no room for Michael Ryan, Miko Pasalic or Kenny Lee in the first eleven. The latter making his return to Roscrea following stints with St Patrick's Athletic and Limerick.
First Division
On Sunday, Grange United undoubtedly experienced their darkest day since entering the NT&DL. The Laois side finished their game in Shinrone United with just eight players and ultimately came out the wrong side of an eight-goal game, 5-3, and now have dropped like a led balloon out of this season's title race.
Despite going down to ten men after just four minutes, Grange put in a huge effort and went in at half time 2-1 up thanks to goals from the ageless Tommy Brophy. The former Thurles Town hit man gave the visitors the lead in the sixteenth minute off the back of a Steven Finnan pass, and the 37-year-old doubled his tally in the 23rd minute after Philip Tynan played him through.
Shinrone have an abundance of experience in their ranks, and it was their eldest statesmen, 44-year-old Derek McLoughlin who dragged them back into the tie in the 34th minute.
In the second half, Shinrone used the additional man to good effect and they showed why they are still undefeated. Three assists in the second half from David Joseph 'DJ' McLoughlin saw Riann McLoughlin draw Shinrone level in the 53rd minute; take the lead through Kian Fallon in the 56th and double that lead in the 67th minute through Riann McLoughlin's second of the game.
Grange went down to ten men in the 70th minute when goalkeeper Matthew Peters saw red in the aftermath of conceding a penalty. Riann McLoughlin completed his hat-trick from the spot to leave the home side 5-2 up, but Tommy Brophy was not to be outdone and converted a consolation penalty in the 87th minute to round off his own hat-trick, before Grange were ultimately reduced to nine men in the 90th minute.
Moneygall announced their coming of age in this title race on Sunday when they easily dispatched of Cloughjordan with four unanswered goals in Tierney Park.
In recent years, Moneygall have visibly wilted on this very ground, but they arrived in strong numbers and looked physically better prepared than their hosts from the off. Former Athlone Town player Kevin Fitzgerald netted twice on his return to Moneygall, while Jack O'Brien and Jack Lee were also on target for the visitors. There was a first Moneygall start for Dylan Hogan, whilst Gearoid Larkin notched up two assists in what was his second game of the season.