Villa and Harps stay rolling ahead of Cup clash
North Tipperary & District League Review
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
Rearcross 3-3 Holycross
Fresh from their FAI Junior Cup exploits, it was back to the bread and butter of the NT&DL premier division for Rearcross on Saturday night as they entertained Holycross under the lights in a game which ended in an entertaining 3-3 draw.
The home side were quickest out of the blocks, Paddy Deegan stinging the keeper’s hands with a testing volley. However, it was Holycross who took the lead against the run of play when Stephen Flanagan slipped the ball through to Philly Fogarty, who kept his composure to finish past the onrushing Cathal Kennedy.
With their tails up, Holycross went close to doubling the lead five minutes later when Stephen Quinlan beat his marker and cut the ball back to the edge of the area to Stephen Flanagan, whose effort clipped the top of the bar.
Rearcross drew level ten minutes before the break when the ball fell to James Deegan outside the box and, despite being surrounded by a number of defenders, managed to create a yard of space before unleashing a rasper of a shot with the outside of his boot into the corner of the net.
Rea’ dominated the opening twenty minutes of the second half and had numerous chances to take the lead, but the closest was a James Deegan effort that hit the post. In the 70th minute, Holycross made the home side rue their misses when a long goal-kick went all the way through to Tossy Ryan who finished well to give his side the lead once more. Rea’ responded immediately through an in-swinging corner from Daragh O Siochrú, which fell at the feet of James Deegan who smashed home.
With just five minutes remaining, Rea’ were awarded a penalty; Greg Kennedy converting the resulting spot kick and it looked like Rea’ had done enough to secure all the points. However, right at the death Stevie Flanagan swung in a free kick from the right to the back post and, despite Cathal Kennedy producing a brilliant save from the initial header, there was nothing he could do to deny Michael King, who was quickest to react stabbing home the rebound.
BT Harps 3-1 Ballymackey
BT Harps came from a goal down to defeat Ballymackey at Michael Fennell Park on Sunday and maintain their perfect start to the league season.
This contest started at a frantic pace with Ballymackey taking the game to the fancied home side. The first half ended scoreless, but it was not for want of trying; Ballymackey had the best chances and on another day, James Kenneally could have had a hat-trick by half time. The in-form youngster’s best chance was a one-on-one with Tom Bourke but could only fire straight at the young Harps goal-minder.
The second half was much the same with both sides creating but not taking their chances. Then, on the hour minute mark, Kenneally pounced on a through ball from Aiden White to give the visitors the lead.
Ballymackey weathered the storm from BT Harps until the seventieth minute, when the hosts scored from a set-piece to level; Szymon Popiela netting his seventh goal in all competitions.
Harps have a strong and effective youthful bench and it proved itself again as Ryan Loughnane was introduced on the hour mark and he went on to capitalise on two defensive errors to secure all three points.
Killavilla United 4-2 Arra Rovers
Arra Rovers threatened to cause an upset when they led 2-1 at half time at Villa Park on Sunday, but Killavilla netted three goals in the second half to maintain their unbeaten run.
Jack Moloney scored both of the Arra goals, while Craig Byrne responded for the champions in the first half. Johnny Corboy continued his purple patch to draw the sides level in the second half, before two goals substitutes Kenny Lee and Dan Ryan sealing the deal, doing exactly what manager Michael Lynch brought them on to do.
Sallypark Odhrans 2-3 Ardcroney
Ardcroney breathed new life into their season with an impressive 3-2 victory away to Sallypark Odhrans on Sunday.
Jamie Ryan gave the visitors the lead in just the second minute, but Sallypark responded nine minutes later with a Sean Ryan goal, assisted by Kieran Ryan. Ardcroney regained the lead just after the half hour through an own goal, but Sallypark responded once again, Adam Healy netting his first goal for his new club, Sean Ryan providing the assist on this occasion.
The sides would remain deadlocked until the seventieth minute when substitute Devlin Courtney swung in a corner to Darren Moran and the ball ended in the net for what proved to be the winner.
It has been a difficult start to life in the Premier Division for Sallypark and it does not get any easier next week as a buoyant Holycross come to Latteragh. Ardcroney will be expecting to make it two wins on the bounce when point-less Borroway come to town on Sunday.
First Division
Cloughjordan had a big 7-2 win in their relegation six pointer with Borrisoleigh on Sunday.
Cian D’Arcy scored a hat-trick while there was a double for captain extraordinaire Martin Grace, and a goal each for Willie Cleary and Eoin Hogan. Borris responded through Mark Quinlan and Jack Fitzgerald, but the reality now is that a miracle is required to prevent the newly promoted side from going straight back down.
Shinrone United came from behind twice in Moneygall to keep their unbeaten league start intact following a 2-2 in Shinrone on Sunday.
On the stroke of half time, Jack O’Brien was played in by Jack Lee before unleashing a great strike to give Moneygall the lead. Collie Brown, in goals, had done extremely well earlier in the half to deny Moneygall, but could do little on this occasion.
Riann McLoughlin was played through by his father Derek in the fiftieth minute to levelled proceedings with a fine goal. Substitute Cameron Fleming thought he had secured all three points with his goal in the 83rd minute, but the in-form DJ McLoughlin replied just three minutes later with a goal assisted by Derek McLoughlin.
Portumna Town got back to winning ways with an unexpected 5-2 thrashing of Clodiagh Rangers in Portumna on Sunday. Adam Fogarty and Oisin O’Sullivan helped themselves to a brace while substitute Kaelebogo Matobo rounded off the rout. Paul Doyle and Eanna Ryan were on target for Clodiagh.
Second Division
Rearcross ‘B’ shocked Borrisokane by beating the promotion hopefuls 2-1 in their backyard on Sunday. Rob Harrington and Mikey Feenan scored for the visitors, whilst Andy Nevin got Borrisokane’s sole reply.
Shinrone United ‘B’ came away from Templetouhy with all three points thanks to a Shane Hoctor penalty and a Darragh Landy strike in a 2-1 win. Adam Jones netted the hosts only goal.
Sallypark Odhrans ‘B’ were 6-3 winners away to Moneygall ‘B’ on Sunday. Mikie Ryan scored a hat-trick for the visitors, while there was a goal apiece for Kevin Oakley, Niall Madden, and Shane Hogan. Moneygall replied through Anthony Devereux, Tommy Devereux, and Kevin O’Grady.
Killavilla United ‘B’ continued their march to the title with a 5-1 win away to Ballymackey ‘B’. A brace from the ageless Craig Phelan, and goals for Ryan O’Gorman, Owen Tynan and Josh Tynan ensured an easy win for the table-toppers. Paddy Touhy scored from the spot late on for the home side.
Birdhill got back on track with a 3-1 win away to Ardcroney ‘B’. Paddy Kelly scored a brace for the promotion chasers, with Lowel Ryan also on target. Paddy Hayes scored a free kick in response for Ardcroney.
Munster Junior Cup Preview
There are two games in round 3 of the Munster Junior Cup on Sunday with the pick of them being the clash of Killavilla United and BT Harps in Villa Park in what is an absolutely mouth-watering tie for the neutral. A place in the open draw of the last 32 is the prize for the winner.
It will be intriguing to see how Brian Roche deals with the pace of the wiry Villa forwards. After missing three games on the bounce this would be the perfect game for Rolls Royce centre half, Filippo Fini to make a return to the Harps defence. At the other end of the pitch, Szymon Popiela will be looking to add to the goal he got against Villa in the Shield final.
In the second game, Ballymackey host in-form first division side Moneygall. A high scoring game is expected, and extra time may be needed to separate these two, but this writer would not be massively surprised to see Moneygall come away with a premier division scalp and passage to the open draw.