Advantage Harps after Killavilla slip up at home

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

PREMIER DIVISION

Killavilla United 1-3 Rearcross

Rearcross shell-shocked Killavilla United on Sunday, ending the reigning champion’s eleven-month unbeaten run against NT&DL opposition, leaving BT Harps in the driving seat in the Premier Division title race.

Both sides had suffered heavy defeats the week previous, but it was presumed that the home side would simply take out their frustrations on the next NT&DL side put in front of them.

However, we sometimes forget that Killavilla are human too. Their 11-0 loss in the Munster Junior Cup to Villa FC would psychologically affect any group, but perhaps it stuns you as a player even more when you are so used to winning every week?

That seems to be the case as Rearcross smelled blood from the off and were encouraged when their high press consistently turned over possession in advanced areas. Indeed, Killavilla’s progressive style of playing out from the back is great for a team high in confidence, but it can be a real problem for a side who are questioning themselves.

After being steamrolled by BT Harps the week previous, Rearcross got the reaction their season so badly needed and looked full of energy, harassing the Villa back 3 into mistake after mistake. Rea’ had multiple chances to open the scoring but were wasteful.

Although Killavilla attacks were few and far between, Rearcross keeper Cathal Kennedy was called into action and produced a great save to keep parity. Energetic Rearcross started to dominate, and Paddy Deegan found himself one on one with Aaron Mulready, only for the Villa keeper to pull off a great double save.

The visitors finally took a deserved lead five minutes before the break; centre forward James Deegan made one of his trademark runs into the channel, before squaring to the edge of the area for the onrushing central midfielder Paddy Deegan, who fed the ball to the patiently waiting Cillian Kennedy to slot it under the keeper.

Killavilla came out with a renewed drive in the second half and almost drew level on a couple of occasions, but Cathal Kennedy was in fine form to deny the champions.

This Rearcross performance was epitomised by high pressing forwards and energetic midfielders who were willing to break the lines. In the 78th minute, they doubled their lead when nippy midfielder Conor Nolan ran off his striker and was played through on goal by Paddy Deegan only to be brought down in the box by a lunging Roddy Teehan. As ever, Greg Kennedy made no mistake from the spot, and it looked like the away side would have a stress-free end to the game.

However, to their credit, Killavilla kept fighting and pulled one back from a corner with ten minutes remaining, Dylan Carroll on hand to set up a grandstand finish. The home side pushed hard for the equaliser with Rea’ at times looking jittery. However, the game was put to bed in injury time when Paddy Dawson collected the ball in midfield and his great through ball found Cillian Kennedy who made no mistake with a composed finish to cap off a player of the match display.

You would expect Killavilla to get back to winning ways away to Holycross next weekend, but there are very visible cracks in the team right now and it will be a real test of character to stop the rot before too much damage is done to their title campaign.

BT Harps have a tough task themselves this Sunday as in-form Arra Rovers come to Michael Fennell Park, in what is the pick of the games for the neutral.

Holycross 2-2 Ballymackey

Denis Haverty made a long-awaited return to Ballymackey during the January transfer window and came straight into the side up front, but it was his younger brother David who was to the fore for the visitors in a draw away to Holycross.

Cathal Spillane netted the other Ballymackey goal, whilst a Kyle Denny penalty and a Philly Fogarty strike ensured the spoils were shared in Glenbane. Stephen Cantwell was the best for the visitors, but the player of the match was Stevie Flanagan with two assists for Holycross.

Borroway Rovers 1-2 Sallypark Odhrans

Borroway Rovers wait for their first point of the campaign continues as an understrength Sallypark side left Thurles with all three points on Sunday.

However, it didn’t look that way for long periods as the home side took the lead in the 36th minute when captain Gary Dunne played through David Bourke, who made no mistake for his sixth goal in five games.

Jack Sanders drew Sallypark level in the 55th minute, once again assisted by Adam Healy. The visitors went ahead just two minutes later when Paul Ryan netted his sixth goal in as many games since his return to the club, Ronan Ducie providing the assist.

First Division

A crazy weekend in the first division saw 27 goals across three games, as Clodiagh Rangers and Portumna Town eye a late burst for the title and promotion.

The big result was league leaders Shinrone United losing 8-2 at home to mid-table Portumna Town. The Offaly side were 3-0 down after twenty minutes courtesy of an Oisin O’Sullivan brace and one from Adam Fogarty. Leon Tierney added another before the break.

Any hope of a comeback was extinguished after the restart as Portumna picked up where they left off, with Adam Fogarty netting his second in the 46th minute.

Shinrone were reduced to ten men when Adrian Browne received a second yellow card in the 68th minute, and this is when it turned ugly for the league leaders as Oisin O’Sullivan completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute, and Adam Fogarty completed his own hat-trick five minutes later. Fogarty added one more before being subbed off, to leave his tally at just the four goals for the day.

Shinrone got two consolation goals late one through a Paul Lake brace. They need a big reaction on Sunday when Borrisoleigh come to town, especially considering how the young side comprehensively turned over Moneygall in recent weeks.

Riann McLoughlin will be back from suspension, his pace and ability to hold up the ball down the channels was badly missed against Port.

Clodiagh Rangers made the long trip to Killasmeestia and left with an impressive 6-1 victory over Grange United.

Tommy Brophy had the home side in front after six minutes but that was as good as it got for them as John Ryan drew the visitors level midway through the half, and they took the lead on the stroke of halftime thanks to a Jim O'Dwyer strike.

Clodiagh stretched their legs in the second half with further goals from David Butler, Michael John Carroll, and a Jack Lillis brace.

Adrian Cooke’s charges now sit third in the league having scored 21 goals in their last four games, and they could potentially re-enter the title race this Sunday with a win at home to Moneygall. Either way, a high-scoring game is expected in Drombane.

At 38 years young, Grange United’s Tommy Brophy is the top scorer in the division but there are three significantly less experienced strikers chasing him down for the golden boot.

One of them is Niall Maher, who helped himself to just the five goals when Cloughjordan came to Moneygall on Sunday afternoon. Aodhan Ryan and Dylan Hogan got the other goals for Moneygall, who ran out 7-3 winners.

Moneygall will be without their captain for their top of the table clash on Sunday against Clodiagh Rangers after Jack O’Brien picked up another yellow card in the first half of the game.

Cloughjordan took the bad look off of the result in the second half, with Martin Grace netting a brace and Toni Rotani also on target. With Borrisoleigh’s up-turn in form, the sole relegation spot looks like a real danger for Eoin Killackey’s charges.