Harps rally to keep title hopes in own hands

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

PREMIER DIVISION

BT Harps 4-1 Borroway Rovers

League leaders BT Harps came from behind to easily defeat Borroway Rovers on Sunday.

The new development in Michael Fennell Park provided the backdrop for what, on paper, was supposed to be a routine victory for Harps. However, the already relegated Rovers did not get the script and took the lead in the 20th minute through William Creedon.

With tougher tests to come, Harps decided to rest a few players that were carrying knocks, and found it hard to breakdown the Rovers rearguard. Filippo Fini and Ben Stapleton went close, and eventually the breakthrough came when Stapleton fed Cormac Foy, who struck it in off the upright to level in the 40th minute.

Harps took the lead just before the break, Stapleton again the provider, this time setting up his skipper Szymon Popiela to score with a great strike.

On the hour, the points were secured when Ryan Loughnane made it 3-1. Szymon Popiela rounded off the scoring with a penalty twenty minutes from time after Eanna McBride was brought down in the box. The Polish striker now has seven goals in his last five league games, and 21 goals this season across all competitions.

The pick of the games next Sunday sees Rearcross travel to BT Harps. Rea’ haven’t a whole lot left to play for, but with four league games in hand on all their competitors an impressive third place league finish is still well within reach. And of course, there is the small matter of redemption for the 6-0 ambush they were on the receiving end of just two months ago in their own backyard.

Ballymackey 3-2 Ardcroney

Ardcroney made the short trip to Ballymackey on Sunday, and it was the home side who came out the right side of a five-goal thriller.

Colm Maher, Damien Bergin, and Denis Haverty were on target for Ballymackey, whilst Jamie Ryan hit a brace for Ardcroney.

Damien Bergin, David O’Brien, and Denis Haverty all stood out for the home side while Lee Doran impressed for Ardcroney, who have a season-defining Tipperary Cup quarter-final this Sunday at home to Arra Rovers.

The pacy Callan Cottrell looked very dangerous against the Villa back three and will fancy himself against an Ardcroney side that have struggled of late against Arra Rovers, but Shane Doran at centre half will have a thing or two to say about that.

Another key battle sees former teammates from Borrisokane Community College Matthew Moyles and Conal Moran go head-to-head in central midfield, with the winner of that battle likely to be on the winning side.

Tipperary Cup

Rearcross caused Killavilla United all sorts of trouble in the Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup quarter final on Sunday, but unlike their recent league visit to Villa Park they left empty handed following a 4-2 defeat.

Cillian Kennedy was the player of the match when Rea’ won last month and was threatening in the opening exchanges. However, it was the home side who took the lead in the eighth minute when a corner was worked out to Darren Coleman whose cross was met by Ruairi Murphy just ahead of the onrushing keeper.

Rea’ levelled from a corner ten minutes later, Greg Kennedy on hand to nod in the equaliser. The visitors pushed on and enjoyed their best spell of the half, during which James Deegan saw two chances fly over the bar. They would not have to wait long to take the lead though as Michael O’Gorman was taken down in the box and, just like he did in the league game, the ever-reliable Greg Kennedy made no mistake from the spot.

Killavilla enjoyed an extended period of dominance at the start of the second half and did everything but score. But the quadruple chasers got their just reward on the hour when Johnny Corboy cut in from the right before unleashing a left footed strike which gave Cathal Kennedy no chance. A top-class finish from a striker coming into form at the business end of the season.

The game was end-to-end as both sides went in search of a winner. Cillian Kennedy's running power was causing the Villa defence all sorts of problems on the counter-attack, indeed he found himself one-on-one with Aaron Mulready only for the young keeper to make a fine save.

Cillian Kennedy and O’Gorman both had further chances, but much like against Arra the week before, Villa hung in there thanks to a mammoth goalkeeping display from Mulready. Paddy Dawson had Rea's best chance of the half when Michael O’Gorman crossed the ball to the back post only for the keeper to pull off an unbelievable save to keep the scores level.

Rearcross were dealt a sucker punch with ten minutes left to play, skipper Mikey Ryan tapping into an empty net following an inch-perfect cross from the right by Tom Ahern.

The visitors showed great heart to rally once more and thought they were level again when Paddy Dawson’s free kick from outside the box headed for the top corner, only for Ian Treacy to get back and head it over the bar.

Killavilla put the game to bed in the dying minutes when Tom Ahern played in Johnny Corboy, who produced a clever flick over the onrushing keeper, a lovely finish to leave the former Birr Town man on sixteen goals in all competitions this season.

It was a very tough defeat to take for Rearcross, who have given a good showing in all competitions this season, with the highlight being their run in the FAI Junior Cup.

Killavilla are at home to either Ardcroney or Arra Rovers in the semi-final. However, next Sunday, attention turns to the league again with away trip to Ballymackey (the same fixture that BT Harp recently dropped point in). Villa will need everyone they can get for the intensive run-in that their quadruple hopes require, with that said the recent return of Ben Lynch and Mark Dwyer to their matchday squads will come as a huge boost. The latter was not too long ago one of the best young players in the NT&DL.

First Division Barry Cup

Moneygall were not at their best on Sunday in Drombane against Clodiagh Rangers, but still managed to progress to the Barry Cup final with a 2-1 win.

The visitors had a number of injuries and suspensions to contend with which meant Dylan Maher and James Carroll started in central midfield. Maher worked hard and pressed relentlessly all through and was rewarded early on with a big chance after turning over possession, which the skipper finished well.

The quadruple chasers didn’t build on their advantage though, instead allowing Clodiagh back into the game; Julian Bentancourt saved well to deny TJ Butler, but the best chance of an equaliser fell to Danny Maloney, who hit the post when really, he should have scored.

The second half was end-to-end; Jack Lillis had Clodiagh’s best chance, but in pushing so hard for an equaliser they left a lot if space at the back. Niall Maher played Jack O’Brien into that space in the 81st minute to put daylight between the sides. A late penalty gave Clodiagh a chance, but they never looked much like equalising.

James Carroll’s performance was a big positive, but the good news story was without doubt the return of Paul Costello Junior; the former Athlone Town man coming on for the last ten minutes, his first game in over fourteen months having suffered a bad injury.

Julian Bentancourt was once again the player of the match for Moneygall, who face Cloughjordan in the final but before that their attention turns back to the league on Sunday where a win at home to Portumna Town in their penultimate game would set up a mouth-watering final day match away to top of the table Shinrone United, where the winner will be crowned champions, which is of course an exact replica of the fixture and circumstances wherein Paidi Williams broke Shinrone hearts in 2018.

Second Division League

Ardcroney’s late, faint promotion hopes were dealt a blow in a 2-2 away to Moneygall on Sunday.

Ardcroney stormed into a 2-0 lead thanks to well-taken goals by Ross Hughes and player of the match Kevin Boyle. Indeed, the visitors would later rue not scoring a few more goals during their twenty-minute period of complete dominance at the start of the game.

Moneygall were good value for their second half goals from Anthony Deveraux and Sean Maher; and in the end a draw was the fair result. Promotion might just be out of reach now, but Jamie Heffernan will be happy with the development of some of the younger players in his squad; Paul Molloy had his best game yet for the club, whilst Lucas Jones is improving week on week.