Shinrone claim First Division title in dramatic finale

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

FIRST DIVISION

Shinrone United 0-0 Moneygall

There was a huge crowd in Shinrone on Saturday evening for the first division title decider between neighbours Shinrone United and Moneygall.

They were treated to what can only be described as one of the all-time great NT&DL games; an emotional rollercoaster which saw Shinrone crowned champions after they miraculously held Moneygall to a scoreless draw despite playing fifty minutes with ten men and conceding two penalties, one of which came in injury time.

Moneygall needed to win the game and were given a huge boost on the half hour when the hosts were reduced to ten men, Conor O’Sullivan receiving a second yellow card for a tackle on Kevin Fitzgerald.

Up to then, it was all Shinrone, but once Moneygall had the numerical advantage they really took control of possession. The pressure told just after half-time as Niall Maher won the ball before slipping Jack O’Brien through down the inside left, only for veteran Philip Murphy to make contact with the Moneygall talisman inside the area.

Shinrone needed a miracle and goalkeeper Darren Browne duly provided it, drawing on all his experience to guess the right way and deny Cameron Flemming from the spot, with Scott Kelly clearing the rebound.

Moneygall were the team in the ascendancy and Shinrone manager Declan Mullally had to make a number of substitutions during the second half to keep his men fresh, with Cleiton Da Silva Jesus having the biggest impact with his energetic pressing.

It was backs against the wall stuff for Shinrone; every throw-in and free-kick won was celebrated like a goal. The pressure from Moneygall was simmering for much of the second half, but as the clock ticked towards the 90th minute it boiled over.

Firstly, Dylan Hogan went agonisingly close from successive corners, and then the best chance of the game from open play fell to Niall Maher, but he fired high over the bar when a goal looked likely.

However, the best chance of all came from the penalty spot in added time, when Jack O’Brien was brought down in the box once more following a very clumsy tackle. The Moneygall crowd went wild, whilst the Shinrone players sank to their knees and as good as accepted their fate, thinking they were going to see Moneygall score a late goal to steal the title from under their noses in their own backyard.

However, there were greater powers at play as Kevin Fitzgerald incredibly blazed the penalty high over the crossbar to the relief of the Shinrone players and faithful at what they had just witnessed, and when the final whistle sounded shortly after there was a huge release of emotion as the home crowd streamed onto the pitch.

Six of the Shinrone starters were in their forties with Darren Browne scooping the player of the match award for his penalty save and his calming presence at the back; skipper Michael Cordial dragged his side to this league title, popping up with big goals in crucial games throughout the campaign. January signing Adrian Browne defended valiantly while Derek McLoughlin, Ray Cordial and Philip Murphy all played their parts well in this epic encounter before being substituted in the second half.

Michael Cordial accepted the league trophy from his former teammate and current NT&DL committee member Gary Culbert, dedicating the triumph to the “so-called auld lads”.

As much as that was a defiant statement to anyone who wrote-off Shinrone because of their age, it is also true that the big challenge now for the Offaly club is how do they go about preparing for the premier division, especially considering the last time they were promoted they had to withdraw from the NT&DL altogether as they could not field a team.

It would be crazy to suggest that anything like that could re-occur this time round, but there are serious dilemmas now as to which of the older players should play in next year, and who would be good enough to replace them if they go.

But for now, manager Declan Mullally can enjoy the celebrations and the Shinrone old guard and supporters can rest easy knowing they finally have their revenge for the heartache suffered at the hands of Moneygall six years ago.

It was an incredibly hard loss for Moneygall to take, they too naturally showing a lot of emotion at full time. But with an emotionally intelligent leader like Billy Hayes in charge, they will come out better and stronger from the experience.

As the Shinrone captain referenced in his acceptance speech, this is a young Moneygall team with a very bright future ahead; their oldest player in the starting eleven was 27, whilst the average age of the team is just 23 years old.

It is impossible to explain how Moneygall did not find the net with all the great chances they had, but most people in attendance were in agreement that it must be fate that Shinrone would be crowned champions.

Moneygall have a short turnaround for the Barry Cup final in Templemore this Friday, where they will be favourites to beat Cloughjordan. Eoin Killackey will be looking to keep this game scoreless for as long as possible and hope to nick something from a set-piece.

Premier Division

Ardcroney 1-5 BT Harps

Ardcroney had BT Harps worried for large periods on Sunday but the league leaders came from behind to record a comprehensive 5-1 victory away from home.

Jack Daly gave Ardcroney the lead with a thunderous strike after fifteen minutes, but they were pegged back from a set-piece shortly after, Sean Paddy Guerins heading in while his marker Luke Dervan was off the field receiving treatment.

Conor Culhane caused all sorts of trouble for the Harps rearguard with his runs in behind and down the channel; Jordan Moloney doing well to stay on his feet during multiple one-on-one encounters with the powerful striker.

Ardcroney had Harps worried well into the second half, but the floodgates opened on the hour mark after a deflected Lorcan Campion shot was too hot to handle for Taylor Duffy. Eanna McBride but daylight between the sides almost immediately, capitalising on a mix-up in the heart of the Ardcroney defence.

Szymon Popiela was the next to capitalise on the questionable defence, the captain firing into an empty net from 25 yards out before Dylan Cody flicked in from a corner to conclude the scoring.

Harps were far from their best as they learn to adapt to life without the injured Stevie Nolan. But ultimately, the Templemore side have their work done now in setting up a final day title decider with Killavilla United, whom they also meet in the semi-final of the Tipperary Cup.

Killavilla United 3-0 Sallypark Odhrans

Killavilla United upheld their end of the bargain as a hat-trick from Ruairi Murphy was enough to see off Sallypark Odhrans at Villa Park on Sunday.

The reigning champions now only have to beat Sallypark and Borroway away from home to set up a grand stand finale with BT Harps in Villa Park.

Killavilla continue their march to the quadruple this weekend with an away trip to Ballymackey in the semi-finals of the Ricky Fogarty Cup. Villa have scored twelve and conceded no goals in their last three encounters with Ballymackey, so another routine win is expected for the Roscrea side.

Second Division

Borrisokane have led the title race for almost the entire campaign, but they will pipped at the final hurdle if Killavilla United ‘B’ can avoid defeat there on Sunday. That is Borrisokane’s final league game, but Killavilla would have one more crack at the title against Sallypark ‘B’ even if they fail to do the business this weekend.