NT&DL action resumes this weekend
By Gary Culbert
Following a summer of rain, managerial and player transfers, new teams forming and old alliances re-forming, the North Tipperary & District League returns with a bang this weekend with the Munster Champions Trophy and the pre-season shield competitions.
MUNSTER CHAMPIONS CUP
On Sunday afternoon, Dermot O'Halloran's reigning Premier Division champions, Arra Rovers, will make the short trip to Brickfields, the home of Nenagh AFC, to take on last season's Munster Senior League runners -up, Ringmahon Rangers from Cork in the first round of the Munster Champions Cup.
The NT&DL champions will be without Ruadhan Mulrooney for this game and the entire season, the young striker who lit up the league last year has emigrated and leaves big boots to fill up top for Arra.
This will not be the making or breaking of Arra's season, but much like their recent friendly against Nenagh AFC, it will give O'Halloran's charges a good idea of where they are at.
DIVISION 2 SHIELD
On Sunday morning, the Division 2 Shield gets underway with the intriguing meeting of newcomers Grange United and Shinrone United 'B'. Grange United are based out the village of Borris-in-Ossory, but the club will represent the area encompassing Borris-in-Ossory, Kilcotton and Killadooley.
It is quite ironic that the club's first game in 33 years will be against Shinrone United, because three of the individuals most heavily involved with resurrecting the club - Mark Ryan, Tom Fitzpatrick and Jason McCormack - all have history with Shinrone United, or Village FC as they were called back in 2018.
McCormack won the Division 1 Barry Cup with Shinrone and narrowly missed out on a league winners medal on the final day of the season, and Fitzpatrick won the Division 2 treble with the Offaly side, whilst Ryan was also invested in the journey back then.
So, as fate would have it, the shield draw decided to pit McCormack & co against his old manager and team-mates in their very first NT&DL game. The Laois men will have it all to do as rumours are rife of several high-profile transfers taking place from Birr Town to Shinrone United in time for the Division 2 curtain-raiser.
A high calibre game - exceeding that of Division 2 standard - is expected, but home advantage should be enough to see Mark Ryan's Grange United overcome the vastly experienced Offaly side in the club's first game in 33 years.