Killavilla up and running in title defence
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
Premier Division
Killavilla United 5-2 Holycross
Killavilla United extended their winning run in NT&DL competitions to sixteen games, courtesy of an impressive 5-2 win at home to newly promoted Holycross on Sunday.
Jason Fitzpatrick and the returning Eddie Simmons appear to be the only additions to last season’s title-winning squad and one can see why as with eighteen minutes gone the hosts were three-goals up and cruising. Aaron Mulready assisted Josh Wynne for the opener on five minutes, before the scorer turned provider for Ben Lynch on seventeen minutes, and just a minute later, Lynch returned the favour for Wynne to net his second.
Ben Slattery pulled one back for the visitors shortly after to leave it 3-1 at the break, and when play resumed he had a chance from the penalty spot to halve the deficit, but alas he did not convert. Michael Lynch unleashed Ruairi Murphy off the bench on 54 minutes, and as was seen often last season, he had a devastating impact on proceedings, setting up Ben Lynch up for his second goal on 55 minutes, before netting himself on 62 minutes. Ben Slattery pulled a consolation goal back for Holycross on 74 minutes.
Ardcroney 2-0 Ballymackey
Ardcroney got their premier division campaign off to a winning start on Sunday thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Ballymackey.
Jack Daly opened the scoring midway through the first half, rounding the keeper inside the six-yard box after some clever play from Jamie Ryan.
The visitors were a constant threat from corner kicks and crosses, which were whipped at pace to veteran striker Timmy Fleming. The home side hit the post and bar through Gavin Dooley and Lee Doran but could not find the all-important second goal until very late in the contest when substitute Devlin Courtney stole in at the back post to secure all three points.
The return of Aidan White is a huge boost for the Ballymackey management team of George Haverty and Damien Bentley, but on this occasion it was another player returning to his old club who was the player of the match, Matthew Moyles for Ardcroney.
Munster Junior Cup
The biggest shock of the first round of the Munster Junior Cup, on paper, came through Shinrone United’s 5-2 win at home to cup experts Sallypark Odhrans on Sunday.
I say ‘on paper’ because of what you would expect from these sides based purely on last season, however, a hugely successful transfer window for Shinrone has seen the return of Derek McLoughlin, Riann McLoughlin and Bordei Viorel; and the signings of Scott Kelly and Kian Fallon – this is a very strong team, particularly at home.
It was Shinrone who took the lead on 28 minutes when Kian Fallon found the net with a well-taken effort. Shinrone doubled their lead just after the restart when Sallypark keeper David Kinane was unable to gather the ball after a clash with the onrushing forward; the ball falling to Riann McLoughlin who tapped home from close range.
Sallypark’s chances of victory were given a boost minutes later when Alex Moloney entered for Shinrone as a substitute but he would be leave eight minutes later thanks to two yellow cards in quick succession. With Shinrone down to ten-men the game turned in favour of Sallypark who halved the deficit within four minutes thanks to a fine effort from Ryan Gillick, assisted by Dan Keogh.
Sean Ryan drew the sides level on seventy minutes, firing home from close range. The momentum was all with the visitors and Sallypark had their chances to put level but failed to find the net.
Then the ten-men of Shinrone it was a case of cometh the hour cometh the man, as Michael Cordial came up from centre back to power home a header in the 80th minute to restore their lead.
Shinrone’s fourth goal was a father & son combination as Riann McLoughlin picked up possession on the right before squaring the ball for his father, Derek to tap home. With time just up Shinrone added gloss to the scoreline when Riann scored one for himself.
It was a great victory for Shinrone, who expect to top the expected three-horse race for the Division 1 title, with Grange United and Portumna Town. It does not get any easier for Shinrone in the next round however, as they will welcome fierce local rivals, Killavilla United to the Shinrone Community Centre grounds – a match not to be missed!
Next up they will have to provide another shock as Clonmel Town make the long journey up to Offaly in the FAI Junior Cup.
For Sallypark, there is no need to panic just yet, as they were far from full strength on the day.
BT Harps came from two goals down to win 5-2 at home to Arra Rovers in the Munster Junior Cup on Sunday. AJ Willis and Damien O’Donoghue netted for the away side, before Harps goals from Szymon Popiela, captain Joe Bourke, Sean Purcell, and a Dayle Hogan brace left the result well beyond doubt. Harps travel to Rearcross in the next round.
Division 1
Moneygall continued their impressive home form with a very comfortable 3-0 win over newcomers Borrisoleigh on Friday night.
Michael Ryan powered home a header in the first half before goals from Dylan McCormack and Jack O’Brien capped off a lesson about possession for Borrisoleigh. Moneygall played out from the back cooly and calmly on all occasions, stretching the pitch and making the Borris’ boys chase shadows for much of the game. Moneygall have the ability, particularly at home, to take points off of all three title contenders.
Grange United had a tough battle in their division 1 debut against a strong Portumna Town side, the spoils shared on a 1-1 scoreline. Grange had the better of the first 45 minutes with plenty of chances going astray, and on 22 minutes were punished with Adam Fogarty stealing in to pick up where he left off last season for the home side. Grange never dropped their heads and got their reward just before half time when Tom Lord sweetly struck the equaliser from the edge of the box following a Jason McCormack assist, his just rewards for a fine display in the first half.
Portumna’s Jack O’Flaherty received a red card just before the break, but a tactical switch of formation saw them actually dominate the ball in the second half. Despite their lack of possession, Grange limited the home team to very few chances and could have snatched the winner late on with Gearoid Gaughan seeing his powerful header superbly saved by goalkeeper John O’Meara. In the end a draw was probably the fairest result, and both these title hopefuls will be happy to not be looking up the table at each other after just one game. New signing for Grange, centre back Ciaran McKelvey was the player of the match.
Cloughjordan travelled light to Drombane and were at the receiving end of a 5-2 defeat for their troubles against Clodiagh Rangers who found the net through an MJ Carroll brace, and a goal apiece from John Ryan, Rian Treacy and John Carew. Clough netted through Joey Ward following a long throw by Martin Grace, and Aaron Coe following a Diego Galera assist. Cloughjordan goalkeeper Derrick Mhlanga was the player of the match, producing some top class saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
Division 2
Killavilla United ‘B’ won 5-2 away to Moneygall ‘B’ last Thursday thanks to goals from Aaron Loughnane, Josh Doran, Josh Tynan, Jamie Boland and Enda Moore.
Birdhill were 3-2 down at the break when they made the long journey to Templetouhy on Sunday but ran out 6-3 winners. Paddy Kelly four goals for the visitors, whilst Charlie Tobin and Michael Shanahan scored one each.
Ardcroney ‘B’ were 3-2 winners away to Rearcross ‘B’ under the lights on Friday night. The sides were tied at 1-1 at half time, Ross Hughes netting for the visitors before Paddy Ryan equalised on the stroke of half-time for Rea’.
Paul Graham Carey gave the hosts the lead just after the break. Ardcroney had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot, but Sebastiao Ananias De Mesquita ‘Wesley’ blazed over. Ross Hughes was up-ended in the box shortly after and he dispatched the penalty himself to draw level. Ronan Clifford secured the points for the visitors with five minutes left with a header from a corner.