Ballymackey bring Harps back down to earth

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

PREMIER DIVISION

Ballymackey 1-1 BT Harps

After the heroics of the previous week, BT Harps were brought back down to earth when they were held to a 1-1 draw away from home by a stubborn Ballymackey side on Sunday.

There were a number of personal changes for Harps; Eanna McBride was unavailable, so Ben Stapleton got the nod after impressing off the bench against Killavilla while Cain Russell filled in for Jack Kennedy. There was also a junior team debut for David Augustyniak in goal following his youths cup win the day before.

And only for him; the young keepers saves kept Harps in the game early on. However, Harps grew into it and went ahead just before the break through a Szymon Popiela penalty after Cormac Foy was taken down.

Harps missed some fine chances to put daylight between the sides with Ben Stapleton going closest. The league leaders wastefulness was ultimately punished in injury time when they never dealt with a free kick and Aiden White once again proving his ability as one of the top finishers in the NT&DL.

The league leaders tried to scramble for a winner, and they would have gotten it through a Sean Patrick Guerins header only for a fantastic save by Brendan Hayes.

Two returning players back in the fold were the best for Ballymackey, Denis Haverty in midfield and William Collins at the back. The draw gives the Ballinree side some real confidence heading into their Tipperary Cup quarter final against Moneygall.

In terms of the title race, as things stand, if Killavilla win their games in hand they will be within two points of Harps, who still face the daunting task of a trip to Villa Park.

Holycross 0-3 Ardcroney

Ardcroney took a big step towards a top half finish with a comprehensive win away to Holycross on Sunday, making up for their defeat in the reverse fixture at the start of the year.

It was a momentous occasion for Luke Dervan, who returned to the Ardcroney first team following an eleven month absence with injury. It was Matthew Moyles who stole the show with yet another player of the match display from central midfield.

Darren Moran has found his shooting boots of late and gave the visitors the lead in the 22nd minute. Moran completed his brace in the 50th minute to leave his tally at five goals from his last three games. Jamie Ryan copper-fastened the win midway through the half, which sees Ardcroney gain momentum ahead of their season defining home match with Clodiagh Rangers in the Tipperary Cup.

Arra Rovers 4-0 Sallypark Odhrans

Arra Rovers were impressive 4-0 winners over Sallypark Odhrans on Sunday thanks to goals from Diarmuid O’Donoghue, Callen Cottrell, Eoin Maloney, and Billy Moran, with centre half Mark Carey the player of the match.

FIRST DIVISION

The top of the table clash on Sunday between Shinrone United and Clodiagh Rangers lived up to its billing.

The sides were level on points at the top of the table heading into it, but Shinrone knew that a win on home soil would remove Clodiagh from the title conversation.

Riann McLoughlin gave the Offaly side the lead from the penalty spot in the thirteenth minute, and a brace of goals with ten minutes remaining in the half from Adrian Browne further strengthened the hosts grip on proceedings.

Shinrone were cruising now, but a straight red card for a Michael Cordial handball just before the break gave the visitors a bit of hope heading into the second half. Oisin Treacy got to work on the deficit in the 58th minutes. Ten-man Shinrone were defending like their lives depended on it and Darren Browne was called on to deny James Murray from a free kick. Murray couldn’t be kept out for long however, and in the 83rd minute he tapped in to leave Clodiagh just one goal behind.

Shinrone’s Ray Cordial shot for goal straight from the restart and miraculously found the net, prompting jubilant scenes from the large crowd that was brought out by the surprise Sunday sun. The 40-year-old was only on the field six minutes having been subbed on for his first appearance since November.

The goal would turn out to be an incredibly important goal in the title race because Clodiagh scored a penalty in injury time through David Butler to crank up the heat on Shinrone.

The visitors almost nabbed an equaliser in a goalmouth scramble but ultimately Shinrone just did enough to win and remove Clodiagh from the title conversation, and if results go their way this Sunday it could all be over before Moneygall even come to Shinrone as if Portumna hold Moneygall to a draw, then a win for Shinrone over Borrisoleigh would be enough to leave them mathematically out of sight at the top of the first division.

KEVIN FOGARTY TIPPERARY CUP

Killavilla United got back to winning ways with an impressive 6-2 away victory over an in-form Borrisoleigh side on Sunday.

The sun was shining in Templetouhy as Borrisoleigh stormed into the lead in the fifth minute through James Devaney. However, the celebrations were short lived as Johnny Corboy replied for Villa and completed his hat-trick by the 36th minute to leave the Roscrea side 3-1 up at the break.

Substitutes Dylan Carroll and Josh Wynne added to the lead in the second half, before Patrick O’Connell pulled a consolation goal back for Borris late on. Johnny Corboy had the last laugh however as he stole in for a fourth goal very late on.

The holders are at home to Rearcross in the next round.

Premier division Borroway Rovers bowed out to second division Sallypark Odhrans ‘B’ on Sunday. With a semi-final berth up for grabs, the Sallypark team was always going to get a turbo-boost of talent for this game. As expected, Eoin Ryan returned to the fold for one last roll of the dice at the trophy he has lifted so many times, while Tom McCutcheon made his first appearance since October.

The winter transfer window signing of Michael Carey and Kieran Maher from Borrisoleigh were a bit of a surprise, but they are already paying dividends. Maher assisted Jimmy Shanahan for the Park’s opener on the hour, before stealing in himself for a late brace of goals to book a home semi-final against Ballymackey or Moneygall

Moneygall scored four unanswered goals against Ballymackey ‘B’ in their last 16 tie on Sunday. Dylan McCormack opened the scoring in the seventeenth minute after being played in by Kevin Fitzgerald. The home side doubled their advantage in the 50th minute through Aaron Lee and it was three a minute later when Sean Moroney was sent through by Mikey Ryan. Cameron Fleming put the icing on the cake late on with a fourth, Kevin Fitzgerald on hand to claim his second assist.

Billy Hayes’ side are away to Ballymackey in the quarter finals. It’s a tough ask for Moneygall given Bally’s recent form, but they will take heart from their victory over the premier division side earlier this season in the Munster Junior Cup.

First Division Barry Cup

On Sunday, already relegated Cloughjordan secured their place in the first division Barry Cup final thanks to a 3-1 win over Grange United, after extra-time.

The Laois side got off to a dream start when Tommy Brophy sent Jason McCormack through inside the opening ten minutes. Grange should have been out of sight in the first half, but a mixture of wayward finishing and some fine goalkeeping from Derek Mhalanga ensured that the Grange advantage was kept to the minimum.

Clough equalised just after half-time through youths player Toni Rotani, assisted by the ageless Kevin Kennedy. Neither side could find a breakthrough in the remainder of the second half, so extra time was required.

Clough struck when Luke Morkan sent Eoin Dooley through in the 95th minute. Their place in the final was all but confirmed midway through the second period when the ball was pulled back to Paul Scully on the edge of the area. Eoin Killackey’s side will face either Moneygall of Clodiagh Rangers in the final.

Tipperary Youths Cup Final

Arra Rovers will look to add to their youths premier division title this Saturday in Ardcroney, where they meet Cloughjordan in the Youths Cup Final.

The Portroe side are favourites having already beaten Cloughjordan 7-3 and 2-0 this season. However, Peter Hennelly’s teams can always play good football and they will be well supported by the village of Cloughjordan.