Five star Killavilla get back on track

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

PREMIER DIVISION

Rearcross 0-5 Killavilla United

Killavilla United breezed past an understrength Rearcross on Sunday to go within five points of league leaders BT Harps, with a game in hand, plus a home tie against Harps to come.

Villa dominated the opening exchanges before taking the lead from a corner after quarter of an hour, Conor Nolan unlucky to turn the ball into his own net.

The home side rallied and would have drawn level were it not for a fantastic one-on-one save from young net-minder Aaron Mulready. Villa put daylight between the sides on the stroke of half time when a dangerous cross from the right was turned into the net by the unfortunate Philly Deegan.

The tie was effectively killed off just five minutes into the second half when Johnny Corboy beat his marker on the edge of the box and unleashed a bullet which found the corner of the net.

The title chasers emptied their bench and two substitutes added goals number four and five late on; Josh Wynne finishing a well-worked move from a cross from the right, the former Moneygall man keeping his composure to find the net. Eddie Simmons concluded the scoring when he slotted under Cathal Kennedy after being played in one-on-one with the keeper.

Cillian Kennedy was a key component of the Rearcross win which ended Villa’s eleven month stranglehold over NT&DL opposition last month, but he and a number of other regular starters were unavailable on Sunday in what was a poor showing by Rea’s own standards.

Anthony Ryan’s side are away to Killavilla in the quarter finals of the Tipperary Cup this Sunday. It will be the third meeting of the sides this season with each recording one win so far.

A much bigger test lies in wait for Killavilla this week however, an away trip to take on the old enemy – Arra Rovers. Having come from nowhere two seasons ago to pip Villa to the title, Dermot O’Halloran’s side will look to upset the Roscrea side’s hopes of setting up a final day league decider with BT Harps.

FIRST DIVISION

Following the news of Borrisoleigh’s disappointing walkover to Shinrone United, only a win would do if Moneygall were to keep the title race alive, and they duly obliged away to Portumna Town on Sunday.

The visitors started well, pressing high on Portumna, and were rewarded in the seventh minute via a set-piece goal. Kevin Fitzgerald swung the free-kick into the back post for Niall Maher, who drove home a bullet header to give the visitors the lead.

Billy Hayes’ side doubled the advantage from another free kick in the 23rd minute, and Kevin Fitzgerald got his second of the game.

Portumna were reduced to ten men shortly after which allowed Moneygall to further strengthen their grip on the game. However, Kevin Fitzgerald picked up a second yellow midway through the second half to level the playing numbers once more.

Portumna pushed on from this point but never created anything clear cut, and so Moneygall secured promotion with a deserved win.

Having finished bottom of the division just a few short seasons ago, Billy Hayes has done a tremendous job to secure premier division football next season. And all they have to do now to set up a title decider away to Shinrone on the final day is to beat Portumna at home in their penultimate league fixture.

But next up for Moneygall is an intriguing away trip to face Ballymackey ‘A’ in the Tipp Cup, with a place in the semi-finals against Sallypark ‘B’ up for grabs. The first division side have already defeated their premier division neighbours this season in the Munster Junior Cup, but the return of Denis Haverty and William Collins to the Ballinree side has seen an upturn in fortunes of late. These sides are very well matched, and an entertaining contest is expected in what is the pick of the morning kick-offs this Sunday in the NT&DL.

SECOND DIVISION

Title chasing Killavilla United ‘B’ had a frustrating 4-2 defeat away to ten-man Ardcroney ‘B’ on Sunday.

With proven first team players David McNamara, Ray McNicholas, and Craig Phelan in the Villa ranks, on paper it looked like it was going to be a very long day for the home side. However, Ardcroney sat in, chose their moments to press wisely, and were lethal on the counter attack.

After turning over possession, often on the edge of their own area, Ardcroney quickly got it to their ball carriers - Diego Galera, Ronan Clifford, and Ross Hughes - who linked up extremely well with one-two passes that carved straight through the heart of Killavilla’s defence time and time again.

Jamie Heffernan’s side stormed into 3-0 half time lead thanks to two Ross Hughes goals either side of one from young Lucas Jones. Both the second and third goals came from the Ardcroney midfield winning their duels against their Villa counterparts before getting the ball forward fast to their attacking talent. The scoreline does not suggest it, but Killavilla were peppering the Ardcroney goal throughout the half; the hosts delighted to hear the half time whistle.

Three became four soon after the restart when Aaron McGrath made an inspired run from full-back to play in Diego Galera, who deservedly got on the scoresheet. Ray McNicholas pulled one back from a set-piece in the 65th minute, and the game got interesting in the 72nd minute when substitute Lee Carey found the net with a well-placed low effort from the edge of the area.

Villa’s hopes of a miraculous comeback were further strengthened in the aftermath of the goal as Ardcroney were reduced to ten men when Dylan Morrisey saw red.

Gary Culbert, Lucas Jones, and Ross Hughes all put in a huge effort closing down spaces to ensure Villa did not have the freedom of Ardcroney to plot their attacks, whilst Ronan Clifford’s ability to win defensive arial duals was also key to the ten men holding out for an impressive victory.

Ardcroney are now looking up the table instead of down, potentially at a late charge for promotion. They sit just three points off second place Birdhill with the same number of games played, and Ross Hughes is now just two goals off of the division’s top scorer Darragh Landy in the race for the golden boot.

Killavilla are now eleven points off league leaders Borrisokane with five games in hand. But given the result on Sunday and having lost two of their last three games, you can be sure Villa would rather have some more points on the board than the games in hand.

Ballymackey ‘B’ secured their first win since the opening round with Templetouhy the opposition on Sunday afternoon.

It was Templetouhy who took the lead on the fifth minute through Brazilian striker Guilherme Soares Dellatorre. However, Ballymackey introduced Denis Haverty from the bench just after the half hour mark and went on to score through a Shane Gibbons penalty and a Paul Duffy strike to secure their first win in fifteen games.

Templetouhy are away to Moneygall this Sunday in the Nora Kennedy Cup semi-finals. Ritchie Fogarty’s side are rock bottom of the division but will take heart from the fact that they are unbeaten in their last three meetings with Moneygall.

Shinrone United ‘B’ were 3-1 winners at home to Rearcross on Saturday thanks to goals from Darragh Cleary, Dan Doughan, and substitute Peter Cleary.