Goals galore in league start

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Many North Tipperary & District League clubs are struggling for numbers this seasonw ith transfers to other leagues, retirements, and commitments to other sports are all to be expected; however, some sporting organisations in Tipperary are actively discouraging their members from playing soccer.

Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon. These young men have been given the same ultimatum from the sporting organisation in question since they were kids, if you play soccer, you won’t be considered for selection.

On a more positive note, the shortage of playing staff has meant that many young players got the call-up in midweek when the Premier Division returned with a bang.

Premier Division

Moneygall 1-1 Ballymackey

For their trip to Moneygall, Ballymackey fielded an almost unrecognisable side from the one which finished last season. The youthful away side were well on top for the opening fifteen minutes during which Cathal Spillane scored a well-taken volley. The experienced Dennis Haverty in centre midfield and Thomas Sheppard at centre back did their best to marshal the Ballymackey youngsters, but despite their best efforts, the Ballinree men were penned into their own half for much of the game as they had no real physical presence up top.

Eddie Brady’s Moneygall charges enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but never really looked like scoring. The introduction of Cian Galvin improved Moneygall as an attacking force, but it was still Jason McCormack who looked most likely if the hosts were to find the net. Indeed, McCormack was instrumental in Moneygall’s equaliser; the attacking midfielder headed Jack O’Brien’s cross back across goal for Matthew Longe to tap home.

All things considered, Ballymackey will be quietly content with the point, whilst Moneygall will be disappointed with their efforts.

Lough Derg 3-3 Nenagh Celtic

Lough Derg started brightest when after just three minutes Jason Comely had the home side in front. This young Lough Derg side went in search of a second but Comely was denied by the crossbar. Shortly after, the pressure from the home side forced a Celtic own goal.

The double winners worked themselves back into the game and were awarded a penalty but were denied by an impressive save from young Derg keeper Oisin Conacur.

Celtic came out firing after half time and pulled one back after just two minutes through Brian Mitchell, however, the hosts replied through a Dave Cassidy wonder strike from 35 yards, which restored their two-goal cushion.

The inevitable Celtic comeback commenced on 65 minutes, substitute Roberto Ipsalat scoring with his first touch of the ball. After 70 minutes, last season’s top goal-scorer, Jack O’Mahoney, saw his effort cannon off the post. Celtic completed their comeback with ten minutes left through Paul Walsh to earn a point, but only thanks to the intervention of Oisin Conacur on more than one occasion. Lough Derg’s luck was well and truly out in injury-time, they hit the post for the third time.

Borroway Rovers 1-2 BT Harps

The visitors took the lead in the 25th minute through Ben Stapleton after Stevie Nolan’s lung-busting dribble into the box, the ball fell nicely for the striker who clinically finished into the bottom corner.

After 75 minutes Harps finally doubled their lead; Stefan Leahy swung in the corner, which was met by Mickey O’Connell, the substitute making no mistake with a powerful header.

Borroway pulled one back through Gary Dunne, but it was a case of too little too late. It was a match that was scrappy at times, but Harps won’t mind, the win capped off what was a historic day for the club; is important for soccer in Templemore and indeed the NT&DL that BT Harps are back represented at all levels.

Borrisokane 0-0 Killavilla United

When Borrisokane hosted Killavilla on Thursday, the promoted side had their keeper Jason Quigley to thank for their first point of the season.

The hosts fielded a youthful side with experience running through the spine of the team in the form of Gordon Harding, at centre back and Brian Donnelly in centre midfield.

Considering the amount of rumoured change within the squad, Killavilla were reasonably unchanged from last season. The Roscrea side will rue the missed opportunity to pick up three points; they did everything but put the ball in the back of the net, and were denied on several occasions by Quigley.

Nenagh Celtic 4-5 Moneygall

The question posed pre-season was how many key players could you remove from this impressive Nenagh Celtic side before they would falter.

On Sunday, Celtic travelled to Moneygall (for a home game) with an extremely weakened side, but Henry Newman was not deterred, he somehow managed to shuffle his pack around and field a side which dominated the first half. Sean Healy moved to left wing, Alan Kelly shifted to centre back, and Danny Ryan moved up to central attacking midfield.

Josh Wynne could have scored early on, but it was Celtic who took the lead after seven minutes; Sean Healy tapping home after Jimmy Hynes displayed great skill and spatial awareness to get free and get his cross away. The champions doubled their lead when a deflected Roberto Ipsalat shot fell kindly for Danny Ryan, who coolly placed the ball in the net.

Jack Hassett pulled one back for the hosts on forty minutes, but Celtic restored their lead two minutes later; Michael Hynes providing a long ball over the top for Paul Walsh, who looked like a seasoned striker as he shrugged of the defender, cut back inside on his right and powered a side-footed shot in at the back post.

Celtic looked dominant and were well on track to win, but the half-time introduction of Bordei Viorel and tactical change from Eddie Brady changed the tide. What was the Nenagh Celtic show, quickly became the Jason McCormack show, as the industrious midfielder was pivotal to Moneygall’s three goals in an eleven minute spell.

Firstly, McCormack was fouled 18 yards out in a wide left position with Niall O’Lone heading home the rebound from the resulting free kick. Six minutes into the second half, the former Shinrone man was brought down in the box by the young Celtic keeper Craig Ryan, and he dispatched the resulting penalty. The comeback was completed when McCormack spun and played Jack O’Brien in first time following a quick throw, the midfielder made no mistake to leave the score 4-3 in Moneygall’s favour.

On 62 minutes the sides were level again, Roberto Ipsalat finishing first time from six yards. There was one more goal in the game, Craig Ryan from the penalty spot again, after – you guessed it – a foul on Jason McCormack.

The comeback from Moneygall shows the fantastic character and togetherness in the squad, but it doesn’t tell the full story; Celtic had to rely on several young players, some of whom had a bad day at the office.

BT Harps 2-3 Borrisokane

Borrisokane overcame BT Harps in Templemore thanks to goals from James Hough, from a corner; Mike Gavin, a close-range finish at the back post; and a fine finish from the man of the match, Conor Gavin.

For Harps, Ben Stapleton scored his second and third goals of the season, but they ultimately came out the wrong end of a five-goal thriller.

Clodiagh Rangers 1-2 Lough Derg

Lough Derg continued their good start when they earned three points from their trip to Drombane.

Jack O'Mahony gave the visitors the lead after sixteen minutes, guiding a fine Lee Mowat cross into the net. The score remained unchanged at the break thanks to fine saves from Adrian Cooke and Oisin Conacur.

Lough Derg hit the crossbar before Clodiagh’s main man Sam Van Dam, found the net on 60 minutes. Five minutes later, the visitors restored their lead; O’Mahoney returning the favour by setting up Mowat for an easy finish.

Division 1

Thurles Town stormed into a 5-0 lead at half-time in Cloughjordan, before the hosts pulled three back through Bryan Williams. Thurles ran out 6-3 winners with four of their goals coming through man of the match Tommy Brophy; the other two coming from Dylan Gayson in the first half and JJ Gleeson.

Arra Rovers were three goals up at half-time against Birdhill thanks to a Callan Cottrell strike and two goals from man of the match Ruadhan Mulrooney. After the break, Mulrooney helped himself to three more, whilst Eoin Maloney and Will Fogarty also got on the scoresheet for the Newtown men. Thomas Floyd got a consolation goal from the spot for Birdhill.

When Rearcross travelled to Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’, the sides were tied 2-2 at the break before the visitors ran out 5-2 winners. Michael O’Gorman scored a hat-trick for the winners while Eamonn Wade and James Deegan also found the net.

A goal in each half from Adam Fogarty, both assisted by the man of the match, Jimmy Dunne, were enough to see Portumna Town past Ardcroney. The home side did get one back through Liam Dooley, but Graham Fogarty’s charges held out to secure all three points.

Division 2

Holycross went away to Sallypark and produced a real statement of intent with a 4-0 win. The Nora Kennedy Cup holders were one up at the break and ran out comfortable winners, with goals from Conor Cassidy, Seanie Comerford, and a Jojo O’Meara brace.

Moneygall ‘B’ were 2-1 down at half-time when they hosted Borrisokane ‘B’, the newcomers running out 3-1 winners with goals from Darren Moore, Llewellyn Mooney, and a Kieran Fox penalty were enough to cancel out Sean Moroney’s strike for the hosts.

Also, Templetouhy claimed a 4-0 victory against the newly founded Rearcross ‘B’.