Rearcross the lone light in FAI Junior Cup

By Gary Culbert

It was a poor weekend for North Tipperary clubs in the FAI Junior Cup with only Rearcross of the eight clubs progressing past South Tipperary opposition to the next round.

Division 1 high-flyers Rearcross travelled to take on fourth tier TSDL side Dualla and came away with a 6-2 victory. The visitors were 5-nil up at the break courtesy of a James Deegan hat-trick and goals from Michael O’Gorman and Patrick Dawson. Dualla scored two penalties in the second half before a Greg Kennedy free-kick drew a line under proceedings.

Apart from that it was all defeats, with Lough Derg feeling the brunt of three-time FAI Junior Cup winners St Michael’s in Clarisford Park, falling to an 8-0 home defeat.

It was a humbling defeat for the Shannonsider’s, but they shouldn’t dwell on it. The Saints were founded in 1947, whilst Lough Derg FC were only founded in 2002. If Derg can keep up their fantastic work behind the scenes and on the underage front, there will no-doubt come a day where the Ballina/Killaloe men will go far in this competition. A noteworthy half-time substitute for St Michaels was the introduction of former Ballymackey goalkeeper Eoghan Tinkler.

On their travels down the M8, BT Harps lost 2-0 against a Vee Rovers side who are struggling for form in the Clonmel Credit Union Premier Division.

Nenagh Celtic lost 4-0 to Cashel Town amidst torrential rainfall in Moneygall. The NT&DL champions were two down at the break despite a fine performance from centre-back Jamie Kelly, who relished the battle with the physical Cashel forwards.

Next up for Celtic is a difficult assignment in the Munster Junior Cup on Friday night they travel to Rearcross to take on the Division 1 leaders in what looks like a potential banana skin for Henry Newman’s men. No matter the outcome one thing is for certain, this will be a high scoring affair and a very entertaining game under the lights.

Out of all the Premier Division sides taking part, Ballymackey were the closest to making it through to the next round. The Ballinree men went away to Cullen-Lattin and were a goal behind down after fourteen minutes, but five minutes later Aiden White squared for Cathal Spillane to tap home. Ten minutes later, Bally conceded a penalty kick which Cullen Lattin failed to convert.

Aiden White placed a free-kick in from the edge of the box into the bottom corner on 32 minutes, but the sides were level again just before half-time, Ben Carey with the goal. Thanks to the woodwork and some fine Brendan Hayes saves, the score never changed for the remainder of normal time. The TSDL side scored three goals in extra time, with Ballymackey having no reply for a 5-2 defeat.

Ardcroney did well to only be 3-0 down to Peake Villa at half-time. After the break, the former FAI Junior Cup semi-finalists ensured their progression to the second round.

Premier Division

Borroway Rovers continued their impressive recovery by securing a point against league leaders Clodiagh Rangers in Drombane on Sunday.

Borroway took the lead after ten minutes, Tom Rykala finishing low to the keepers right. A busy ten-minute spell before half-time saw three goals scored. The hosts levelled through Danny Maloney before the away side regained their lead, Borroway’s Keith Moore forcing an own goal. The league leaders were level on the stroke of half-time when the unmarked James Murray headed home his fourth goal of the campaign.

Somehow neither team added to the scoreboard in the second half, Borroway did hit the woodwork twice, whilst Clodiagh had a goal disallowed. Both keepers performed heroics late in the game to ensure the spoils were shared, which was a fair result.

Title favourites Killavilla United hosted neighbouring Moneygall in very windy conditions on Sunday.

The sides were tied at a goal apiece heading into the break, Bordei Viorel netting for the visitors, whilst Dion Carney was on target for the hosts. In the second half, Moneygall went a man down and conceded a penalty, which Tom Aherne dispatched. Denis Moloney’s charges held out to secure a 2-1 win which ratchets the pressure up on Clodiagh Rangers, who travel to Borrisokane next week for a hugely important game in the title race. Eddie Brady’s side have been on a poor run and will find themselves in the relegation zone if BT Harps win their games in hand.

Division 1

Thurles Town went level on points with second place Arra Rovers thanks to a comprehensive 6-1 win over struggling Portumna Town.

Thurles were four-up at half-time. Just after the break Portumna pulled one back, Adam Fogarty converting a penalty which makes him the joint second highest scorer in the division. Billy Minogue’s side found the net one more time to leave the final score at 6-1. Tommy Brophy took the lead in the golden boot race with his brace, whilst Joe Hennessey also netted a brace, Eoin Dorney and Ian Pearson were the other scorers.

Next up for Thurles is a mouth-watering Munster Junior Cup tie against their premier division neighbours BT Harps. The Division 1 promotion chasers will fancy a crack at a BT side who are on a poor run of form recently,

Division 2

The biggest match at the weekend was the early title decider between Holycross and Sallypark. Shane Hogan’s side travelled to Glenbane knowing only a win would do to keep their title hopes alive.

Holycross took a 2-1 lead into the break, but the visitors rallied and forced an equalizer in the second half through Sean Ryan, after Kieran Ryan scored in the first half. The hosts found the net through Ben Slattery and Callum O’Connor. From this position it is very difficult to see Sallypark pipping Holycross to the title.

Borrisokane ‘B’ ran out 5-0 winners at home to Moneygall ‘B’. Kieran Fox scored a brace for PJ Molloy’s team, whilst Matthew Harding, John Butler, and Ciaran Foley were also on target for the home side. Luke Quigley was the man of the match.

Templetouhy ran riot in the second half of their away day in Ballinree beating Ballymackey ‘B’ 6-1. The visitors were 2-1 up at half time with Ballymackey finding the net through Colm Maher, but the visitors had far too much experience and firepower. Christy Moore scored twice to go level with Jojo O’Meara in the race for the golden boot; Lee Doran, Stevie Opens, Jamie Bartlett, and Jason Quinlan also found the net for the promotion chasers.

Munster Youths Cup

Ballymackey fell to a 3-1 home defeat to Cashel Town in the first round on Saturday. The home side went two goals down early on, but Brian Bergin’s men pulled one back from the spot in the second half, but the TSDL side ran out comfortable winners. The score line is harsh reading on the Ballinree side, who really weren’t that far off their opponents.

Lough Derg lost 2-1 at home to Cullen Lattin on Saturday. The home side were two down after twenty minutes before Charlie King pulled one back on the 35-minute mark. The score remained unchanged at full-time thanks to an inspired performance from the TSDL side’s keeper.

Killavilla United took Clonmel Celtic to extra-time, but in the end lost 4-2 to the TSDL side who had been reduced to nine men.

Youths League

In division 2, Knigh United defeated Holycross 3-0. The home side were one up at half-time, Dylan Collins finding the net. In the second half, James O’Meara and Cian Moran netted to ensure the points stayed in Knigh.