5-star Rearcross stun Celtic

North Tipperary and District League Report

By Gary Culbert

Nenagh Celtic were the victims of giantkilling last Friday as second division Rearcross dumped them out of the Munster Junior Cup.

The Premier Division champions were sent crashing out in extraordinary fashion as the Division 1 league leaders produced a comeback for the ages. The home side were three-nil down at the break despite hitting the woodwork twice. Tadgh McCarthy, Jimmy Hynes, and Peter Hynes were on target for Celtic who added a fourth at the start of the second half through Jamie Kelly.

Celtic play the best brand of football in North Tipp and on Friday they were in top form and enjoying themselves, but in truth Rearcross gave them too much time and space. This all changed in the 55th minute mark a historic comeback was set in motion by Philip Deegan, who netted twice in quick succession to halve the deficit.

Darragh Kennedy powered home a low strike from outside the box before midfielder Kieran Devitt drew ‘Cross level with a poachers finish at the back post.

Jim Calpis repelled the inevitable Celtic retaliation with three top-class saves to keep the scores level. However, in the 88th minute, Philip Deegan slid in at the back host to complete his hat-trick and the most unlikely comebacks against the giants of NT&DL football.

However, it is well documented that Celtic are never down and out and in the 93rd minute Gary Kevin saw his shot hit the crossbar and fall to Jimmy Hynes on the penalty spot, on another day we could be talking about extra time, but on this occasion the NT&DL legend fired over.

For Nenagh Celtic, the goalkeeping situation that has plagued them for years is rearing it’s head again, whilst the young legs of the Rearcross men had too much energy in the end for this ageing squad. Rearcross will likely meet Celtic again next season, only this time in the Premier Division of the league.

Elsewhere in the Munster Junior Cup, a patchwork Moneygall side lost 4-2 at home to a much-changed Lough Derg outfit.

The away side went in front courtesy of a Rory Cousins cracker and were two-up at half-time thanks to a Lee Mowat goal, following some good work by James Frahill.

Josh Wynne scored early in the second half for the Offaly outfit, but Mowat and Jack Lynch netted to avoid a nervy finish. The hosts found the net late on through Eddie Simmons, but it was merely a consolation.

Ballymackey hosted Killavilla United and lost 4-1. The Premier Division title favourites found the net through John Pio Fitzpatrick, Roddy Teehan, Tom Ahern, and Puaric Phelan, whilst the hosts only goal came from Aidan White.

BT Harps hosted the old enemy, Thurles Town, and came out the right side of an eight-goal thriller.

Thurles took the lead when former Harps star Tommy Brophy capitalised on some sloppy play. The sides were level on fourteen minutes when Killian Fennell was assisted by Ben Stapleton. The same duo combined five minutes later; the keeper saved this time but the rebound fell to Cian O’Dwyer who gave Harps the lead.

The hosts went 3-1 up with little over twenty minutes played when Ben Stapleton headed home a Nick Keane free-kick. On the half-hour mark it was 4-1 when Stapleton rounded the keeper on the counter-attack.

BT Harps were reduced to ten men just before half-time, Nick Keane shown a red card. Joe Hennessey and Eoin Dorney scored for Thurles in the second half, but Ben Stapleton completed his hat-trick to send BT Harps through to the next round.

Premier Division

The only Premier Division game of the round saw Borrisokane halt Clodiagh’s Rangers title charge with a 4-1 win in Borrisokane.

The home side found the net through Darren Moore, David Nevin, Luke Morkan, and Conor Gavin; whilst the visitors only goal came courtesy of a Sam Van Dam penalty. The sides were tied with a goal apiece at the break, but Jamie Donnelly’s men pushed on in the second half. Best for the winners was Joshua Chadwick.

Division 1

Cloughjordan travelled to Drombane on Sunday to take on Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ and won 4-1.

Given the fact that every other team in the division had already picked up maximum points against Clodiagh, it was a must-win game for the away side. Clodiagh started the brightest and were denied by the woodwork.

The away side took the lead after twenty minutes through Bryan Williams, the centre back firing home after a set-piece delivery into the box. Eoin Killackey’s charges doubled their lead when a defence splitting Jorge Rosell pass set Matthew Moyles free in the box, the youngster got the ball under control before unleashing a venomous strike into the roof of the net.

The aging Clodiagh back-line tired as the second half went on, whereas the visitors grew more and more into the game. With half an hour left, Bryan Williams got his second of the day, this time nodding home from a corner kick. Substitute Jake Adler was proving a handful for the tiring Clodiagh defence, on the 75-minute mark he spun his man and unleashed a shot that was too hot to handle for the Clodiagh keeper.

Jack Butler got a consolation goal late on for the hosts, who looked quite dangerous at times going forward. Unfortunately for Clodiagh there is no respite next week, as a daunting trip to Rearcross under the lights awaits on Saturday night.

Portumna Town's recent woes continued at the weekend with 6-2 loss when Ardcroney came to town.

The visitors were 3-1 up as Ross Austin and Alan Spain got a goal apiece for Ardcroney, whilst Jamie Heffernan helped himself to just the four goals, which sees him go level with Tommy Brophy at the top of the goal scorer’s chart with nine.

For Portumna, Adam Fogarty scored a free kick to leave his tally at seven for the season, whilst Donnacha Ó’Méara was also on target for Graham Fogarty’s side.

Unexpectedly, Ardcroney find themselves in the middle of a promotion battle. Next up for Alan Darcy and co is a testing home tie against Birdhill. These sides are very evenly matched and whatever the result is a high scoring affair is definitely on the cards next Sunday.

The shock result of the round was the 4-1 defeat Arra Rovers suffered on their travels to Birdhill.

The visitors were one goal to the good at the break, Callan Cottrell netting his eighth goal of the season. However, a second half blitz by Anthony Floyd’s side saw four unanswered goals hit the Arra net. Frontman Jack Delahunty netted a hat-trick whilst Odran Floyd was also in on the act.

The defeat leaves Arra’s promotion push in a perilous position, but Dermot O’Halloran’s side should be able to steady the ship next week against a Portumna side who are plummeting towards relegation.

Division 2

Holycross defeated Borrisokane 'B' 8-0 in Glenbane courtesy of four goals from Jojo O’Meara and strikes from JP Butler, Ben Slattery, Mikey Nally, and Liam Ryan.

Rearcross ‘B’ travelled to Templetouhy and lost 3-0; the hosts finding the net through James Kavanagh, Christy Moore, and Brian Fanning.

Youths League

In division 1, Lough Derg ‘A’ ran out 6-2 winners at home to BT Harps. Man of the match Daniel Fogarty netted a hat-trick for the hosts; whilst Andy Lynch, Sam Foley, and Cian O’Donohue were also on target for Derg. Best for the visitors was Michael Coffey, whilst Jamie Monaghan and Mark Davidson were on the scoresheet.

Killavilla United hosted Ballymackey and suffered 9-3 defeat. The hosts were 4-2 down at the break. The home side had a man sent off in the second half, before the Balinree side eventually ran out comfortable winners.

Sam Rosney helped himself to four goals for Ballymackey while Jayden McGee, Colm Maher, Dean Moloney, and Adam Guilfoyle were also on the scoresheet. Killavilla’s scorers were Lee Doran, Michael Fitzgerald, and Josh Moriarty – who was also the best on the day for Villa.

In division 2, Ardcroney went five points clear at the top of the table when they secured three points in their fixture with Holycross.