‘Villa and Celtic set-up title six-pointer this Sunday

By Gary Culbert

Premier Division

Killavilla United 4-0 Lough Derg

Killavilla United moved within touching distance of the Premier Division title with a routine 4-0 home win over Lough Derg on Sunday.

‘Villa were well out of sight inside the opening twenty-five minutes, taking the lead inside the opening minute; young forward Dion Carney netting his seventh of the season. When these sides met in August 2020 the home supporters had to wait until the third minute to see Killavilla double their lead; with just two minutes played on Sunday, Paul Kirwan made it 2-0 when he expertly lobbed the Derg keeper.

Two became three on twenty minutes, this time it was a trademark headed goal by Kirwan from a corner. Dion Carney got his second just a couple of minutes later, a well-taken volley.

Despite the improvement in the second half, it was an extremely poor day at the office for Derg, who find themselves just outside the relegation zone.

Borrisokane 0-2 Nenagh Celtic

Nenagh Celtic kept their run of league wins going on Sunday with an impressive 2-0 win away to Borrisokane.

An own goal found its way into the Borrisokane net, whilst Jimmy Hynes was also on target for the champions. Borrisokane will be aiming to avoid their third defeat on the bounce when they travel to Lough Derg on Sunday.

The wins for Killavilla and Nenagh Celtic set up a huge game between the pair this Sunday in Villa Park. A home win and Killavilla will have one hand on the title, whilst three points for Celtic would send them two points clear at the top with a game more played.

This potential title decider sees this season’s highest scorers Nenagh Celtic, coming up against the tightest defence with the Roscrea men having conceded just thirteen goals in their eleven games so far, whilst Henry Newman’s charges have found the back of the net thirty-nine times in twelve games.

It was a two-all draw in the reverse fixture in Villa Park, whilst Celtic came out on top when these two met in last season’s Ricky Fogarty Cup semi-final. Killavilla will be fired up for this one but having received a red card in each of their last two games against the Celt’s, Denis Moloney will be looking for a more controlled performance from the league leaders on this occasion.

BT Harps 1-2 Clodiagh Rangers

BT Harps’ miserable run of results continued on Sunday with a 2-1 home defeat to noisy neighbours, Clodiagh Rangers. Ben Stapleton rattled the net for the hosts, but goals from James Murray and John Carew ensured that Clodiagh’s faint title aspirations were kept alive.

For the neutral, Clodiagh were unjustly never really seen as a true contender for the title. However, the Drombane men are well placed to take advantage of any slip ups that the ‘big two’ might make. Either way, it has been a hugely impressive season for them.

BT look destined for the drop, but it’s very tight at the bottom; a couple of wins would go a very long way towards safety.

Ballymackey 6-2 Moneygall

Moneygall’s recent struggles continued on Sunday with a comprehensive 6-2 away loss to neighbouring Ballymackey. However, a first half hat-trick from in-form Aiden White, and second half goals from the Haverty brothers and Paddy Touhy meant that the home side put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone. For the second week in a row, Matt Longe and Nistor Toderici found the net for the Offaly men.

Division 1

Arra Rovers took a big step towards promotion when they easily dispatched Cloughjordan 4-1 in Portroe. The hosts took the lead early on through Cathal O’Brien’s deflected effort from outside the box. Dermot O’Halloran’s side doubled their lead inside the fifteen minutes through AJ Willis, the forward capitalizing on a shot that was too hot to handle for the Clough keeper.

The visitors pulled one back when a venomous Matthew Moyles strike was spilled by the Arra keeper, only for Bryan Williams to be first on the scene to force it home. Ruadhan Mulrooney restored the hosts two goal lead just before the break, Arra’s top scorer beating Scott Hodgins in the air to head into an empty net. Clough pushed hard for a goal in the opening stages of the second half, but it didn’t come, instead Callan Cottrell tapped home on the counter at the other end, which finished the match as a contest. Man of the match was Cathal O’Brien, an easy pick considering his return of a goal and two assists.

The win takes Arra six points clear of third-placed Thurles Town with two more games played. Cloughjordan will be looking over their shoulders at Birdhill, but Eoin Killackey will know that a win at home to Clodiagh ‘B’ Rangers on Sunday will ease their relegation worries.

Birdhill had league favourites Rearcross rattled in this local derby, but the champions-elect left with all the points on a 3-2 scoreline.

It’s a fourth loss on the bounce for Birdhill, but Anthony Floyd’s side went down fighting. The relegation-threatened home side took an early lead from the penalty spot, Jack Delahunty making no mistake. Rearcross levelled when Michael O’Gorman found the net following tireless work by Robert Harrington. O’Gorman was on target again before the break, this time a headed effort following some fine play to work the ball up the field. With the half time team talk still ringing in their ears, the hosts drew level; Donal Whelan finding the net. Tommy Lyons ensured that Rea’s winning streak in the league continued when he forced home the visitor’s third of the day. Birdhill piled the pressure on, but Rea’s three at the back withstood.

Portumna Town continued their recent resurgence with a 1-1 draw at home to Thurles Town, which leaves them four points clear of the drop with a game more played than Birdhill. David O’Meara had Graham Fogarty’s side ahead at the break, but the visitors levelled through Eoin Dorney in the second half.

Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ and Ardcroney played out a stalemate in the first half in Drombane, but Alan Darcy netted on the 50th minute to ensure Ardcroney are still in with a shout for promotion heading into the final few games.

Division 2

Eoin Sheldon went closest for Rearcross when they travelled to Sallypark on Sunday, but it was the home side who prevailed 2-0. Paul Ryan was on the scoresheet again, whilst Eoin Ryan also netted from the spot which sees Sally stay a point clear of Templetouhy in the race for promotion.

The local derby between Ballymackey ‘B’ and Moneygall ‘B’ was 1-1 at the interval, but the visitors pushed on to secure the points in the second half on a 3-2 scoreline. Billy Hayes, Sean Moroney, and Michael Ryan were on target for the away side, whilst Cillian Bergin and Fionn McGuigan netted for the Ballinree outfit.

Borrisokane ‘B’ went away to champions-elect Holycross and came out the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline; Seanie Comerford and Ben Slattery netting for the hosts.

Youths League

In Division 1, leaders Ballymackey suffered their first defeat of the season with a 3-2 home loss to BT Harps on Saturday. All five goals came in the first half with the visitors’ goals coming from Josh Quinlan, Ciaran Barry, and Joe Bourke while Mark Davidson was their player of the match. The hosts found the net through a Cathal Spillane brace.

Moneygall scored six times when they entertained Silvermines in Moneygall, winning 6-3. Man of the match Dylan McCormack scored a hat-trick; whilst Cian Ryan, Patrick Carroll, Aaron Lee were all on target for the hosts. Best for the visitors was Dermot McTiernan, whilst Denis Kenneally’s side found the net through Michael O’Dwyer, John Ryan, and Adam Steed.

In division 2, Knigh United drew 2-2 with Silvermines ‘B’ on Saturday. The sides were tied at a goal apiece at the break and full time. Jack McGrath netted a brace for the visitors, whilst Jack O’Brien did likewise for the hosts.

Ardcroney kept up their strong start to the second with a 2-0 win away to Holycross with two second half goals from man of the match Ross Austin.