Fixtures curtailed due to Covid risk

By Gary Culbert

There were seven games down for decision in the North Tipperary & District League last weekend, but due to unplayable pitches and other factors, including Covid, only two games went ahead.

To that end, the North Tipperary & District League committee issued a statement on Sunday evening, that there would be no fixtures next weekend in light of increasing covid concerns. The Committee hope that games will resume on the weekend of the 23rd of January 2022. There will be a further meeting of the committee this week to plan how the season should be brought to a close in the coming weeks.

Throughout the pandemic, the committee have had to operate under tight deadlines to get seasons concluded, and this season is no different as the summer soccer season start date is on the horizon.

One competition that may be sacrificed in order to leave a significant break between the seasons is the Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup. With no matches played in the ‘Tipp Cup’ to date, it is certainly possible that the competition may not go ahead at all.

Ricky Fogarty Premier Division Cup – Preliminary Round

One of the games that did go ahead last Sunday saw Borrisokane host Moneygall in the preliminary round of the Ricky Fogarty Premier Division Cup, with a home tie against Borroway Rovers in the next round up for grabs. Jamie Donnelly’s charges started the new year on the right track, securing their first win in over two months courtesy of Gordon Harding, who netted the only goal of the game.

Youths League

In division 1, Lough Derg ‘A’ played host to Killavilla United on Birdhill’s old pitch, knowing that a win over second placed Villa would go long way to ensuring that the lake-siders would finish outside the relegation zone.

Killavilla took the lead midway through the first half; Michael Fitzgerald finishing off a rapid counter-attack which came off the back of defending a Lough Derg corner. The home side equalized within twenty minutes of the restart through a Cathal O’Donnell free kick which went in off the upright. A couple of minutes later the hosts took the lead when Cian McAuley found the net having been played through by Darragh Hickey.

Killavilla were throwing men forward in search of an equalizer, but this left a gap at the back which Cathal O’Donnell exploited to steal in one on one with the keeper. O’Donnell was taken down in the box, but Darragh Hickey failed to add to his assist with a goal, as his spot kick went high and wide. Hickey was not deterred by his penalty miss and in the 82nd minute he played a nice one-two with Jakub Slaga before curling his strike into the top corner of the Villa net.

Lough Derg capped of an impressive win with a fine team goal; Jakub Slaga finding the net after Cathal O’Donnell headed down Sam Foley’s cross from out wide.