Killavilla send out early warning
By Gary Culbert
The curtain was raised on the new North Tipperary & District League Premier Division campaign on Saturday as holders Killavilla United made the short trip to Ballinree to take on a new look Ballymackey side and left with all three points on a 3-0 scoreline.
There were a couple of new faces in the host’s ranks, but as kick-off edged closer there was only one name on people’s lips, Mikey Hynes - the serial winner with Nenagh Celtic, while Kevin Kennedy made the switch from one side of Toomevara to the other, whilst ex-Moneygall man Paidi Williams followed suit.
The game started at a frantic pace and both sides went close inside the opening minutes. Adam McAuliffe crossed for Kevin Kennedy to fire agonizingly wide at one end, whilst the energetic Mark Dwyer beat the offside trap and struck the upright at the other.
As the game settled down one man began to stand out, Paul Kirwan. And so, it was in the fifteenth minute that after a few sighters, Kirwan found his range with a bullet header following a deep cross by captain Ian Tracey.
Brendan Hayes saved a Ruairi Murphy free kick in the 25th minute but in the 42nd minute Villa’s dominance was further rewarded when a Brian Moloney corner was whipped with pace towards Kirwan at the front post only to be turned in by a Ballymackey defender.
Paul Kirwan’s substitution at the break took the fear factor out of the ‘Villa forward line, but Ballymackey pushed on and were good value for a goal, but Vlad Bodrov had other ideas in the Villa goal. In truth, Bodrov has looked far from convincing when outside his penalty area, but his double save ten minutes into the second half were impressive, firstly from a Paidi Williams volley from 22 yards and when David Haverty seemed in the right place at the right time to nod the rebound into an empty net from five yards, Bodrov somehow got back to his feet in time to push the ball to safety. Ballymackey piled on the pressure but could not find a way beyond man of the match, Bodrov, who did well to deny Haverty again.
Mark Dwyer kept Villa competitive in midfield when his side were under the cosh in the second half, as ever the youngster covered every blade of grass, and as is becoming more and more common - he got his reward. Villa’s third goal sums up what Dwyer is all about, pressing high in the 90th minute the centre midfielder nipped in a long leg to disposes the defender before baring down on goal and applying a composed finishing.
Ballymackey deserve huge credit for giving young players the nod against the best opposition around, but on this occasion their lightweight frontline was bullied by the more experienced and bigger built Killavilla back three. Moving Mikey Hynes up top late in the second half paid dividends, but ultimately it was too little too late as Villa had their goals got and were able to shut up shop.
Ballymackey will learn a lot from this defeat, and if they can somehow sign a proven Premier Division striker who is physically imposing then the next time these teams meet it may well be a top of the table clash.
BT Harps 3-1 Borrisokane
Borrisokane made the trip to Michael Fennel Park to take on BT Harps on Sunday but fell to a 3-1 defeat.
The hosts were gifted a golden start in the opening minute when a long ball from Brian Roche into the Borris’ box bounced up off the hard surface and over Joshua Claffey in the Borrisokane goal, allowing Ben Stable the simple task of finishing into an empty net.
Jamie Donnelly’s side were level just five minutes later when Luke Morkan capitalized on some sloppy defending by the home team.
In the 18th minute it was a case of déjà vu when another long ball from Brian Roche deceived the Borris’ keeper again, but this time the ball found its way into the net without the help of a striker.
Harps continued to push on and got further reward just before halftime following a quick kick from the hands of Eoin Brophy in the Harps net. Borrisokane allowed the long kick to bounce, and Stevie Quinlan latched onto the scraps in the Borris’ box before getting his head up and pulling the ball ack into the path of the onrushing Ben Stapleton, who slotted home from eight yards.
Clodiagh Rangers 3-2 Arra Rovers
Clodiagh Rangers showed why they were the team that worried Killavilla the most last year with an impressive 3-2 home victory over newly promoted Arra Rovers.
It was scoreless at the break in Drombane but the game burst into life in the second half; John Carew and Patrick Lowry netted for the hosts, whilst Ruadhan Mulrooney and Diarmuid Boyle scored for the away side. Paul Doyle had the final say as his goal secured the points for Adrian Cooke’s side, who had TJ Butler to thank for a man of the match performance in midfield.
Rearcross 3-0 Lough Derg
Lough Derg travelled to Rearcross on Monday for the final game of the weekend. It was scoreless at the break despite the best efforts of Jack O’Mahony for Derg and Paddy Deegan for Rea’, who almost bettered his Tipp Cup final screamer, but this time rattled the crossbar.
The hosts opened their account in the 52nd minute when Paul Nolan burst forward before playing Michael O’Gorman through, who got to the endline and whipped in an inviting cross towards Patrick Deegan who had found space at the back post. Deegan was shaping to shoot but a Lough Derg defender inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
Rea' doubled their lead in the 75th minute when some good pressure from their midfield saw the ball break to Patrick Deegan, who took a touch before finishing emphatically into the roof of the net.
They completed their victory with five minutes remaining when new addition, Matthew Feehan, burst through the defence of the now ten-men of Lough Derg before finishing into the bottom corner.
The physically imposing Darragh Kennedy was the best on the day for Rea’, whilst the energetic Kieran Devitt was not far behind his midfield partner for the accolade.
Division 1
Thurles Town travelled to Tierney Park to take on Cloughjordan FC, in what turned out to be a very peculiar game which ended 3-3.
Just as both sides were coming to terms with each other Thurles were reduced to ten men for an incident which occurred when the ball was not in play. If Clough had scored the first goal (or at least not conceded early) then Thurles surely would have been there for the taking as they had to play seventy minutes in the blistering heat, however, an error from the Clough defence allowed Curtis Ryan to steal in for a goal that he made look very easy.
The ten men were 1-0 up until just before the second half water break, at which point Clough equalized through the ageless Kevin Kennedy, who once again headed into the net at Tierney Park, this time from a Seamus Williams cross from deep.
Clough inexplicably gave Thurles a free kick twenty yards out which Joe Hennessy smashed just inside the post to restore the away side’s lead. Billy Minogue’s side doubled their lead shortly after when Willie Creedon finished from a tight angle on the counter attack.
The home side looked down and out with ten minutes to go, but they were given a lifeline when substitute Gary Culbert redirected into the net a Kevin Kennedy header. Minutes later Clough completed the comeback when Shane Williams finished into the top corner with a sliced volley from just inside the box.
Paul Gould’s Borroway Rovers made an impressive start to life in Division 1 with a comprehensive 4-1 win in Galway over Portumna Town.
Jake Moore scored in the 12th, 35th & 45th minutes to complete an impressive first half hat-trick, whilst Gary Dunne completed the visitor’s scoring in the 56th minute.
Graham Fogarty’s men found the net when they forced an own goal in the 87th minute off the back of a corner kick, but it was too little too late for the side who narrowly avoided relegation last season.
Moneygall caused the biggest upset of the opening weekend when they hosted Sallypark.
Dylan McCormack and man of the match Kian Fallon gave the hosts a two-goal lead at the break but strikes from Padraig Ryan and Kieran Ryan levelled proceedings heading into the final furlong. Dara Lee proved to be the hero late on when he popped up with a winner for the former Premier Division side.
Sallypark were without Brian Mitchell, but also struggled to find the best position for Paul Walsh on the day, deploying the former Celt up front, in midfield, and at the back.
Division 1
Borrisokane ‘B’ travelled to Templetouhy where they fell to a 7-1 defeat. Darren Molloy’s team got their only goal through Emmanuel Masina in the first half. For the hosts: JJ McLoughlin scored a hat-trick, Christy Moore netted a brace, whilst Jason Quinlivan and Colm McGrath helped themselves to one apiece.
When newcomers Borrisoleigh travelled to take on the newly formed Lough Derg ‘B’ the away side found themselves one goal up in the 34th minute, the opener came when a free kick evaded the Derg defence only for Fintan Holland to finish well.
Andy Lynch levelled with a penalty in the 49th minute before Kieran Larkin made it 2-1 to the home side. Fintan Holland scored again on the 82nd minute to level proceedings before teammate Pauric Stapleton scored in the 93rd minute to secure all three points for Borrisoleigh on their return to the NT&DL. Best on the day for Borris’ were Fintan Holland and James Devanney.
Elsewhere Ballymackey ‘B’ beat Rearcross ‘B’ 1-0 courtesy of a Nathan Lynch penalty.