Munster Junior Cup takes centre stage
By Gary Culbert
Killavilla United bounced back from their heavy defeat in the Munster Champions Cup with a hard fought 4-2 win away to Sallypark in the second round of the Munster Junior Cup on Sunday.
It is no easy task to travel away to Latteragh in cup competition, as Bansha Celtic and Ballymackey recently found out, but Villa were in no mood to be another cup upset as they stormed into an early two goal lead.
Gavin Clark netted the first before Paul Kirwan pulled off an unbelievable header from outside the box for the second on fifteen minutes. Both teams had chances to score the third goal in this end-to-end game, but it was Jack Sanders who found the net for Sally in the 35th minute with an impressive finish following some fine play from Brian Mitchell.
Sallypark started the second half strongly and made their pressure count in the 65th minute when a poor clearance from the Villa keeper fell to Dan Keogh, who levelled proceedings with a lobbed effort from forty yards which flew into the empty net.
The home side stayed pushing for the winner, but it was the Premier Division champions who scored the all-important next goal to get their noses in front, and who else when needed most but Paul Kirwan, the veteran striker notching his second goal in the 85th minute.
Sallypark had to throw the kitchen sink to try and force an equaliser, but this inevitably left gaps at the back and Gavin Clark was on hand to make it 4-2 and ensure that it is Killavilla who book a trip to Lough Derg in round 3, with a place in an open draw for the last 32 of the Munster Junior Cup up for grabs.
Padraig Ryan was once again the man of the match for Sallypark, who will be looking to bounce back next weekend when they travel to Shinrone for the second round of the FAI Junior Cup. On paper it is a dream draw for Sallypark given the other teams left in the pot, they should roll over the young Division 2 side, but Shinrone could surprise Sally in this one.
Lough Derg scored a last-minute goal in extra time to defeat Ardcroney 2-1 and book their shot at a place in the open draw for the last 32 of the Munster Junior Cup.
The hosts were awarded two penalties in the opening two minutes, Kieran Spain scored the first but hit the post with the second. The weather conditions were awful, but Derg had the wind on their backs and gradually clawed their way back into the tie. They were rewarded in the 40th minute when an excellent Dermot McCarthy pass James Frahill in space, who coolly finished one-on-one with goalkeeper Taylor Duffy.
Ardcroney went into the second half with the wind, but Glen Austin’s side were wasteful in front of goal, at the other end Taylor Duffy was needed on more than one occasion to deny Jack Grace, Brian Cleary, and Jason Sheehan to ensure extra time was needed. In the dying moments of extra time, Lough Derg won a corner, from which a delightful cross was finished off with a front post flick on into the back of the net.
Moneygall had been on a good run of form before an unlikely loss to Portumna Town in the league, but on Saturday night they made it two losses on the bounce when Thurles Town scored four unanswered goals in Moneygall in the Munster Junior Cup to lose 4-2.
Willie Creedon netted a hat-trick for the visitors and veteran goalscorer Tommy Brophy also got in the act in what was a rare clean sheet for Dylan Gayson’s side.
It’s two wins on the bounce for Thurles, admittedly both were in the Munster Junior Cup, but things are certainly looking up for them, especially now that they are once again playing their home matches in the greyhound stadium.
Rearcross had an impressive, albeit expected 4-1 win away to Borrisokane on Sunday.
The visitors took the lead in the 25th minute through James Deegan, the pacey striker powering down the left flank before cutting in on his right to finish. Borris drew level from a long free kick which John O’Meara headed home.
After the interval, James Deegan was on target again following a swift counter attack before the visitors went 3-1 up when Paul Carey headed home a Greg Kennedy cross. The game was put to bed by Philly Deegan late on when the hosts had piled forward in search of a route back into the game. James Rochford was the best for Rearcross, who have a home tie with Thurles Town next, with the winner earning a place in the open draw for the last 32 of the Munster Junior Cup, just as Rearcross did last season.
Premier Division ARRA ROVERS 4-2 CLODIAGH RANGERS
Arra Rovers continued to climb the table with a compressive 4-2 win over a heavily depleted Clodiagh Rangers side in Portroe on Sunday.
Clodiagh are without their prolific striker James Murray, who has emigrated to Australia, and elsewhere on the pitch they had several players from their second team line out. The replacements gave a good account of themselves but have inevitably weakened the side. Ruadhan Mulrooney took full advantage and had Arra two up inside the opening quarter of an hour. Man of the match Aiden O’Dwyer made it three before the break and Cathal O’Brien scored direct from a free kick in the second half to put Arra out of sight. Paudie Guidera came off the bench for the visitors and scored twice in the last thirty minutes amidst atrocious conditions to leave the score a somewhat respectable.
For Clodiagh, Greg Fewer at centre back battled hard in tough conditions, whilst new additions up front, Tommy Ryan, and Aidan Slattery, were also impressive.
BT HARPS 4-3 BALLYMACKEY BT Harps climbed clear of the relegation zone following a 4-3 win over Ballymackey in Michael Fennell Park on Sunday.
Harps were three up at the break courtesy of a Ben Stapleton brace and a fine finish from Killian Fennell. On the hour mark they looked home and hosed when new signing, Jack McCullagh, got his first goal for his new club. However, three quick fire goals for Ballymackey through Alan Ryan and a Josh McCarthy brace ensured a nervy finish for the hosts. BT’s Jack Kennedy was the man of the match.
Division 1
Portumna Town’s brief recovery was halted in its tracks on Sunday as Borroway put seven goals past Graham Fogarty’s men, who could only muster one in reply. Imposing central midfielder Jack Derby netted a brace for the hosts, whilst Aaron Cullen, Sean Butler, Dean McCormack, Jason Bolger, and Jake Moore also got in on the act.
Division 2
Birdhill kept their fine run of form going with an impressive 6-2 win over Borrisoleigh.
Kealan Floyd opened the scoring after fifteen minutes with a strike from long range that the keeper failed to deal with. Niall Duffy doubled the lead on the half hour with a well-taken shot from just inside the box.
Borrisoleigh found some inspiration at half time and were right back in the game ten minutes into the second half, when a shot from the edge of the box from Seamus Ryan deceived the Birdhill keeper. However, Birdhill’s two goal cushion was restored when a great run down the left and cross by Niall Duffy was met by James Tobin at the far post. Thomas Floyd and Conor Hickey added two more goals to put Birdhill 5-1 up, before Borrisoleigh pulled one back though Mattie Vahey. However, Brian Tobin had the last say with a back post header after a pin-point cross from Thomas Floyd.
Ballymackey ‘B’ and Borrisokane ‘B’ played out a 2-2 draw in Ballinree on Sunday. Conditions were difficult for both teams, but Ballymackey took the lead early in second half from a Tony Delaney header. Borrisokane score twice though John Tully and Ciaran Slevin but with little time left, Ryan Gillick popped up in the box to finish in the bottom corner to draw the game for the Ballinree outfit.
Rearcross ‘B’ comprehensively defeated Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ 6-1 in Rearcross on Sunday. The home side took the lead when Oisin Kelly headed in a Cillian Kennedy cross and went two up when Mark Hogan headed in from a corner. The visitors pulled one back to leave it 2-1 at the break.
Rea’ started brightly in the second half with Gary Ryan setting up Cillian Kennedy who finished well to make it 3-1. Kennedy added a second when he finished from an Aiden O'Brien cross, and he completed his hat-trick when he tapped in following a goalkeeping error, and Willie Horrigan rounded off the scoring late on.
Under 19 Championship
Lough Derg ‘B’ ran out 3-1 winners over Ardcroney ‘B’ on Saturday. Sam Lancaster, Ricky Shanahan, and Kevin Ward got the goals for the hosts while Stuart Fox scored for Ardcroney whose best player was Danny Cahalan.