No respite for Nenagh second time round

By Pat Sheehan

Premier League

Nenagh AFC 0-4 Pike Rovers

Pike Rovers and Nenagh AFC’s postponed game from December was rescheduled on Sunday but it brought no change of fortune for the home side.

Pike were leading 3-1 in the original fixture when the game was halted early last month but it proved only temporary relief for the Tipperary side as Pike ran in four goals without reply this time out.

With both sides having only played 45 minutes of football since November 6th the rustiness and lack of sharpness was obvious.

Nenagh started well but a few errors were brutally punished by Pike who ran in three goals in a twenty minute period before half time.

The opening goal arrived when Danny O’Neill squared for Shane Clarke to score, firing into in the top corner. Shortly after, Colin Daly played Aaron Murphy through and the striker kept to his cool to finish a fine move by the visitors.

Nenagh’s hopes of getting to half time to regroup took another hit when a lapse in concentration gave the alert Eoin Hanrahan the chance to take a quick free kick over the head of a stranded Eoin Tinkler and into the home goal.

The game slowed down hugely in the second half with the heavy pitch and both teams lacking a bit of fitness but Pike did have the final say when substitute Kevin Barry fired into the bottom corner.

A day to forget for Nenagh, but on a positive note they used the opportunity to give junior soccer debuts to three 16-year-olds proving the worth of talented young players working their way through the academy and towards the first team.

Nenagh AFC: Eoghan Tinkler, Colm Hayden, Lee Mowatt, Mark McKenna, Kieran Barr, Saeed Ryan, Ryan Gilmartin, Alan Sheehan, Matt Spain, Adam Ryan, Aidan White. Subs: Kian Mitchell, Kieran O'Brien, Lenny Raleigh, Fionn Higgins, Diarmuid Fitzpatrick

Lawson Cup

Hyde Rangers 0-4 Newport Town

Newport Town recorded an impressive win over fellow Premier ‘A’ challengers Hyde Rangers on Sunday.

Peter O’Sullivan headed Newport in front after 25 minutes from Kevin O’Brien’s delivery.

Newport doubled their lead shortly after half time, Luke Ryan got to the end of Elliot Slattery’s diagonal pass to finish from close range. The speedy Jay Ryan used his asset to good advantage to complete the scoring, racing clear of the Hyde defence on two occasions to claim a double for the winners.

Newport Town: Harry Ryan, Kevin O’Brien, Peter O’Sullivan, Elliott Slattery, Eoin Looney, Pa Murtagh, Darren Collins, Luke Ryan, Sean O’Brien, James Lynch, Jay Ryan.

Ger Ryan Youth Cup

Jamie Kavanagh and Joe Shanahan scored for Newport in a 2-2 draw with Mungret Reg before the Tipperary side advanced on penalties.