White strike sees Nenagh past Balla

By Pat Sheehan

Premier League

Nenagh AFC 1-0 Ballynanty Rovers

Nenagh AFC recorded a superb win in the Premier League on Sunday when they defeated title chasing Ballynanty Rovers in Brickfields.

With an FAI Junior Cup quarter final up next weekend, Balla opted to rest a couple of their big names and paid the price against a determined home side.

The visitors dominated most of the possession and had the woodwork to thank on a couple of occasions to deny Adrian Power and Cian Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald also had a fine effort in the first half that produced a superb save from Eoghan Tinkler in the home goal.

Scoreless at the break, Nenagh broke the deadlock when Adam Ryan’s through ball picked out Aidan White who cut infield and fired a shot low into the corner past Stephen McNamara.

As the game petered out, Balla threw caution to the wind but they were unable to make any ground against a superb Nenagh back four.

It’s a blow for Balla who now trail Pike by nine points with just one game in hand.

Nenagh AFC: Eoghan Tinkler; Lee Mowatt; Bryan McGee; Eoin Coffey; Kieran Barr; Colm Hayden; Eamon White; Adam Ryan; Nathan Kelly; Aidan White; Paul Costello. Subs: Dan Ryan; Lenny Raleigh; Saeed Ryan

Ballynanty Rovers: Stephen McNamara; Darragh Hughes; Liam Byrnes; Thomas O'Connor; Adam Costello; Brendan O'Dwyer; Aidan Hurley; Cian Fitzgerald; Adrian Power; Cian Power; Conor Keane. Subs: Dermot Fitzgerald; Thomas Byrnes; Josh Adams; Gbadebo Habideen; James Fitzgerald

League

Nenagh AFC ‘B’ kept their Division 2A hopes alive with a 3-1 win over Charleville ‘B’. Cillian Scully scored twice with Diarmuid Fitzpatrick making up the tally for the winners.

Lawson Cup

In a pulsating game, Newport eventually overcame Herbertstown 5-3 in a hard-fought match to progress to the last eight of the Lawson Cup.

Despite plying their trade four divisions lower, Herbertstown possess a squad well capable of playing at a much higher level.

Newport were well prepared for this one and raced into a two-goal lead within twelve minutes through Christy Doyle and Cillian O’Shea.

The Division 2B side bounced back and were level by half time thanks to scores from Harry Fox and Oisin O’Grady.

Newport top scorer Jay Ryan was sprung from the bench and restored Newport’s’ lead and when James Lynch made it 4-2 it looked like game over.

Once again, the visitors played their way back into the tie when O’Grady reduced the deficit to the minimum. With time running out Jay Ryan struck again to put the game to rest.

Newport’s reward is a trip to Pike Rovers for next weekend’s quarter final.