Second league title of the season for Arra

By Gary Culbert

Division 1 Barry Cup

Cloughjordan defeated a depleted Borroway Rovers 3-1 on Sunday in Tierney Park to advance to the Barry Cup final.

There was a strong crosswind, and as ever conditions underfoot were far from ideal, which hampered Borroway’s passing game. Be that as it may, Borroway still started the brightest in this tense cup semi-final as the occasion seemed to get to Clough; Ger Corcoran had to be alert to keep their powder dry early on.

Eoin Killackey’s side grew into the game through the calming influence of Eoin Hogan and Matthew Moyles on the ball, the former Ardcroney man linking up well with Dean O’Meara on more than one occasion down the left to devastating effect. Indeed, it was a corner from that side which opened the scoring for Cloughjordan as O’Meara continued his golden touch, this time with a headed goal from the set-piece.

The hosts tried to strike while the iron was hot, but the best they could do was rattle the crossbar through O’Meara, whilst Matthew Moyles was denied by an inspired double save from the Borroway keeper.

The tie was still in the balance when out of nowhere a long ball deceived both Kevin Quinlan and Ger Corcoran to send a Borroway striker in on an open goal, albeit from a narrow angle. However, just as he pulled the trigger Clough’s full back came sliding in to save the day and a corner was awarded despite the protests from the visiting side-line.

Borroway regained a foothold in the game particularly through the talented Liam McCormack on the wing, but the Thurles men were undone on the stroke of half-time as Clough doubled their lead through a Kevin Quinlan header which should have been cleared off the line.

Jake Moore pulled one back from the penalty spot early in the second half to halve the deficit for Paul Gould’s side. Borroway were the better team in the second half and would have been good value for an equaliser. Matthew Moyles was the best for Cloughjordan, who face Sallypark in their final game of the season in the Barry Cup final.

Under 19 Championship

There was a lot of excitement in Portroe heading into the weekend as the invincible Arra Rovers under 19’s were set to finally get their hands on the Youth’s Championship title.

Saturday was a historic day for everyone involved with Arra Rovers as their under 19 squad concluded an unbeaten league campaign with a 3-1 win over Lough Derg in Shouldice Park, adding another league title to the trophy cabinet, after the senior team won the Premier Division six weeks previous.

With the under 19’s management team made up entirely of players from that Premier Division winning side, high standards were expected from their very first friendly which kick-started the season. On that day the Arra management team of Sean Nightingale, Anthony Collins, Cathal O’Brien, and Brendan Muldowney had only the bare eleven, but since then have built a team that played nine games and won all nine.

Despite having the league well won heading into this game, this last game according to management and the players was a must win; losing or drawing at home they would be crowned champions was never an option. This group of players wanted to make history and become ‘Arra Rovers Invincibles’, which clearly shows the character and standards everyone involved with this squad has set since that very first game.

Lough Derg played the first ten minutes with only ten players but showed great determination and character to give this powerful Arra side a run for their money. The home side started the game at a lightning pace to try and capitalize on their man advantage, but no matter what they threw at Lough Derg, their fellow Shannon-siders managed to keep them out.

Arra’s midfield duo of Kieran Grace and Aidan O’Dwyer started the game very strongly, dominating the middle of the park, with O’Dwyer in particular having joy with strong carries up the middle of the park time and time again.

Finally, after 33 minutes the champions broke the deadlock, and who else but Eoin Moloney, who has been a standout player for both the senior and under 19 Arra squads this season. On this occasion, all he had to do was tap in as Kieran Grace did all the hard work, tearing down the right wing before dribbling past the keeper on the end-line and pulling it back for Moloney.

Brian McEvoy has been a goal scoring machine for the team this season, netting seventeen goals before this game. He threatened the Derg defence and keeper on more than one occasion in the first half, but Arra would go in only one goal to the good at half time.

After the break, it didn’t take long for Arra to double their lead; a Kieran Grace strike finished off a great passage of play in the 55th minute, which started all the way from the Arra back four.

Lough Derg found a route back into the game only a few moments later through a superb solo run from Riley Coonan down the left side, which ended in a cheeky lobbed effort over the Arra keeper.

The home side restored their two-goal cushion on 65 minutes when Jack McGrath got a well-deserved goal. At this stage, the home side where in full control and could start to enjoy the occasion a bit more.

Lough Derg never gave up and went hard into all challenges, but it was a mistake at the back between their keeper and defender that led to Arra’s fourth and Eoin Moloney’s second goal; a rasping strike on a loose ball from all of 30 yards out which the keeper could only admire as it cannoned into the top right corner. This goal in the 81st minute ended the match as a contest.

Kieran Grace was the man of the match, ending the game with a goal and assist to his name. The centre-back pairing of Oisin Tucker and James O’Meara were formidable and made it next to impossible on most weekends for any team to break through. Aidan O’Dwyer, Eoin Moloney, Brian McEvoy, and captain Luke Conneally were all part of the Arra Rovers Premier Division winning squad and will be hoping to pick up their third piece of silverware when the Youths Cup rolls around. There’s doubting that the future is bright for Arra Rovers with this squad of young men.