North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

FAI Junior Cup

A youthful Borrisoleigh side dumped an experienced Shinrone of the FAI Junior Cup thanks to a 5-2 win in Shinrone on Sunday.

Shinrone went up one-up after ten minutes through Jack Dorman. Dan Ryan equalized for Borris’ just five minutes later. Eddie Ryan scored a brace of goals after half time to leave the visitors 3-1 to the good. Shinrone scored though Nathan Fogarty to make it 3-2. However, Borrisoleigh substitute Alvis Danko restored the two-goal lead having been on the pitch for just ten minutes, with Eddie Ryan converting a penalty to finish off the scoring.

Dylan Maher scored Moneygall’s only goal of the game as they bowed out of the FAI Junior Cup with a 2-1 defeat at home to Cashel Town.

Premier Division

ARRA ROVERS 1-1 BORROWAY ROVERS

Borroway Rovers made the long trip to Portroe on Sunday and came away with a valuable point following a 1-1 draw with Arra Rovers.

The Premier Division champions took the lead in the 35th minute when a Cathal O’Brien free kick – helped by a strong cross-field wind - snuck into the top left corner.

The newly promoted side drew level almost immediately after half time through central midfielder Dean McCormack, and that was how it finished despite both sides having decent chances in the remainder of the second half.

Arra being held at home by a promoted side highlights once again that the Premier Division title race is wide open; there is no clear favourite for the title this season, we will see all teams dropping points to each other in a title race that will likely go down to the wire.

Ballymackey 0-0 Rearcross

In recent times there is a clear trend when Ballymackey and Rearcross meet – low scoring draws. On Sunday, their latest meeting in Ballinree produced a scoreless draw.

Ballymackey welcomed back Adam Carey, the Nenagh man coming into midfield alongside Darragh McDonnell, who himself is a welcome addition this season in centre midfield. Goals may be hard to come by for Ballymackey this season, but the return of Dylan Kennedy should go some way to rectifying the situation.

Rearcross had a strong lineup with the usual suspects - Deegan and O’Gorman - up top, but there have been changes in the dugout and at the back; former manager Eamonn Devitt has stepped away and is now playing with Rearcross ‘B’, alongside former Premier Division regulars Robert Harrington and Eamon Wade. Paddy Dawson started his second game on the trot for Rea’ following a serious injury which ruled the attacking midfielder out for much of last season. All things considered, Rea’ should be right up there come the business end of the season.

Division 1

Sallypark travelled to Birdhill and put just the eleven goals past the newly promoted side. Sean Ryan netted five in the rout and assisted three more; Brian Mitchell netted a hat-trick of both goals and assists whilst Jack Sanders, Stephen Murray, and Brian McGee completed the scoring.

The visitors went three-up up early on before Birdhill scored through Chris Carew after Sally’ failed to clear a corner kick, there was big deflection on Carew’s strike from outside the box, but it was a lifeline as the hosts went in 4-1 down at the interval.

Sallypark pushed on in the second half and scored four more times before Birdhill found the net again, former Lough Derg ‘B’ captain Kieran Larkin applying the finishing touch. Sean Ryan and Brian Mitchell were unstoppable on the wings, whilst Bryan McGee controlled the game from centre midfield, however man of the match was emerging Tipperary hurler Sean Ryan, who had a whopping eight goal involvements on the day. The only negative note for the visitors was the straight red card that goalkeeper Damien Corcoran received in the 55th minute.

Holycross went away to Borrisokane and came away with an impressive 5-1 win. Calum O’Connor netted two for the visitors, while Philly Fogarty, Aaron Ryan, Jack Ryan all score one apiece for Davy English’s side. Player of the match was Holycross’ Aaron Ryan.

Division 2

Paddy O’Farrell’s Cloughjordan ‘B’ got off to a losing start in the league when a Rearcross ‘B’ side, containing some very good, experienced players, came to Tierney Park and won 3-1.

Ed Heneghan opened the scoring for the hosts when he got on the end of a looping ball across the Rearcross goal. The visitors levelled in the 42nd minute when a David Brennan corner was directed into the net by the head of Mark Hogan at the near post. Cloughjordan had the chance to go in front early in the second half when their striker was fouled in the box, but the resulting penalty rebounded off the upright and was cleared. Gavin Denihan gave the visitors the lead in the 75th minute, and Mark Hogan put daylight between the sides in the 83rd minute.

Division 2 Shield

Grange United progressed to the semi-final courtesy of three unanswered goals in Drombane against Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’. A Brian Bowe brace had the visitors two-up at the break, before Emmet Jones added a third after the break.

Youths Premier Division

Killavilla United welcomed Arra Rovers to Villa Park on Saturday and got revenge for their heart-breaking Cup defeat in Portroe last season.

The sides played out a stalemate in the opening 45 minutes, but Villa sprung into life in the second half, scoring four unanswered goals. Leigh Loughnane opened the scoring for the Roscrea men, before man of the match Miko Pasalic added a superb hat-trick.

Rearcross had a winning start on their return to the NT&DL on Saturday as the hosts ran out 3-0 winners over Holycross in windy conditions.

Indeed, the margin would have been greater but for a man of the match performance from visiting keeper Jojo Ryan. Rearcross opened the scoring on 55 minutes when Aaron Lenihan found James Butler in space, who drilled a low effort to the back of the net. Rea’ had their tails up now but Jojo Ryan continued with his top-notch goalkeeping performance to deny the home side once more, but they doubled their lead when some fine footwork from Taylor Light created an opening for Aaron Lenihan, who netted from close range.

Rearcross copper-fastened the win when Callum Wallace headed a corner back across goal, where Aaron Quinlan was in the right place at the right time to force the ball home and seal the win for Rearcross.