Borroway upset Killavilla at home
By Gary Culbert
Premier Division
KILLAVILLA UNITED 1-2 BORROWAY ROVERS
Newly promoted Borroway Rovers shocked the NT&DL on Sunday by beating in-form Killavilla United 2-1 in their own back yard.
Tom Aherne captained the hosts and opened the scoring with a rocket from all of thirty yards. Jake Moore pulled one back just before the break to send the sides in level. In his second game back and his first start, Jack Derby secured the points with a well-taken goal in the 83rd minute.
Killavilla did not have enough time to respond, and their five-game winning run was ended. Aaron Cullen stood out in defence for Borroway, whilst Jake Moore and Gary Dunne were impressive in attack, but the player of the match award goes to Jack Derby.
Rearcross 1-1 Ardcroney
Rearcross and Ardcroney shared the spoils when they made under the lights in Rearcross on Friday night.
Ardcroney welcomed back Darren Moran from hurling duty, but it was Jamie Ryan, returning from suspension that got them their only goal after fifteen minutes. Paul Nolan responded on the hour mark to ensure the spoils were shared.
BT Harps 3-1 Arra Rovers
BT Harps continued their purple patch with a 3-1 win at home to Arra Rovers on Sunday.
The home side started the brighter and created a number of chances but were wasteful in front of Kevin O’Halloran’s goal. The hosts did manage to find the net in the 28th minute after a fine passage of play ended in a fine finish by Stevie Nolan. Rhys Loughnane started the move off down the left before Ben Stapleton crossed to the feet of the inform JJ McLoughlin, who produced a great turn and lay off for Nolan to score.
However, on resumption the visitors hit a purple patch and it was now Tom Burke in the Harps goals that was the busier of the keepers. Burke produced save after save to keep the Portroe men at bay, before the pressure was finally relieved on the hour mark by BT’s Dean McEnroe, as he broke in from the right to double the home side’s advantage.
And it was game over when Ben Stapleton made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute after great work by former Nenagh Celtic man, Simon Popiela. The visitors pulled a goal back from a corner, Diarmuid Boyle coming up from the back to find the net, but it was only a consolation.
Harps stay top of the league, level on points with Borroway but with a game more played and a considerable amount more games played than Killavilla.
BALLYMACKEY 4-4 CLODIAGH RANGERS
It was an eight-goal thriller with the spoils being shared when all was said and done in Ballinree on Sunday between Ballymackey and Clodiagh Rangers.
The visitors missed out on a huge opportunity to give themselves a fighting chance at staying up. Adam Healy, Dean Moloney, Mark Carey and Kevin McCarthy scored for the home side; whilst Paul Kennedy, John Carew, Matty Stakelum and Brian Hanrahan netted for the visitors.
Conditions underfoot were difficult, making a red card more likely than ever, unfortunately for Ballymackey it was Darragh Spillane that saw red on the hour mark. Clodiagh looked like they should have had enough to secure the win, but as the game wore on their lack of substitutes took its toll on the starters.
First Division Barry Cup
Sallypark’s winning streak over Cloughjordan continued at the weekend in a repeat of the Barry Cup final last season. It was a familiar tale too, as the holders once again kept it tight at the back throughout before nicking a set-piece goal late on. Clough battled bravely throughout – their commitment could not be questioned, but they failed to take golden chances late in the day which would have put them out of sight as the sun set in Tierney Park.
Indeed, with minutes remaining and the game seemingly headed to extra time, daylight or the lack thereof was going to be a real concern. But an immensely cool and composed Craig Connolly finish, two minutes from time, ensured Sally would not have to do it all again another day, on the now grass-less surface.
Sallypark started the brightest with Sean Ryan showing electric pace down the left, but the powerful winger met an equal match in Kieran Cahill, who put in a composed and committed display that will cement his starting position at right back for Clough going forward.
Sallypark’s best chances came in the first half; Craig Connolly beat the offside trap and probably should have scored, but the striker uncharacteristically rushed his lobbed effort. They went close a few times from corners, only to be denied by heroic goalkeeping by Ger Corcoran; Dale Donnelly and Alan Flynn arrived late to the edge of the box on more than one occasion and were teed up, only to fire over the bar.
Clough had a couple of decent chances playing down the hill in the second half, the best of which fell to Matthew Moyles and Kevin Kennedy, who was denied by brilliant save by the left foot of Damien Corcoran from close range.
On his return to the starting line-up, Seamus Williams played a key role in what looked like an almost perfect defensive display for Clough, whilst Declan Barrett also impressed alongside. However, a free forty yards from goal and two minutes from full time ensured the day would belong to The Park. The free-kick was unnecessarily given away in the first place and the hosts did not cover themselves in glory either defending it. Captain Kieran Ryan made first contact with the ball, which then fell to Craig Connolly, who found himself free at the back post. Time seemed to slow down for the former Nenagh Celtic man then, as he took a touch or two in the crowded area and finished cooly into the corner to leave the keeper with no chance.
Eoin Ryan was composed throughout at centre back for Sallypark, and Brian Duffy was an able replacement for Paul Walsh alongside. With the save that swung the game, Damien Corcoran was an honourable shout for player the match, but Dale Donnelly stood out in centre midfield to claim the award. Alan Flynn looked full of energy in centre midfield on his Sallypark debut and will be a welcome addition to an already stacked squad.
Borrisokane drew 1-1 at home to Moneygall on Sunday, but extra time could not be played due to the lack of daylight so these two will have to do it all again. Niall Maher found the net for Moneygall, whilst the hosts replied through Gordon Harding. Jason Quigley put in a player of the match display in goals for Borrisokane, who lined up with a very young side.
Shinrone progressed to the semi-finals thanks to a 4-3 win in Birdhill, after extra time. DJ Mcloughlin scored a brace for the Offaly side, as brothers Michael & Ray Cordial also found the net. Brian Tobin, Jack Delahunty and Kieran Larkin were on target for Birdhill, but it is Shinrone who earned a home encounter with Portumna in the semis.
Portumna Town upset the odds with a 3-2 win away to Holycross. David Lynch had the visitors one up at the break, before further goals from David O’Meara and David Fogarty cancelled out Holycross’ replies, which came from Calum O’Connor and Audi Lohan.
Division 2 League
Rearcross ‘B’ hosted Thurles Town on Sunday and second half goals from Jason Bolger, Tommy Brophy, Curtis Ryan, and an own goal ensured an emphatic 4-0 win for the visitors.
Youths League
Arra Rovers won 5-1 at home to Killavilla United on Saturday thanks to a hat-trick from player of the match Dara O’Dwyer and goals from Santiago Enrique and Diarmuid O’Donoughue. Villa scored through Sam Dooley, whilst Ryan O’Callaghan was best for the Roscrea side.
BT Harps dominated possession and territory when they travelled to face Cloughjordan on what was a gloomy afternoon in Tierney Park. Cory Moloney and Cormac Foy had Harps two up at the break, before Oisin O’Dwyer finished the game off midway through the second half.
Ballymackey lost 4-0 at home to Rearcross. The visitors took the lead in the 42nd minute when Patrick Kennedy crossed to Jack Brett who let fly from the edge of the area, the ball was goal-bound only for an instinctive handball to thwart the effort. The hosts were reduced to ten men as a result, before Callum Wallace stepped up to convert from the spot. Rearcross extended their advantage on the 50th minute mark when Larry Collins slipped the ball under an advancing keeper, following a Sean Griffin assist. James Butler added two more before the full-time whistle.