Last 8 set in Tipperary Cup

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup

Cloughjordan maximised home advantage on Sunday to record an impressive 3-1 victory over Premier Division leaders Borroway Rovers to progress to the quarter finals of the Tipperary Cup.

The way this game played out certainly did not help the Thurles side’s cause; a physical battle from the off, with Cloughjordan maximising the damage they could cause from each set-piece and throw-in.

The home side took the lead in the 20th minute following one of Martin Grace’s destructive long throws into the box, which Borroway never truly got to grips with. Jorge Rossell won the first header, which hit the base of the post only to rebound to Michael Cleary, who could not miss from two yards out.

Rossell was playing his final game of the season for Clough, and he saved the best for last, turning in a player of the match display from centre-forward. He created Clough’s second goal when he relentlessly pressed the Borroway back-line, which ultimately coughed up possession on the edge of the box to the Spaniard, who did not need to be asked twice to double the lead. The division 1 side were good value for their half-time lead, but David Bourke did look dangerous up top for Borroway, who came back into the game before the break.

The visitors did pull one back in the 70th minute, Jake Moore finishing well after a long throw was not dealt with in the Clough box by Gary Culbert.

Cloughjordan had multiple chances to restore their two-goal cushion, but Richard King, Kieran Cahill and Matthew Moyles all failed to convert. The latter was playing his first game back for Clough in some time and was very impressive with the ball at his feet and carried Clough up the field with strong dribbling.

Borroway kept pushing and there were some nervy moments in the Clough rearguard with Paidi Williams called on to clear the danger on more than one occasion.

Willie Cleary added a third gaol right at the death when Borroway had sent everyone up the pitch, after Kevin Kennedy provided a composed assist on the counter.

Cloughjordan are at home again in the last 8, this time against the winners of Portumna Town or Rearcross.

Borroway were missing several players including their first-choice keeper Mick Mackey and one of their most important players, Jack Derby in central midfield, whilst it was Jake Moore’s first game back since November. Ultimately Paul Gould’s side left Tierney Park empty handed in a knockout game for the second season running, but that will matter for little if they get their hands on the Premier Division title in a few weeks time.

A huge deciding factor in that, however, will be the result when they host BT Harps next Sunday, in what some are calling the title decider. This is no-doubt a label that Killavilla will not agree with and perhaps rightly so, as they can still mathematically finish above both Borroway and BT Harps.

Back to the Cup, Killavilla United booked a mouth-watering home tie against BT Harps in the last 8 courtesy of a 5-2 win over Sallypark ‘B’.

It was surprisingly tight at a goal apiece at half time, Craig Phelan reeling in the years to give Villa the lead on eleven minutes, while Jack Hogan equalised for ‘he Park on the stroke of half0time.

A Miko Palasic brace and goals from Ruari Murphy and Michael Fitzgerald ensured a comfortable win for the home side, regardless of Jimmy Shanahan’s goal to make it 3-2 in the 56th minute. It was a competitive game in which Sallypark ‘B’ done exceptionally well to cause Killavilla some headaches.

Premier Division

Ardcroney 3-4 Clodiagh Rangers

With only one team being relegated from the Premier Division this season (contrary to the information that appeared in this paper last week) it is all to play for at the bottom. Clodiagh gave their survival hopes a huge boost thanks to an inspired 4-3 win away to Ardcroney on Sunday.

It was 2-2 at halftime courtesy of two Jamie Ryan penalties that came either side of Clodiagh goals from Paul Doyle and Daniel Moloney.

The visitors started the second half brighter and should have scored from a corner, and another chance went begging from the feet of Brian Hanrahan after substitute Patrick Lowry done exceptionally well to carve his way through the Ardcroney spine.

John Carew finally gave the visitors a deserved lead in the 73rd minute when his in-swinging corner deceived two defenders and the keeper at the front post, spinning directly into the net from the set-piece. Andrew Hayes produced a fine cross from the left to give Jamie Ryan an easy tap in for his hat-trick in the 80th minute.

What ensued next was a crazy two minutes in which Jack Daly almost gave the hosts the lead with a daisy cutter from 25 yards, before some calamitous Ardcroney defending allowed John Ryan through one-on-one to violently drive home the winner.

Without Shane Doran, Ardcroney lacked direction through the centre of the team. Safety is now within touching distance for Clodiagh, but their remaining games are all away against BT Harps, Killavilla and Rearcross.

Arra Rovers 2-3 Rearcross

Stephen Kennedy and Conor Ryan were on target for Arra Rovers when they hosted Rearcross on Sunday but goals from James Deegan, Cillian Kennedy and Paul Carey ensured the visitors left with the three points.

Division 1

Sallypark Odráns stayed on course for the title thanks to a 5-4 away win over relegation threatened Borrisokane on Sunday.

Leading 3-0 at half-time in Borrisoakane, Sallypark appeared to be cruising to an easy victory, thanks to goals from Stephen Murray, Bryan McGee and Craig Connolly. However, a mammoth second half comeback from Borrisokane encompassing goals from a Brian Donnelly penalty, a Luke Quigley strike, and a Llewellyn Mooney brace saw Sallypark rattled. In the end, second half goals from Jack Saunders and Danny O’Donoghue were enough to keep Sallypark’s title push on course. Bryan McGee was the player of the match, with Gordon Harding impressing for the hosts.

Holycross concluded their league campaign on Friday night with a 2-1 away win over Moneygall, their fourth win in a row, which ensured they force Sallypark to win the title with their final game.

Holycross were unbeaten in their eight league games in the calendar year of 2024 and are guaranteed promotion to Premier Division, but must await the result of Sallypark versus Portumna now to see if they win the title.

As always it was a hard fought game for Holycross in Moneygall. A fast opening saw some good passages of play from both sides, but the opening goal came from pure determination as James King drove onto a breaking ball for the visitors, before driving towards the Moneygall goal and finished well.

Holycross received a set-back after 25 minutes when the previous week’s two-goal hero, Ben Slattery limped off, but Calum O’Connor returned and was in inspired form. Indeed, when a free kick was whipped beautifully into the box by captain Philly Fogarty, it was O’Connor who got the vital touch to make it 2-0 to the away side heading into the interval.

O’Connor had decent chances either side of the break, but overall the game was cagey for much of second half. Jack Dwan was unlucky to strike the post with his effort and Holycross looked in control until a Moneygall corner was turned into the Holycross net with ten minutes remaining. Holycross needed all five subs and a big effort from all to come away with three points.

Promotion is a huge achievement for Philly Fogarty’s side, who were without many of last year’s team for this season.

Division 2

Grange United travelled to Ballinree on Sunday to take on Ballymackey ‘B’ in less than desirable playing conditions for a must-win game in the title race.

A blistering first half saw the Laois side register seven goals through Brian Bowe, Steven Finan, Vinnie Cleere, Jamie Dooley and a Tommy Brophy hat-trick. The latter also notching up two assists, in an overall fine display from the former Thurles Town goal machine.

Tom Lord was introduced at half time and always looked dangerous on the attack, and he added two brilliantly-taken goals.

The goal of the game came on 58 minutes from Brian Bowe, the veteran collecting the ball on the edge of the box before curling home a superb strike with his weaker left foot.