Last ditch own-goal keeps Killavilla hopes alive
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
Killavilla United 2-1 Ardcroney
A goal deep into injury time ensured that Killavilla United overcame Ardcroney at Villa Park on Sunday to live and fight another day in the NT&DL Premier Division title race.
This was Ardcroney’s final match of the season, and they were determined to go out on a high, and they started positively on the pristine surface, but it wasn’t long until Villa got into their passing groove.
The title chasers first real chance came after twenty minutes down the right side as the experienced Craig Phelan laid the ball off for Ben Lynch, who bore down on goal before seeing his shot saved by Paddy Reddan. The goal wasn’t long in coming as the resulting corner was cleared only to Josh Wynne to tap in the opener at the front post after Michael Fitzgerald fizzed a low cross back into the box.
Villa were rampant and almost instantly doubled their lead when Josh Wynne bravely went in for a header with the Ardcroney keeper, who was strong in the air and cleared the danger.
The visitors had a chance of their own shortly after but Shane Doran’s header from a free rattled the crossbar. Andrew Hayes had to be alert in his wing back role to deny Fitzgerald in the 35th minute and he was heavily involved at the other end ten minutes later when Ardcroney levelled on the stroke of half time.
The move which brandished the equaliser started 35 yards when a lull in Villa’s pressing saw Kieran Spain given time to pick out Lee Doran in an advanced area down the right. Hayes got himself across the box to make first contact with Doran’s cross at the front post, before Spain tapped in the rebound to finish the move he started.
Villa were glad to hear the half time whistle, but they came out like a team possessed and went on to dominate possession and territory for the next thirty minutes, thanks in no small part to the running power that Mark Dwyer and Michael Ryan added from the bench.
However, with every set-piece that Paddy Reddan claimed and every defensive clearance that Shane Doran and Luke Dervan made, Villa’s composure began to wean.
This culminated in a bizarre ten-minute spell in which Ardcroney had four great opportunities on the counter-attack to end Villa’s hunt for the title, only to squander every chance due to a mixture of poor decision-making and greed.
A telling moment saw Andrew Hayes go off injured and the result was the visitors right side of defence was seriously weakened. Indeed, it was down that channel that the winner came for Killavilla deep into injury time, as Mark Dwyer met a low cross from the left only to see his shot hit the post and the keeper before trickling over the line, sparking wild celebrations from the Villa faithful.
It did not look likely at times, and it wasn’t pretty in the end, but they all count and Killavilla march on in their hunt for league glory. Tom Aherne led well in the middle of the park, whilst Ian Tracey once again got on with his business in a professional manner from centre back, alongside the impressive Roddy Teehan.
Next up for the Roscrea outfit is their final away game against Arra Rovers who snatched the title from under their noses last season.
Ardcroney have competed from the off this season and upset the apple cart on more than one occasion. It can be easy at times to forget just how young this Ardcroney team is, and if they stick together over the summer and strengthen their bench there will be more silverware on the cards to add to their impressive premier division shield triumph.
Borroway Rovers 2-1 Rearcross
Borroway Rovers fulfilled their end of the title bargain by also winning 2-1 at home to Rearcross on Sunday.
The league leaders started on fire, racing into 2-0 lead inside quarter of an hour. Firstly, Shane Dunne converted a penalty on eleven minutes after Jake Moore was taken down, Moore once again proving to be almost like a new signing since coming back from injury, the timing of which has played out beautifully for Paul Gould. Borroway doubled their lead with a header from Keith Moore and were well on top with aid of strong wind.
Jake Moore had goal disallowed by the linesman on the half hour mark, but Rearcross came into the game in the second half, but the hosts restricted them to shots from distance which the wind mostly carried over.
It was an even contest for most of the second half, however with time just about up a Seamus Woodlock own-goal gave serious hope to Rea,’ who threw everything at the league leaders for last few mins, but their defence held strong.
Borroway travel to Rearcross for their final league game and at that point will have done all they can to secure what would be a monumental league triumph.
BT Harps 2-2 Clodiagh Rangers
Clodiagh Rangers travelled to face BT Harps in Templemore on Sunday in a game where they knew a win would lift them off the bottom of the table, but a youthful Harps side held them to a 2-2 draw in what turned out to be a literal game of two halves.
Harps dominated the early exchanges and were making the most of the strong breeze at their backs. Indeed, it was from a long clearance by Harps keeper Cian Sheedy that the visitors opened the scoring as somehow the ball found Ben Stapleton who cleverly created a yard of space to fire the ball beyond the reach of Adrian Cooke in the Clodiagh goal.
Harps doubled their lead shortly afterwards through Oisin O'Dwyer, who made no mistake from close range. Some important saves from the Clodiagh custodian kept the Drombane side in contention at the break, and these missed chances would come back to haunt Harps later on.
The break came at an opportune time for Clodiagh, who took the opportunity to make a number of positional changes, most notably moving Patrick Lowry into midfield to stem the Harps onslaught. This paid dividends and allowed Danny Moloney time and space up front, which he used to great effect, producing a great solo effort to halve the deficit ten minutes into the second half.
Clodiagh were building up a head of steam and created a number of guilt edge chances which were not converted, and when they did find the target Cian Sheedy to be more than capable in goal. Having missed a great chance only minutes beforehand, Clodiagh captain Brian Hanrahan levelled matters when he forced the ball home from close range following a corner.
The relegation threatened visitors pushed hard for the winner, and they thought they had grabbed it very late on when Danny Moloney found himself latching onto a John Ryan through ball, but a fine save from the Harps keeper meant it finished honours even.
Division 2A
Shinrone United ‘B’ won 3-1 at home to Cloughjordan ‘B’ on Sunday, thanks to goals from Oisin Keeshan, Ryan Lynskey, and Cillian Curtis. Clough’s only goal came from an Andrew Brennan penalty, earned by Alex Wade.
Nora Kennedy Cup
Grange United got back to winning ways and booked their spot in the Nora Kennedy Cup semi-final thanks to a 2-1 win away to Rearcross ‘B’ on Sunday.
Their first goal came from the penalty spot on 38 minutes, courtesy of the experienced Brian Bowe. It came about when Steven Finan played a cutting through pass to Emmet Quinlan, who made a burst beyond the defence, only to be clipped from behind.
Some scrappy defending on fifty minutes from the home team saw the ball somehow make its way to player of the match Dean Carey inside the penalty box, who cooly slotted home at the near post to put Grange 2-0 up.
Rearcross pulled a goal back with ten minutes remaining and this spurred them into life, pushing hard and on two occasions came close to levelling.
Borrisoleigh advanced to the semi-finals thanks to a 1-0 over Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ with Dan Ryan getting the only goal of the game. Ballymackey ‘B’ also advanced to the semi-finals courtesy of three unanswered goals against Killavilla United ‘B’. Cillian Bergin netted a brace and Timmy Fleming reeled in the years with a goal.