Final day league glory for Killavilla

By Gary Culbert

Killavilla United 4-1 Clodiagh Rangers

Standards! This one word summarises Killavilla United in the North Tipperary & District League.

On Sunday, the Roscrea side won their eighth league game on the bounce to secure the Premier Division title on the final day, while also cementing a standard for what pitches should look like in the league and what type of football all should aspire to.

The surface was a thing of beauty, to be admired but not touched – groundsman Seamus Feehan made sure of that! But more importantly, this season Killavilla have set a standard of brave, attacking football that people want to come out and see.

This brave attacking approach is no accident; Villa lined out in their tried and tested back 3 formation that has treated them so well over the years, however, manager Michael Lynch has put his own stamp on things which sees the wing backs playing extremely high, to the point that they are often the furthest men forward. This creates space deeper in the wide positions for his two outer centre-backs to move into. The tactic was evident in the first half on Sunday that it was actually Villa’s centre half, Ian Tracey who somehow set up and got on the end of a lot of chances.

Opponents Clodiagh Rangers had premier division survival to play for and were by no means going to roll over, but from very early on it was evident that this day would belong to Killavilla; the Roscrea men confidently moved the ball at speed and were letting shots fly at every possible opportunity. Once again, their main avenue of attack was down the right side where Michael Ryan stretched the pitch and created space for Tom Ahern and Josh Wynne to operate in.

The home side broke the deadlock when a delightful Tom Ahern cross from the right side of the box was forced in at the back post by the on-rushing Ben Lynch.

An early goal was the one thing Clodiagh needed to avoid, but it did wake them up; the recent winners of the Ricky Fogarty Cup came into the game down the right and whipped in some menacing crosses. However, anything they created was returned back to them at the other end even stronger; including on the quarter hour when Josh Wynne produced a fabulous header which sailed narrowly wide of the upright, while Darren Coleman drew a fantastic diving save out of Adrian Cooke on 23 minutes.

TJ Butler is a commanding figure at the back for Clodiagh, and he got a leg in at the last minute on multiple occasion to keep the score down, but on the stroke of half time there was nothing the Drombane men could do to stop Ruairi Murphy’s viscous, curling effort from all of thorty yards from finding the bottom corner. The goal came after an unsung hero in this side, Craig Byrne dictated play in the middle of the park, sucking in the press which created space for Murphy to produce a goal worthy of the day.

Clodiagh were competitive in the first half, but Villa started to run rampant at the start of the second half. Josh Wynne headed over when it seemed easier to score from a Ruairi Murphy cross, and so Murphy had to show his strike partner how it was done.

Villa went 3-0 up with four minutes gone in the in the second half, when a long clearance was flicked on by Ben Lynch to Ruairi Murphy, who slowed down to deceive his marker into doing the same, before rapidly dribbling at the retreating Clodiagh defenders that were left back to mind the fort. Murphy held off his man and had too much pace for the backline, bursting down the inside right of the box before unleashing an accurate strike across the keeper which found its target, just inside the post.

In his debut season Michael Lynch has instilled an attitude of performance accountability within the Villa ranks, on the pitch these wise heads and young players alike are holding each other account and demanding more and more from each other. Lynch also deserves credit for how he has managed the game time of his big players, ensuring they are hungry to show what they can do, right when he needs them most.

Josh Wynne, Darren Coleman, and Dylan Carroll showed fine athleticism and strength to quell Clodiagh’s quick counters throughout the second half, whilst Aaron Mulready was alert when needed to make a couple of flying saves. However, the visitors did find the net very late on through a splendid volley from Matthew Stakelum. The muted celebrations were short lived though, as Dylan Carey trickled one over the Clodiagh line in response immediately, leaving it 4-1 at full time.

It would be an impossible task to pick a player of the match between captain Tom Ahern, Ruairi Murphy, Ian Treacy and Michael Ryan. Tom Ahern lifted the title, putting an exclamation mark on what has easily been the most entertaining Premier Division title race in some time.

These sides will meet again on Saturday evening in Michael Fennell Park, Templemore for the Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup.

Rearcross 3-4 Borroway Rovers

In the end this result would not have mattered, but Borroway Rovers were not to know that as they stuck in a 93rd minute winner against Rearcross to keep Killavilla honest in case they slipped up.

Just like Killavilla, the Thurles side won all their league games in 2024. Only one point separated the top 2 when all was said and done, but interestingly Borroway’s goal difference is 18 less than the newly crowned champions. The Thurles side lost one less game than Villa, but it is their two draws that hurt them the most when all is said and done.

Paul Gould has massively overachieved with this small squad on their return to the Premier Division, both he and the players deserve massive credit for taking this title race down to the final day, cruelly losing out by the narrowest of margins.