Positives for NTSFL despite penalty pain in Kennedy Cup
Finishing 12th out of 31 leagues, the North Tipp Schoolchildren’s Football League (NTSFL) enjoyed the highs and lows of the beautiful game during a jam-packed five days at the prestigious Kennedy Cup last week at the University of Limerick.
By Gary Culbert
The highs included dramatic last-gasp equalisers, penalty shootout glory, winning a Tipperary derby, going head-to-head with Dublin in a ‘David versus Goliath’ battle, and more North Tipp players being scouted to advance their footballing journeys further afield.
Group Stage
Having been drawn in a competitive group alongside Kerry, South Belfast, and neighbours South Tipperary, head coach Darran O’Shea and his backroom team of Rebecca Shinners, Dan Egan, Cillian O’Shea, and Colm Lenihan knew that every point would be crucial in determining which section the boys in blue would compete in as the week progressed.
The campaign began on Monday against a well-organised Kerry side, where, despite a spirited performance and long spells of dominance, the North Tipp fell to a 2-0 defeat.
The Kingdom had serious talent up top and clinically took the lead after 22 minutes but North Tipp hung in there and were well in the tie heading into the closing minutes, but as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Kerry capitalised on the counter and doubled their lead with another high-quality finish to kill the tie with two minutes to go. It was a tough result to take especially after such a positive performance, but there were plenty of encouraging signs with Mikey Carr the shining light for the NTSFL.
The opening day defeat left an uphill battle for North Tipp heading into a double header of games on Tuesday.
First up was the challenge of a strong South Belfast side.
After a thrilling end-to-end first half, it was South Belfast who took the lead early in the second with a high-quality move – once again showcasing the technical ability of the players on show.
North Tipp refused to back down, and with just two minutes left, Harry Jones lofted in the deep corner, and it was his Moneygall clubmate Donnacha Doyle who nodded in and was named NTSFL player of the match for his late heroics.
Later in the day, North Tipp faced South Tipp in a must-win derby, with the North saving their best performance of the tournament so far.
Harry Jones made an instant impact, finding the net inside the first minute. The goal came from a fairly innocuous long ball over the top, which the skipper used his speed to latch onto, before taking one touch with his head and then another with the outside of his boot to knock the ball around the onrushing keeper.
NTSFL dominated the remainder of the half, and had the ball in the net on two occasions only to have their efforts ruled out by the outstretched flag of the linesman.
Knowing that goal difference would be crucial in determining group standings, NTSFL came out firing in the second half. Jones struck again after ten minutes, once again latching onto a long ball over the top before applying the finish with minimal touches. Donnacha Doyle netted his second goal of the tournament in closing stages, a controlled daisy-cutter to secure second place in the group, and seal another commanding victory in the Tipp derby over the noisy neighbours.
An extremely fruitful day for Moneygall FC was capped off when Aidan O’Meara was deservedly awarded the NTSFL player of the match, his technical ability catching the eye as he assisted both of the second-half goals that his clubmates dispatched.
Bowl
A second-place finish behind Kerry in the group meant that North Tipp would compete in the Kennedy Bowl, with Clare the opponents in Wednesday’s mid-day quarter final.
It was a physically intense and tightly contested match in which both defences came out on top; James Hynes dominated in the air, winning countless headers, anchoring the NTSFL back line. Thus, chances were few and far between, and it was a stalemate at the halfway stage.
The breakthrough came right the restart through Kelly Ogbebor, the Killavilla youngster netting with a superb finish into the top left corner. Clare pushed hard and eventually found an equaliser in injury time, which sent the match to a penalty shootout. Mikey Carr, Donnacha Doyle, Harry Jones, Callum Fennessy, and Paul Williams all converted, before Tiernan Casey saved the best till last, the Cloughjordan native and Moneygall clubman sending North Tipp into the semi-finals with a top-class penalty, showing serious composure under pressure and when it mattered most.
James Hynes was named NTSFL player of the match for his defensive work. The Nenagh Celtic youngster is following in his namesake’s footsteps, only instead of scoring goals like the great Jimmy Hynes’ did, he is keeping them out at the other end. Hynes was part of the last Nenagh Celtic senior men’s team, and it looks likely that his son James will play a big part in the next senior team when the sleeping giant awaken in the next few years.
It was to be a ‘David versus Goliath’ battle in the semi-final, as the massive player pool of the Dublin & District League (DDSL) went up against the underdogs from North Tipp.
This was another tightly contested affair against a physical Dublin side, but the NTSFL made the better start and were rewarded when Oisín Scanlon finished from a well-delivered Danny McGuinness corner. However, the favourites drew level on the stroke of half-time, the forward finishing well having latched onto a ball played down the channel in behind the North Tipp defence.
Neither side could find a winner in a hotly contested second half, so for the second time in as many days the dreaded penalty shootout would be required. Paul Williams, Mikey Carr, and James Hynes all converted from the spot, but that wasn’t enough as Dublin only missed one penalty whereas North Tipp missed twice. Central midfielder Kelly Ogbebor was named NTSFL player of the match.
The Dubs advanced to the Bowl final, where they went on to defeat Kildare.
Playoff
The 11th/12th place play-off would conclude the week with Wexford the opponents for North Tipperary.
Wexford were 3-1 up heading into the final few minutes, Donnacha Doyle netting the NTSFL’s lifeline with a header from a corner. A grand-stand finish saw North Tipp score twice in injury time through Oisin Scanlon and Danny McGuiness, to force a third penalty shootout in as many matches. James Hynes, Mikey Carr, and Paul Williams all scored from the spot, but again it wasn’t to be, as North Tipp missed twice whereas Wexford only missed once.
Progress
It was hugely disappointing to lose their final two games on penalties, but when you take a step back, the positive progression in North Tipperary soccer is clear to see. This is being fuelled by an extremely dedicated team at the NTSFL, who are fostering the talent born out of the ambitious clubs in North Tipperary.
A 24th and 23rd place finish over the past two iterations of the Kennedy Cup has been massively improved on this year by North Tipp. Furthermore, the increasing number of players in local clubs being called up to international duty and scouted by League of Ireland clubs is brilliant to see.
On that note, the football family in North Tipperary wish Harry Jones well on his road to recovery following an injury sustained during the tournament. The timing is not great for the Moneygall star ahead of his impending transfer to a prominent League of Ireland club, but he will no-doubt work hard during the upcoming off-season to recover in time for the start of his new challenge.
NTSFL Squad: Harry Jones (Capt), Donnacha Doyle, Conor Nolan, Aidan O’Meara, Tiernan Casey (Moneygall): Tommy Brett, James Hynes, Jack Foran (Nenagh Celtic); Danny McGuiness, Ross Dorrity, Kyle O’Meara (BT Harps); Michael Fitzpatrick, Dan Daly, Paul Williams (Ballymackey); Jack Nash, Osayamon Kelly Ogbebor (Killavilla United); Mikey Carr, Callum Fennessy (Holycross); Oisin Scanlon (Borrisokane); Cillian Coughlan (Lough Derg).
Tournament Digest
Kennedy Cup: Winner - Limerick Desmond; Runner-up - Donegal
Kennedy Bowl: Winner - Dublin & District; Runner-up - Kildare
Kennedy Plate: Winner – Waterford; Runner up - Limerick District
Kennedy Shield: Winner - Dundalk & District; Runner-up - Kilkenny
Kennedy Trophy: Winner – Inishowen; Runner-up - Roscommon