Shinrone see red as Harps clinch Premier Shield

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Premier Division Shield

A red card for Paul Lake early in the second half was the telling moment as Shinrone United fell to a 2-1 defeat to BT Harps in the Premier Division Shield final at Michael Fennell Park, Templemore on Sunday.

BT started well and played some brilliant football, but the longer the game went on, the more the underdogs came into it, and with twenty minutes left in half, Shinrone went ahead from the penalty spot; Ray Cordial converting after lacklustre defending saw Riann McLoughlin brought down in the area.

But BT got a hold of the game again and were level five minutes from half time; Cormac Foy laying it off to Sean Purcell down the right side of the box, who struck clean through the ball causing a swerve that deceived new signing Jason Ryan in goals.

The home side came out in second half spraying the ball around again, but Shinrone were not giving up without a fight and stayed applying pressure. That pressure was deemed to have crossed the line in the 55th minute, as Paul Lake received his second yellow card.

The winner for the home side came in the 75th minute when Jack Johnson fired a bullet through the legs of Jason Ryan. Again, it was Foy with the assist – we will have to get used to saying that this year, as the youngster looks to have lost no appetite following his break-out season in last campaign.

Shinrone stayed battling away but couldn’t get the equaliser. Overall, it was a good game of football, a point which Sean Paddy Geurins noted in his acceptance speech: “Looking at that match today, we know it’s going to be a battle this year [for the premier division title].”

Riann McLoughlin and Lee Doran impressed for the runners-up, while Cain Russell in goals made a couple of cracking saves when Shinrone were pushing for an equaliser, and Jack Johnson also had an excellent game.

Premier Division League

Shinrone United have a very tricky game away to Ballymackey next week, especially given the rumours of a potential return of Eamonn White to his boyhood club.

BT Harps host Rearcross under the lights on Friday night in the first ever NT&DL game on their new full-size artificial pitch. Having very recently conceded seven unanswered goals in the shield, Rearcross will be very wary of a thrashing this time round against the title favourites.

Moneygall 2-0 Sallypark Odhrans

Moneygall kicked off the premier division league campaign on Friday night with a scrappy win over Sallypark.

The sides were a bit closer than the scoreline suggests, something that will be quite alarming for manager Billy Hayes, who is staring down the barrel of being without star player Jack O’Brien until Christmas due to injury.

There were clear cut chances for both sides in the first half before Aaron Lee converted a Paul Costello free kick. Dylan McCormack looks stronger following the summer break. The young winger was deployed at full back for the first time, and it looked to suit him really well. He put daylight between the sides in the 69th minute with a cross that went all the way over goalkeeper Eoin Ryan, the assist once again coming from Costello.

Ardcroney 1-0 Holycross

Ardcroney had a very favourable fixture to kick-off their league campaign on Sunday, and duly dispatched of visitors Holycross, now under the management of current player Aaron Ryan.

Kieran Spain headed in the only goal of the game at the end of the first half. Best for the hosts were Andrew Hayes, Matthew Moyles, and Alan Darcy. With the latter switching with Luke Dervan to centre half for this game, a change which worked well for both parties. Gary McDonald was the standout for Holycross.

Ardcroney will be expected to make it two from two against Sallypark this Sunday, similarly Holycross should have enough to take advantage of Arra’s lack of options in Glenbane.

Arra Rovers 4-6 Ballymackey

Ballymackey came out the right side of a ten-goal thriller away to Arra Rovers on Sunday.

Colm Maher hit a brace for George Haverty’s side, while David Haverty, skipper Damien Bergin, and Liam Hogan were also on target. Dylan Gamble and Nigel Flood netted for the home side. Cathal Spillane was the best for the victors, whilst James Dillon impressed despite defeat.

Second Division Shield

Birdhill overcame hosts Moneygall ‘B’ 2-1 scoreline in the Second Division Shield final on Sunday.

TBirdhill’s free-scoring form from the earlier rounds, which saw them net thirteen goals in three games, was largely nullified by Moneygall’s meagre defence. The host’s own issues in front of goal were obvious for all to see.

A first half penalty from Chris Carew had the visitors ahead at the break. The real moment of quality in the game came from Colm O’Malley after the restart, the number 9 letting fly with a volley from the edge of the D, which nestled neatly in the bottom corner of David Toohey’s net.

Moneygall simply did not look like scoring, so when Paul Costello was gifted a chance off the back of a poor kick-out, he didn’t ask twice before sending the ball back over the keeper’s head and into the empty net.

Second Division League

Templetuohy came out the right side of a seven-goal thriller at home to Ballymackey ’B’ in their league opener on Sunday.

The victors netted through Jamie Bartlett, Greg Lanigan, Eoin Stakelum and Sean Gleeson. The visitors were ahead twice thanks to Cathal Dervan and a brace from Michael Delaney.

Elsewhere, Cloughjordan ‘B’ were rewarded with a point for their trip to Rearcross on Sunday.

With a few first team players on board, Clough saw more possession in the first half and were just about good value for the lead on the half hour when Dylan Delaney tapped in an Alex Wade cross at the back post.

Gary Culbert was enjoying the freedom of Rearcross from left back, and the danger bells were ringing when Martin Grace found him on the edge of the area with an perfect first-time pass. The full back chipped it through to Wade, who was brought down on the edge of the area. Winning the foul turned out to be the winger’s second assist as Kevin Kennedy stepped up to curl the ball sweetly over the wall and beyond the fingertips of Brian Hammersley.

Conditions had been favourable up to the break, but rain came heavy in the faces of the Clough rearguard at the start of the second half, and with it two Rea’ goals. Conor Nolan was one of the only first team players on the card for Rea.’ The nippy winger’s extra quality came to the fore in the 53rd minute, when he was the most alert at the back post to capitalise on Michael Hough spilling a Gavin Denihan free kick.

Interim manager Paul Graham Carey introduced Oisin Kelly from the bench, and on the hour mark he assisted Eoghan Kavanagh for the equaliser.

Rearcross were on top for much of the second half, so in the end Clough were happy to get back on the road with a point. Michael Hough was the best for the visitors, whilst Eoghan Kavanagh impressed for the hosts.

In Shinrone, newcomers Knigh United were made to work hard for a 3-2 win on their league debut.

Thomas Brennan had the hosts in front early on, but two goals late in the second half saw Knigh ahead at the interval. Mark Gleeson continued his fine form with the first, whilst former Sallypark striker Craig Connolly netted the second.

Eoin Kelly but daylight between the sides late on, and just as well because Cealim Murphy pulled one back for Shinrone – the assist coming from former Killavilla United youth Eoghan McLoughlin, who was also Shinrone’s player of the match. Craig Connolly was the best for the new entrants.