Shinrone enter title race
North Tipperary & District League Review
By Gary Culbert
Premier Division
Moneygall 1-1 Ballymackey
One of the big shocks of the week came on Thursday night was title hopefuls Moneygall dropped points at home to Ballymackey.
However, it could have been a lot worse for the hosts, were it not for a player of the match Julian Bentancourt in goals. Ballymackey have some real pace out wide, and they used it to hit Moneygall on the counter. Each side hit the woodwork in the first half through Sean Kenneally and Liam Hogan. However, the big moments were all Bentancourt’s; the Colombian shot-stopper denying both Cian Galvin and Aiden White.
Ballymackey and Cian Galvin continued to ask questions in the second half. They eventually took a deserved lead on 58 minutes; the energetic Aidan White rounding the keeper before slotting home.
Josh McCarthy was a constant thorn in Moneygall’s side, and Bentancourt had to produce a super save to tip Kevin McCarthy’s late strike over the bar. Ballymackey were good value for all three points; however, with just three minutes remaining Moneygall equalised with a header from Niall Maher following a fine delivery from wide right.
Rearcross 1-2 Shinrone
An inspired performance from goalkeeper Jason Ryan secured a snatch and grab win for Shinrone in Rearcross on Friday night.
Having not met each other in recent history, there was always going to be a ‘getting to know you’ period under the lights. Rea’ will have been well pre-warned of the physical demands of playing Shinrone, but the story of this game suggests they weren’t quite expecting as much of a derby-like battle as the visitors brought from Offaly.
The home side dominated the opening exchanges and would have rattled the net a few times were it not for the player of the match, Jason Ryan.
Shinrone took the lead against the run of play on the half hour; Kian Fallon breaking down the left before unleashing a thunderous strike.
Rea’ made a bright start to the second half, only to see Ryan deny them once more. The Offaly outfit doubled their lead when Paul Lake got in to score just shy of the hour mark. The Slieve Felim side kept plugging away and eventually scored with ten minutes remaining; James Rochford crossing from the right for James Deegan to head home.
Rea’ pressed hard for an equaliser, but Jason Ryan made three outstanding saves to keep the fragile lead intact. The home side came closest when Cillian Kennedy finally beat the former Streamstown Celtic and Cloughjordan shot stopper, only to see his effort blocked on the line by a defender. Paul Lake and Dean Cahill impressed on the wing and at centre half respectively for Shinrone, who may benefit from one or two additions over the coming weeks.
And so, a new rivalry was born. And the best part? They get to do it all again this Sunday in the Munster Junior Cup.
Ardcroney 5-0 Sallypark Odhrans
Ardcroney continued their great start to the season with a comfortable win against a depleted Sallypark Odhrans in Ardcroney on Sunday.
The home side went 2-0 up early on and were in cruise control thereafter. Thomas Cleary netted a brace from the wing and was named player of the match in his first appearance of the season. Ross Hughes, Jack Daly, and substitute David Ryan netted the other goals, whilst Matthew Moyles impressed on his return from suspension.
Holycross 0-4 BT Harps
A hat-trick of goals and one assist from Eanna McBride was the difference when BT Harps steamrolled Holycross in their own backyard of Glenbane on Sunday.
Playing conditions were not favourable for good football, but BT started brightly. Henry Newman’s side created several clear chances inside the opening ten minutes before breaking the deadlock in the eleventh minute; Szymon Popiela finishing clinically after a well-worked team move involving Eanna McBride.
The hat-trick hero then got in on the action, McBride calmly slotting home on the half-hour mark.
Holycross came out stronger in the second half, pushing players forward in search of a way back into the game, but the BT backline stood firm and dealt comfortably with the pressure. McBride grabbed his second after excellent play from Jack Johnson, before completing his hat-trick with a superb finish to cap off a dominant performance.
It was a very positive response from BT following their loss to Moneygall a week prior. Jack Kennedy and Cormac Foy were both outstanding, but the player of the match award understandably went to Eanna McBride, who was simply unstoppable on the day.
First Division
A captain’s performance from Martin Grace inspired ten-man Cloughjordan to come from 2-0 down against the league leaders, Clodiagh Rangers, to rescue a dramatic late draw on Sunday in Cloughjordan.
The home side were marginally on top for the opening half hour, but that all changed when Ger Corcoran brought down Hugh Purcell in the box. Paul Doyle made no mistake from the spot, and the visitors were on top for the remainder of the half. The hosts were rattled, and Clodiagh took full advantage; Jack Lillis capitalising on a defensive error to tap home in added time.
Things went from bad to worse for Eddie Brady’s charges midway through the second half as Liam Hannon saw red for an incident off the ball. Clough were guilty of overplaying the ball in attacking areas, but that all changed when Martin Grace was pushed up front from centre half. The shots were raining in on Clodiagh keeper Adrian Cooke, and despite sustaining an injury in the first half, the player/manager pulled off some sensational stops to deny Cian D’Arcy and co.
Grace got his first assist with four minutes to go, squaring for substitute Stuart Fox to tap home. Then, in the last play of the game, the skipper crossed again, and this time substitute Dara Hannon was arriving like a train to complete the comeback.
Best for Clough were Cian D’Arcy on the wing, Jack Keane at full back, and the energetic Kalum Darcy in centre midfield.
Portumna Town leapfrogged Clodiagh to the summit with a 2-1 win away to Borroway Rovers on Sunday.
Curtis Ryan put the home side ahead on the stroke of half-time with his second penalty in as many games. However, the visitors responded through David Greenwood straight after the interval. A Jakub Wysocki penalty sealed the win with ten minutes remaining. Best for Portumna were winger David Greenwood and Ronan O’Meara at centre half.
Second Division
There were absolutely no punches pulled when Knigh United hosted Sallypark Odhrans ‘B’ on Sunday with the hosts winning 8-0.
As expected, Knigh controlled possession from the get-go, playing some nice football in wide areas. Indeed, winger Bryan McLoughney caused serious problems for the ‘Park defence and got his reward with a hat trick, saving the best for last with a sweet free kick. How now has six goals in his first three games this season.
Former Sallypark striker, and current Knigh player-manager, Jack Sanders netted a hat-trick of his own. The remainder of the goals were tagged on by skipper Brian McGahey from the penalty spot and a David Sweeney strike from all of 25 yards out.
Birdhill kept the title race interesting with a comprehensive 5-1 victory away to Cloughjordan ‘B’ on Sunday. Clough were two goals down early on and never really recovered; the absence of veteran goal ace Kevin Kennedy proved significant in his first game out through injury.
A hat-trick for Jack Delahunty ensured the midfielder was player of the match, whilst there was a goal apiece for skipper Liam King and Chris Carew.
An injury to young Lucian Buga overshadowed an otherwise entertaining 1-1 draw between Ballymackey ‘B’ and Moneygall ‘B’ in rainy Ballinree.
Josh McCarthy had the home side in front early on, but skipper Patrick Egan responded in the second half to ensure the spoils were shared.
Culann Hasset impressed for Johnny Kenneally’s side, who look to be turning a corner. Best wishes to Lucian Buga on his recovery, the young striker had been in red-hot form in front of goal for Moneygall youths before this injury.