Harps ease into Munster Open section
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
Munster Junior Cup
Early in the week, rumours began circulating from the Shinrone camp that they would have no game at the weekend, despite being down to entertain Rearcross in round three of the Munster Junior Cup.
The rumour was confirmed towards the end of the week; news broke that Ballymackey would be taking Shinrone’s place in the third round of the prestigious competition. The reinstatement of Ballymackey followed a ruling made by the Munster FA over Shinrone fielding two ineligible players in their round two clash.
The players in question had played in the Munster Junior Shield for Shinrone United ‘B’ before then playing in the Munster Junior Cup for Shinrone ‘A’, breaching Rule 4F that: “No player may play for more than one team in the Munster Junior Cup or Munster Junior Shield competitions in any one season”. In the end, rules are rules; Munster’s hands were tied.
The context from a Shinrone point of view is that they are a small rural club with a hard-working but very small committee so things will sometimes get missed. Mistakes like this will inevitably happen. Indeed, this unfortunate situation comes on the eve of - and adds further validation for - Shinrone United’s upcoming emergency general meeting to “decide what kind of club we have going forward”. The meeting takes place on November 7th at 8.00pm in the Shinrone Community Centre.
BT Harps 7-2 Cloughjordan
Cloughjordan put up a good fight, but the fitness and squad depth of BT Harps saw them through to the last 32 of the Munster Junior Cup following a 7-2 win in Templemore on Friday night.
BT were ahead after six minutes, Éanna McBride picking up where he left off following a hat-trick the week prior. The visitors drew level ten minutes later when Jack Keane floated in a free kick for Stuart Fox to finish from close range. Harps regained the lead just before the interval, McBride on target once more.
Clough scored early in the second half, Cian D’Arcy catching Kuba Behan off his line from all of forty yards out with a spectacular strike. Cormac Foy restored BT’s advantage on the hour with a well-worked team goal. McBride took control then, adding two more goals to bring his tally to four.
The fresh legs of the five Harps subs ensured there were no punches pulled in the closing stages. Brian Mitchell netted his first goal for his new club in the 80th minute, before Dean McEnroe concluded the scoring. Danny Parker and Cian D’Arcy were the best for Cloughjordan.
Harps are through to the open draw section of the Munster Junior Cup.
Premier Division
Ballymackey 5-0 Sallypark Odhrans
The ease with which Ballymackey brushed aside Sallypark in Ballinree on Sunday caused a few eyebrows to raise across the Premier Division.
It’s well documented that Bally can cause anyone problems on their day, but is this an indication that those days are going to come more frequently now? Ballymackey were without Liam Hogan and Cian Galvin, but not to worry, some good squad depth saw Cathal Conneally come in. The former Arra Rovers man had previously played for Limerick FC at under 20 level, and he didn’t miss a beat in his first game of the season on his return to Ballinree.
A brace apiece from Josh McCarthy and Aidan White meant that the game was over as a contest by the break. Conneally added a fifth goal in the second half. William Collins and Damien Bergin were very solid at the heart of the home defence against a dangerous Sallypark attack, ensuring their first home league win of the season.
Arra Rovers 1-4 Ardcroney
Ardcroney have already equalled their points tally from last season with nine games to spare as they went six points clear at the top.
Alan D’Arcy and Kevin Shinnors were missing, so Liam O’Regan and Eamonn Coonan came in. Arra have had a torrid time of late, but they took an early lead, Jack Moloney heading in from a corner.
Billy Moran impressed for the home side in the early stages, but despite this, the sides were level two minutes later when Jack Daly converted a penalty, won by Thomas Cleary. Matthew Moyles impressed for the visitors, who took the lead on the half-hour, as Cleary and Paul Molloy combined to set up Liam O’Regan on his full debut after joining from Shinrone.
The killer blow came ten minutes after the restart, when some nice play down the right from Kieran Spain saw Molloy slot the ball between the keeper's legs. The fourth goal came three minutes from time, another Daly penalty after a driving run by Moyles.
Young Charlie Moran created some good chances for Arra out of nothing, but in the end, it was a twelfth straight defeat for the young side.
Holycross 0-6 Moneygall
Moneygall saved their best football of the season so far for Holycross, helping themselves to six unanswered goals against the relegation candidates in Glenbane on Sunday.
The visitors were four up after half an hour. Niall Maher assisted Sean Moroney for the first, before netting the second himself. Next, the scorer turned provider, with Sean Moroney completing his brace. Jack O’Brien got his second assist, Paul Costello firing in his first and Moneygall’s fourth. The skipper netted twice more in the closing stages to complete his hat-trick.
Seanie Kenneally was the best for Moneygall, who have the chance to banish some demons this Sunday in Shinrone. This is, without doubt, the game of the weekend. A fiery affair is obviously expected, but can Shinrone control their aggression to deal Moneygall’s title bid a blow?
First Division
A battling performance from Grange United earned a well-deserved point when a strong Borroway Rovers side came to wet Killasmeestia on Sunday.
Davie Mahony gave Borroway the lead just before half-time, but Grange hit back after the hour mark through Jamie Dooley. Player/manager David Bourke edged Borroway ahead again shortly after; however, Tommy Brophy had the final say against his neighbours, with a free kick to leave it a 2–2 finish.
Clodiagh Rangers continued their surprise title challenge with a comprehensive 5-2 beating of Borrisokane on Sunday.
The home side were 3-0 up at half-time. Borris pulled two back in the second half to make it interesting, but a further brace of Clodiagh goals killed the tie. John O'Meara netted twice for Clodiagh and had an assist from the left wing, whilst Brendan Looby also impressed at right back for the title hopefuls.
Second Division
The biggest shock across last weekend was in Moneygall, where Birdhill’s five-game winning run was brought to an abrupt halt.
This was a repeat of the Shield final, but the opposite result. Tommy Devereux, Jody Troy and Danny Quinlan netted for the home side, whilst skipper Liam King replied for the visitors.
Knigh United came from behind against a very stubborn Ballymackey ‘B’ to emphatically continue their unbeaten start to the league.
Ballymackey deservedly took the lead inside the opening ten minutes when Shane Gibbons sent Mark McCarthy through on goal. Ballymackey had the opportunity to double their lead shortly afterwards when Knigh’s Brazilian goalkeeper, Wesley, gave away a penalty but his blushes were spared when Gibbons sent the penalty high and wide.
Knigh emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and quickly equalised through Billy Seymour. It was one-way traffic from then on, with the league leaders taking the lead through Uziel Fernandez, before Daragh Butler put daylight between the sides with twenty minutes remaining. Fernandez scored his second shortly after, before a late Sean Egan goal added gloss to the victory.
BT Harps ‘B’ sent local rivals Templetuohy, packing with seven unanswered goals in Michael Fennell Park on Sunday. A brace from player of the match James Corcoran, and a goal each from Ciaran Barry, Paddy Hickey, Killian Fennell, Ali Aissou, and Eoghan O’Shea ensured back-to-back wins for Richie Kennedy’s side. Having lost their opening six games of the season, Harps are now unbeaten in their last three and climbing up the table.
Youths
Nine-man Arra Rovers held out against Moneygall for a 2-1 victory in Portroe on Saturday thanks to James Dillon and Michael Ryan at centre half, whilst Ollieog O’Driscoll impressed in attack and when moved to defence after the red cards.
BT Harps hit a heavily depleted Shinrone United for ten goals in Michael Fennell Park on Saturday. Ryan Loughnane helped himself to six, whilst striker David Rabbitte had to be content with just a hat-trick.
Holycross scored three goals against Ballymackey and locked the Ballinree men out thanks to stand-out performances from Emmet Ryan and Jack O'Gara in defence, and Jamesie Gildea in goals.