Harps halt Ardcroney advance
North Tipperary & District League Review
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
BT HARPS 3-0 ARDCRONEY
Ardcroney's unbeaten start to the league was brought to an abrupt end by a fired-up BT Harps.
Harps probably had more to lose and more to prove on the day; a recent defeat in their own back yard to Moneygall had really put the pressure on. Whereas Ardcroney were looking to show that they were worthy of being in the title conversation, and not just top of the league due to a favourable run of fixtures at the start of the year.
The result was a hotly contested affair from both sides, with the Harps centre half pairing of Sean Paddy Geurins and Jack Kennedy setting the tempo from the off with some crunching tackles.
The surprise front runners looked good value for their league position in the opening exchanges, with Matthew Moyles pulling the strings to ensure Ardcroney looked comfortable on the ball.
However, Harps came into it as the match wore on, and were deserved winners in the end, with three set-piece situations doing the damage.
The long throw is well and truly back: once upon a time it was only utilised by Cloughjordan and Sallypark, but nowadays even Harps are launching it into the mixer from the sideline. And the proof was in the pudding on Sunday, as young Ryan Loughnane opened the scoring with a poacher’s goal from a long throw.
Usually deployed on the wing, Cormac Foy lined up in the engine room for BT Harps, a move which raised eyebrows considering his light frame; surely the physically imposing Jack Daly and athletic Matthew Moyles would rough him up and thus win the midfield battle? Quite the opposite ensued, Foy got stuck in and was one of the standout players.
As Moyles’ influence on the game weaned, Foy’s increased and Ardcroney struggled to create any noteworthy clear-cut chances, but at 1-0 they were always in the game. But the killer blow came with just over 20 minutes left in the second half, when Kevin Shinners brought down Ryan Loughnane in the box. Szymon Popiela made no mistake from 12 yards, and it was pretty much game over then.
Jack Daly was the league leaders’ top performer on the day, and he almost dragged them back into it with a sublime free kick, but the midfielder’s curling effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Harps put some gloss on the victory late on when some quick thinking from a similar free-kick situation saw Cormac Foy played in past the wall, before his cross from the end line was turned in to the Ardcroney net by one of their own defenders.
The win brings Henry Newman’s side right back on track in the title race, but both sides will have come away with a lot of respect gained for each other.
The absence of the injured Thomas Cleary saw Ardcroney look a little light up top, but the good news for Glen Austin and Eddie Coonan is that they have a very favourable fixture to get back to winning ways this weekend. Indeed, Cleary might be spared against Holycross; they probably have enough to get over the line without the big striker.
Next up for Harps is a big away trip to Ennis in the Munster Junior Cup, to take on Fairgreen Celtic, a side formed just three years ago. After losing their opening three league games in this, their first season in the Clare premier division, Celtic have found reprieve through a run of four unbeaten games at home. All things considered, Harps should be going West with a real sense of optimism; we could see a NT&DL side in the last 16 for the second consecutive year.
ARRA ROVERS 1-7 SHINRONE UNITED
As expected, Shinrone made light work of basement side Arra Rovers. Kian Fallon, Scott Kelly and Michael Cordial all impressed, but the player of the match award went to DJ McLoughlin for his haul of four goals. The other scorers on the day were Michael Cordial with one and Riann McLoughlinn with a brace, which makes him top scorer in the league, for now.
The Offaly side should pick up another three points away to Sallypark this weekend, which would put them firmly in the title conversation.
HOLYCROSS 1-8 BALLYMACKEY
Ballymackey continue to pick up statement wins. It was no surprise that they beat Holycross, but the manner of the mauling was quite impressive. Aidan White continued his recent purple patch with a hat-trick, whilst Cathal Delaney helped himself to a brace, and there was a goal apiece for Colm Maher, Cian Galvin and Liam Hogan.
The Balinree side have a difficult trip to St Michaels on Saturday evening, for a Munster Junior Cup match that will set them up well for the remainder of the season, no matter the result.
REARCROSS 5-1 SALLYPARK ODHRANS
A brace for James Deegan and goals from Michael O’Gorman, Cillian Kennedy, and Robert Harrington were the difference when Sallypark travelled to Rearcross on Sunday afternoon.
O’Gorman started the season in retirement, but he already has five goals and three assists in just four games back.
Moneygall travel to Rearcross for an intriguing game under the lights this Friday night. On paper and based on league position, the visitors will be most people’s favourites to emerge victorious, that’s despite losing twice to Rea’ already this season, albeit once on penalties.
This will be far from straight forward for Billy Hayes’ side, who definitely haven’t hit full stride yet. Rearcross are due a big performance in front of their home crowd, and are well capable of getting at least a draw from this game.
FIRST DIVISION
The big shock of the weekend across all three divisions came in county Laois, where the runaway league leaders from Galway were brought right back to reality by a stubborn Grange United.
Grange showed determination and defensive discipline from start to finish, keeping Portumna’s attack at bay despite several close chances.
The decisive moment came from captain Dean Carey in the 79th minute, as he powered home a brilliant header after a superb free-kick delivery by Tommy Brophy.
Goalkeeper Michael Moore and the midfield pairing of Phil Tynan and Stevie Finan all stood out, but the player of the match was the goalscorer, Dean Carey.
Portumna should get back to winning ways this weekend against thier nearest geographical rivals, Borrisokane, this weekend. Whilst Grage will look to avenge their early season defeat to Cloughjordan in the reverse fixture, when they visit Townsfields for the first time. Tommy Brophy crushed many Clough dreams in Tierney Park, and Grange will be hoping that the veteran striker can hit the ground running in their new home too.
A good news story from the weekend was Borrisoleigh picking up their first ever win on their new pitch.
The hosts started well and would have been ahead very early on were it not for a few goal line clearances.
Jerry Kelly’s powerful runs in behind were causing no end of trouble for the Clough rearguard, but it was JD Devaney who would open the scoring from a defence splitting long pass. Colm Boyle providing the ammunition for Devaney to slot home.
All of Clough’s chances came in crowded areas, whereas Borris always had open ground to run into behind the opposition’s defence.
The second half was all Borrisoleigh; the visitors could have played on for another few hours and still wouldn’t have found the net.
Tom Ryan scored from distance to double the host’s advantage shortly after the restart. Jerry Kelly finished a through ball shortly after to conclude the scoring at 3-0. Borris went down to ten men for an incident off the ball, but continued to defend resolutely for the remainder of the game.
It is great to see this young club finding a place to call home in the town, however, most people who arrive at the new pitch will all be thinking the same thing: this surely can’t be wide enough to pass FIFA guidelines?
This writer had those very thoughts, but after personally measuring the width, was surprised to find that it was a whole 3.7 metres wider than the 45-metre minimum set out by IFAB (the International Football Association Board).
SECOND DIVISION
The big news coming out of the second division over the past week was that Sallypark Odhrans ‘B’ were removed from the North Tipperary and District League by the league committee.
Sallypark breached rule 41, which states that “a team failing to fulfil a fixture for a second time in any one season shall be suspended from the league”.
During the week, any points already on the board from wins or draws with Sallypark were removed from the remaining team’s tallies.
On the pitch, Birdhill and Moneygall ‘B’ continued their race for promotion with narrow wins. Having recently received more players that were deemed surplus to the ‘A’ team, Moneygall ‘B’ are going to be a real force this year in the second division.