Harps close gap on Ardcroney
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
The big games are coming thick and fast now in the NT&DL as the cream is slowly rising to the top.
Premier Division
BT Harps 3-2 Shinrone United
A blistering first half on Sunday in Templemore saw these two title-chasing heavyweights evenly share four goals, before BT Harps struck late in on to deal a major blow to Shinrone’s aspirations of back-to-back league titles.
Shinrone were often the masters of their own downfall. In the same fixture in the shield final, they were reduced to ten men for almost the entire second half; and on Sunday they conceded from a penalty after just four minutes, and a ridiculous indirect free-kick shortly before half-time.
Yet still, in each game they only lost by one goal, which they must surely take great hope from. You could argue they are out of the race now, but with Harps still to visit Shinrone as well as Ardcroney, Moneygall, Ballymackey, and Rearcross, this title race is far from over yet.
Harps took the lead inside four minutes when a superb ball over the top from Lyndon Fairbrother released Ryan Loughnane, who was brought down in the box. Eanna McBride stepped up and converted confidently, adding to his tally of thirteen goals for the season.
Both of Shinrone’s goals came from corners, indeed they looked like they could score from every corner that was hung up for Michael Cordial to attack with venom. Dean Cahill and Michael Cordial were the scorers, with Paul Lake causing trouble in the crowded area on each occasion.
Henry Newman’s side restored their lead either side of both when Dylan Cody somehow found a gap from an indirect free-kick on the six-yard line.
Both teams pushed hard for the winner in the closing stages, but it was Harps substitute Rhys Loughnane who struck the decisive blow in the 88th minute to secure all three points.
There were solid performances across the pitch for Harps, with Dean McEnroe, Cain Russell, and Dylan Cody all impressing; whilst Kian Fallon and Jason Ryan stood out for the visitors. The player of the match was Sean Paddy Guerins, the man on trial with Munster leading by example for the full ninety minutes.
In every league a narrative takes shape. BT Harps are now seen as the dominant force in the NT&DL, and rightly so, but perhaps it is slightly premature for commentators to be painting them with the same brush that serial winners like Killavilla United and Nenagh Celtic had to live up to. Indeed, BT Harps have never won a Premier Division title (Blackcastle won it over 20 years ago).
In life, everyone loves a David versus Goliath story. This season, Ardcroney, Shinrone, and Moneygall are the Davids, whilst Harps are the giant that most are wanting to fall.
With that said, their away trip to Villa FC in the Munster Junior Cup is fraught with danger. Last season, Killavilla United were seemingly going to stroll to the title, which was of course until they went away to Waterford in the Munster Junior Cup.
An 11-0 loss rocked the Roscrea men to their core, and Rearcross took full advantage the week after of a truly shell-shocked side. As much as the whole of the NT&DL community will be wishing Harps well this weekend in their 2.00pm kick-off in Connors Park, the Davids of the world will be quietly hoping that a chink in Goliath’s armour can be exposed for the following week.
Rearcross 1-1 Ardcroney
This was always going to be a low scoring game, and in the end, history prevailed as these sides drew for the fourth time in their last five meetings on Sunday.
Rearcross is never an easy place to go, and it was an uphill battle for the visitors from the fifteenth minute when Luke Dervan took man and ball in his own area, leaving Greg Kennedy an opportunity to convert from twelve yards.
Ardcroney eventually settled, getting joy down young Paul Molloy’s side. It would take a screamer from Matthew Moyles to level proceedings on the stroke of half time, the former Cloughjordan man justifying his inclusion in the recent team of the season.
As expected, there were numerous opportunities for both sides. James Deegan caused a lot of trouble with his runs into the channel for the home side, whilst Jack Daly hit the crossbar for the visitors.
The draw was a fair result, but it could have been so much more for Rea’ had Cillian Kennedy converted his header with the last play of the game.
Ardcroney live to fight another day, but they cannot afford any more slip ups in the run in; anything but three points from their away trip to Ballinree this Sunday will surely be curtains for their title charge.
It will be a case of chalk and cheese when Ballymackey host Ardcroney this Sunday; one side free-scoring with talisman Aiden White banging them in for fun; the other boasting a front three that haven’t found the net since October.
Elsewhere, Rearcross will receive a very warm welcome to Shinrone on Sunday. Ever since their snatch and grab win in Rearcross earlier this season, relations have steadily deteriorated between these sides. The result will be a fiery affair when they meet again in the community centre in what is the pick of the games in the NT&DL this weekend.
Moneygall 4-0 Arra Rovers
A Jack O’Brien brace and a goal apiece from strikers Niall Maher and Sean Moroney are a sign of good health for Billy Hayes’ side as they defeated Arra Rovers on Sunday.
Indeed, when O’Brien is on-song, Moneygall as a whole sing in tune. There was also a welcome return of Julian Bentancourt to the squad for the first time in over two months. All things considered, the Tipp Cup holders are in very good shape heading into 2026.
Ballymackey 6-2 Sallypark Odhrans
An Aidan White hat-trick and goals from Colm Maher, James Kenneally, and Cian Galvin ensured Ballymackey handed parish rivals Sallypark their eighth loss in a row. Sean Ryan and Aaron Reid replied for Sallypark. Ballymackey’s Adam Steed was the player of the match.
First Division
Borrisoleigh took a giant step towards premier division football with a hard fought 3-2 win away to Cloughjordan on Sunday.
Cloughjordan’s new interim player/managers, Gary Culbert and Martin Grace almost made the perfect start when their side was awarded a penalty on the half hour. Alas, the penalty was not converted and Borris’ went up the other end minutes later and opened the scoring through the impressive JD Devaney.
A strong cross wind was in Clough’s favour in the first half, but its strength increased in the second half for the visitors to take full advantage of. It was 2-0 shortly after the restart when Patrick O’Connell took a blistering shot which Ger Corcoran saved, only to see the wind bizarrely turn it goal-bound and over the line.
Roberth Menezes responded immediately with a daisy-cutter to drag Clough back into the game. It was an even contest until Jerry Kelly continued his red-hot goalscoring form, finishing off a well worked free kick for 3-1.
Again, Menezes dragged Clough back into the game, this time a header from a Martin Grace cross. Clough threw the kitchen sink at Denis Ryan’s side for the final ten minutes, threatening with balls into the box and long throws, whilst the visitors were constant threat on the counter through the athletic Devaney.
Liam Hannon impressed for Clough as ever, and Darren Stokes was a real threat in the first half before succumbing to injury.
Borroway Rovers promotion charge effectively ended with a 3-1 defeat in Borrisokane. The home side scored through Andy Nevin, Luke Quigley, and Kevin Cleary; whilst the sole reply for Borroway came from James O’Grady in the 90th minute.
Luke Quigley and James Hough were the best for the surprise winners, whilst Shane Dunne impressed for the visitors. The result means that Borrisokane could make a late push for promotion.
Portumna Town continued their walk to the title with a 5-3 win over Grange United. Jakub Wysocki netted a hat-trick for the Galway side, whilst the visitors from Laois replied through a Steve Finan brace and a captain’s goal from Dean Carey.
Second Division
Knigh United continued their march to the title with a 1-0 win over Rearcross.
This was a scrappy game on a boggy pitch, with the only goal of the game coming on the hour from a cross by Andrei Calugarita which deflected in off the keeper. Rearcross put on some good late pressure but were unable to find the equaliser. Ronan Ducie Hogan was the player of the match for Knigh, who also handed a debut to January signing, Kieran Ryan from Sallypark.