Key week upcoming in Premier title race

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Premier Division

The games that were played last weekend quickly became old news when a bumper fixture list for next weekend, packed full of key games, was released by the NT&DL on Sunday night.

First up, on Friday night under the lights, BT Harps travel to Moneygall in what promises to be a hotly contested affair. Moneygall are unbeaten in their last two meetings with Harps, winning on penalties in the Tipperary Cup last season at home, and nicking a 1-0 victory late on at the start of this season in Michael Fennell Park.

The Templemore side are much changed though from that loss at the start of the season. Star players Jamie Bergin, Eanna McBride, and Sean Paddy Geurins were all absent from the starting eleven that day.

Another Moneygall win would see Billy Hayes’ side go one point clear of Harps with a game more played, whilst a Harps win would surely see Henry Newman put one hand on the title.

This game will take on the feel of a cup final, and Moneygall will look to feed off the crowd’s energy and keep it tight for as long as possible. A set-piece could be the difference, and with Harps looking extremely vulnerable under corners recently against Shinrone, that may be a route to victory that Dylan Hogan and Niall Maher could exploit.

Despite their recent meetings, Harps will be favourites due to the red-hot form of Jamie Bergin.

Supporters are advised to arrive early on Friday night due to parking restrictions in place at Moneygall FC due to the construction of the new community centre. There is no on-site parking available, consequently the usual car park entrance from Elderberry Drive will be closed. There is pedestrian access through Elderberry Drive, but importantly Moneygall FC are asking people not to park there. Spectators can use the pedestrian entrance in Elderberry Drive, or they can use the alternative pedestrian entrance located on the Old Dublin Road towards Toomevara. If parking roadside, Moneygall FC are asking people to only do so where safe and not in a manner that obstructs traffic, local residents, or landowners.

There will be no major rest for Harps after Friday, as they travel to Ardcroney for a 2.00pm kick-off on Sunday. Injuries and suspensions are staring to pile up for Ardcroney. Nobody will be giving them half a chance against Harps, but they will have a point to prove and will not roll over easily for Henry Newman’s side.

The other big game in the title race sees Ballymackey travel to Shinrone on Sunday. Shinrone are going through a bit of a tricky period as Declan Mullally shuffles his deck to try and find a suitable replacement for the suspended Paul Lake.

Conversely, Ballymackey are enjoying an upward trajectory since the return of Eamonn White to the club. This game will be very close heading into the closing stages, but Shinrone always seem to find a way, especially when the home crowd come out in force to support.

BT Harps 7-0 Holycross

Four goals from Jamie Bergin ensured BT Harps made light work of Holycross last Friday night.

The home side made a slow start and, having expected to steamroll the young visitors, were initially taken aback by the intensity that Holycross brought early on.

However, after fifteen minutes the title chasers began to find their rhythm and the chances soon followed. Jamie Bergin opened the scoring with a well-taken flick after good work down the flank by Rhys Loughnane, and five minutes later he doubled the new signing doubled the lead with a close-range header.

Eanna McBride was forced off through injury, but Ben Stapleton came on and made an immediate impact. His first touch releasing Bergin down the right for his hat-trick. On 35 minutes, Bergin turned provider with a clever through ball for Dean McEnroe, who finished confidently to leave it 4–0 at the break.

BT started the second half brightly. A mix-up between the Holycross keeper and defender gifted Stapleton the chance to fire into the bottom corner. Then, on the hour mark, Dylan Cody moved into the number 10 role and within a minute produced a superb left-footed curling strike into the bottom corner. Bergin capped a player of the match performance on 70 minutes with the goal of the night, juggling on the edge of the box before volleying to the top corner for his fourth and BT’s seventh of the night.

Credit to the young Holycross side who never stopped working and showed great character throughout.

Rearcross 2-2 Arra Rovers

Two well-taken goals from a young Arra Rovers side ensured the spoils were shared in Rearcross on Sunday.

Conditions were far from ideal as the wind and rain were proving difficul. Rea’ had the majority of possession for the opening twenty minutes but were finding it hard to break down a stubborn Arra defence marshalled well by player/manager Dermot O’Halloran.

The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when a corner from the right from Paddy Dawson saw the ball fall to Eoghan Kavanagh on the edge of the box, and his first time volley was parried by the keeper only as far as Eoin Sheldon, who was on hand to finish.

Arra hit back almost straight away. A mazy run down the left saw the ball pulled back to Dylan Gamble, who made no mistake rifling the ball into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

The second half took on a similar pattern with the hosts enjoying the lion’s share of possession. Rea’ introduced a strong bench ten minutes in and it didn’t take long for them to make an impact. A good move between Cillian Kennedy and James Deegan saw the latter cross to the far post, but Kennedy’s header went the wrong side of the post.

Rea went down to ten men soon after, losing Darragh Carr to a serious ankle injury. Arra would take full advantage of this and went 2-1 up. This time it was more good play from Charlie Moran, which saw him play a one-two pass with Dylan Gamble before finishing cooly under the keeper. Arra themselves would also go down to ten-men when they lost Brian McAvoy to a hamstring injury.

Rea’ created several chances to equalise with Greg Kennedy and Rob Harrington coming close on separate occasions. And with ten minutes remaining, they finally forced the equaliser. A long throw saw Eoin Sheldon head on to Brian Nolan, who in-turn flicked the ball into the path of Cillian Kennedy, who made no mistake finishing to the corner of the net.

Mikey Ryan, Diarmuid Boyle and Billy Moran all impressed for Arra, whilst Conor Nolan and young Oisin Reynolds impressed for Rea.

Second Division

A depleted Knigh United side travelled to BT Harps ‘B’ and made light work of the hosts on Friday night to continue their title push.

The visitors broke the deadlock early on when Jack Sanders beat the fullback to the ball and squared for James O’Meara to tap home.

Lenny Rayleigh was proving to be a thorn in the home side with his pace, but the youngster was unfortunately forced off with injury after half an hour. This gave youths player Simon Cleary his senior debut.

A quick-fire double shortly followed. Knigh doubled their lead through a smart Bill Cleary with finish from the edge of the box with the outside of his boot, then debutant Cleary got in on the action with the back post finish to leave it 3-0 at the break.

BT started the second half with two big chances, however both one-on-ones’ were denied by stand-in keeper Timmy Dalton who did a stellar job.

The champions-elect scored their fourth goal after two dangerous crosses from Simon Cleary, the second met by Jack Sanders, whose shot was parried to the feet of Andrei Calugarita, who made no mistake from close range.

A fifth goal completed the scoring on 80 minutes when a kick out by Dalton was latched on to by Sanders and squared to Bill Cleary, who finished well for his second goal.

Best for Knigh were Timmy Dalton in goal, Bill Clearly and Davy O’Brien in midfield, and Kieran Ryan in defence.