Ballymackey and Harps progress in FAI Junior Cup
North Tipperary & District League Review
By Gary Culbert
FAI Junior Cup 2nd Round
Tipperary Town 2-8 Ballymackey
Ballymackey produced a ruthless attacking display to overwhelm TS&DL First Division side Tipperary Town and progress comfortably to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors effectively settled the tie within the opening twenty minutes with three goals from their first three shots on target, leaving Tipperary Town chasing the game from early on.
Five goals from Aidan White and another from his little brother, Eamonn, did the majority of the damage for Ballymackey, whilst Cathal Conneally also got in on the scoring action with his second in as many games. Cillian Bergin rounded off the scoring.
Aidan White, Cathal Conneally, and Damien Bergin were the best for the Ballinree men against a Tipperary Town side who are in second place in the TS&DL First Division.
Next up for Ballymackey is a local derby with Moneygall on Sunday, with the added incentive of a Tipperary Cup semi-final up for grabs. These two sides have grown up facing each other in the underage leagues; there is no love lost between the neighbours. Kick-off is at 11.00am in Ballinree, in what is the pick of the games this Sunday in the NT&DL.
BT Harps 3-0 Old Bridge
BT Harps easily overcame TS&DL Second Division side Old Bridge thanks to a brace from young Ryan Loughnane and a Jamie Bergin strike.
The Templemore side had a few scares at the start but goalkeeper Kuba Beben was in top form to deny the visitors. As the half went on, the home side took control and were deservedly two goals up at the break thanks to Bergin and Loughnane. When Loughnane struck again in the second half it was game over. Best for Henry Newman’s side were Dean Lawlor and Brian Mitchell.
Up next for BT Harps is a mouth-watering Ricky Fogarty Cup semi-final against Shinrone this Friday night delight, which for the neutral sees first host second in Offaly, with the added context of a repeat of this very fixture set to determine the league winner in the coming weeks. Harps have got the better of the newly promoted side by just one goal in their previous two meetings this season, but crucially, both of those took place in Templemore.
A large crowd is expected to descend on the Shinrone Community Centre for this intriguing 6.15pm kick-off.
Cullen Lattin 5-3 Ardcroney
It took an 80th minute screamer for Cullen Lattin to overcome a dogged Ardcroney on Sunday afternoon.
Last season, Cullen Lattin claimed a TS&DL First Division league and cup double, and this year the South Tipp side are set to avoid relegation on their return to the premier division. Furthermore, Cullen Lattin only lost 2-0 to St Michael’s a week prior to this game so Ardcroney were always going to be up against it, but the North Tipp men gave as good as they got.
With the wind on their backs, Ardcroney took an early lead through Jack Daly, with a rare goal from open play. Usually starting in midfield, Daly was started up top due to the suspension that Ronan Clifford picked up the previous week and converted following an overlapping run from Kieran Spain.
Cullen-Lattin were quick to get the ball back in play, and their centre halves were very brave, often playing short five-yard passes in and around their own area to beat the high press from Ardcroney.
As usual, Ardcroney were getting good chances from set-pieces, but it was the home side who would draw level from a Jordan Dineen penalty midway through the half.
Cullen Lattin’s second goal was an absolute work of art, with Dineen once again finding the net after a fine team move involving no-less than three back-heels in and around the Ardcroney penalty area. The move happened so fast and with such trickery, that acquiring a first-hand account of the events is in itself quite difficult. In any case, Ardcroney were 2-1 down at the break despite a big chance for Ross Hughes, who was only denied by a fine save.
The wind was blowing strong in Ardcroney’s faces in the second half. The NT&DL men held the home side out for the opening twenty minutes until Michael Elligott burst through the Ardcroney defence to get his first of three.
Jack Daly hit back with a finish from the edge of the area, following a Paul Molloy cross, that wrong-footed the keeper to leave Ardcroney just 3-2 behind on the 70th minute.
Ardcroney were getting good crosses into the box now that Paul Molloy was moved up to the right wing. The TS&DL side boasted two very physical centre halves, Jack Daly was looking for a penalty when one of them cleaned him out inside the area, but Matthew Moyles had other ideas. The former Cloughjordan man had the ball in the top corner of the net before Daly had picked himself up from the ground, firing in off the back of an Alan D’Arcy setup.
3-3 now and with twenty minutes to go, Ardcroney were the side in the ascendancy. But a sucker punch was to come from Michael Elligott just ten minutes after the Northmen drew level. It was an outrageous goal of the highest quality, flying high into the sky from 25 yards out before dipping viciously into the top corner.
Having expended so much energy in mounting their comeback, Ardcroney were now once again chasing their TS&DL hosts. Glen Austin and Eddie Coonan’s side threw caution to the wind now, with their best chances coming from corner kicks. However, they had understandably left themselves short at the back now, and were punished by star man Elligott, who completed his hat-trick with two minutes remaining.
This was a spirited performance from Ardcroney, especially considering the lows of the previous weekends cup defeat.
Ardcroney’s final game of their turbulent 2025/26 campaign will be an away trip to Shinrone in the league. It will be a nothing game for the men in green, but it could mean everything for Shinrone, BT Harps, and Moneygall in the title race.
Clonmel Celtic 1-0 Rearcross
Clonmel Celtic secured their first win of 2026 and progressed to the third round of the FAI Junior Cup thanks to a narrow victory over a much-changed Rearcross side on Sunday.
Celtic controlled much of the first half, though the closest they could get was an Ewan Bergin effort that flew just over the crossbar. Rearcross looked most dangerous from set pieces but failed to seriously test the home goalkeeper.
The decisive moment arrived early in the second half when Kyle Cuddy finished well on 51 minutes to give Celtic the lead. Rearcross brought on the cavalry and pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Celtic showed signs of nerves late on but held firm to secure an important win.
Despite Rearcross opting to start a rotated team, it was a hard-earned victory for Clonmel Celtic, who had to show resilience to see out the victory.
NTD&DL First Division
A promotion play-off will be required in the NT&DL First Division following a bizarre outcome in Borrisoleigh on Sunday morning in horrible conditions.
Borrisokane knew that a draw would be enough to secure promotion to the Premier Division, but circumstances conspired against them and ultimately Matt Power had to concede the game.
Grange United might have had their boots put away for the year, but Tommy Brophy & co will have to get them back out, as a promotion play-off will now be required against Borrisokane.
It is probably fair to say that both Borrisokane and Grange United would prefer one or two more years to build before entering the Premier Division. With that said, the promotion play-off will be an intriguing contest, as we will get to see who really wants it more. Grange United are the clear favourites, but much like today, it all depends which Borrisokane turn up on the day.
Nora Kennedy Cup
The dreaded penalty shootout was required to decide the Nora Kennedy Cup semi-final between Cloughjordan and Rearcross in Cloughjordan on Sunday.
The wind was a major factor, and the waterlogged surface didn't help the football that could be played either. Referee Robbie Nevin had a tough call to even let the game go ahead, but ultimately it was the right call as the water drained away and the sun came out in the second half.
Andrew Brennan opened the scoring for the hosts, but Matthew Feehan equalised shortly after. Extra time failed to separate the sides with penalties required. Clough missed their first but veteran keeper Michael Hough dragged them back into the contest by saving two out of Rea's first three penalties and book a place in the final against Birdhill.
Seamus Williams and Bryan Williams at centre half made several key interventions to ensure Clough stayed in the game.