Harps the sole survivor in FAI Junior Cup
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
FAI JUNIOR CUP
BT Harps 1-1 Cashel Town
(AET, BT Harps win 3-2 on Pens)
Kuba Beben was the hero once more as BT Harps overcame Cashel Town on penalties in the third round of the FAI Junior Cup in Templemore on Sunday.
The first half was a cagey affair as two well organised sides nullified each other.
Cashel set up compact, forcing BT to go long at times, with the pace of Sean Purcell proving an important asset down the right.
The home sides defence remained solid throughout while Billy Collier and Cormac Foy impressed in midfield. Beben was called into action on a couple of occasions and dealt confidently with all that was asked of him.
The game opened up in the second half, and on the hour mark Cashel took the lead when a loose clearance was punished by Cillian Fitzgerald.
BT responded well, pushing forward and earned a penalty when Cormac Foy was brought down in the box; Eanna McBride stepping up to level from the spot.
Cashel then dropped deep with five at the back, making chances hard to come by. Beben produced yet another top-class save midway through the half to keep BT alive.
Despite dominating possession late on, BT couldn’t find a winner and the game went to extra time.
The home side looked the fitter in extra time and created the better chances, but Cashel held firm, sending the tie to penalties.
Eanna McBride, Frosty, and Jamie Bergin all converted from the spot, while Kuba Beben was the hero and man of the match, saving three penalties to secure progression to the fourth round which opens up to national level.
Ballymackey 3-5 Clonmel Celtic
Clonmel Celtic turned their crosshairs directly over in-form Ballymackey, scoring five goals in an eight-goal thriller in Ballinree on Sunday.
The North Tipp side were behind early on, but went on to take the lead twice thanks to a Colm Maher brace and the latest Aidan White strike. Celtic levelled at 3-3 in the 67th minute, before a quick fire double with ten minutes remaining killed the tie.
Ricky Fogarty Cup
Moneygall advanced to the semi-finals of the Premier Division Ricky Fogarty Cup on Sunday thanks to an impressive 3-0 win over Rearcross in Moneygall.
The home sides goals came midway through the first half, early in the second half, and with the last kick of the game, through Niall Maher and a Jack O’Brien brace. Cian McLoughlin, Jack O Brien, and Sean Moroney were the best for Moneygall.
Second Division
The nine men of Ballymackey ‘B’ put up a valiant fight when Knigh United travelled to Ballinree on Sunday, but ultimately came out the wrong side of a 7-4 scoreline.
Jack Kenneally netted a hat-trick for the home side, while youth player Simon Cleary also found the net three times. A Jack Sanders brace and a goal from youth player Eoin Kelly rounded off the scoring.