North Tipperary and District League Shield Finals Review

By Gary Culbert

PREMIER DIVISION SHIELD

Ballymackey 2-0 BT Harps

What’s rare is wonderful! Having not laid a glove on BT Harps in the Premier Cup final just three months ago, only to lose out to the Templemore men again just a week after in the Tipperary Cup final, Ballymackey finally got the monkey off their back on Sunday in the NT&DL Premier Division Shield Final in Ballinree.

This was a coming-of-age performance for ‘Mackey in which key signings in important positions proved their value ten-fold. Taylor Duffy in goal was flawless, pulling off an important save right at the start of the second half when the game was in the melting pot. Darragh McDonnell at centre half went about his business efficiently and without much fuss, sweeping up anything that Eamonn White left behind – which wasn’t much.

Duffy, McDonnell, and Alonso were all new in the door from Nenagh AFC’s second team, whilst new signing Darragh Spillane made up the rest of what was an entire new back four and goalkeeper from last season.

In front of that however, were five men who felt all the pain and hurt of Harps completing the NT&DL quadruple at their expense just three months ago, and it was an unlikely hero who stole the show.

Much like Ballymackey, Cian Galvin has often been criticised as a nearly man; great up until the final pass or shot. On Sunday, the fastest player in the NT&DL had his best performance, terrorising his full-back Lorcan Campion from the very first minute, and providing a very effective out-ball for the home side.

Indeed, it was Galvin who broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, tapping home at the back post after young James Kenneally fizzed in a low ball from the left flank. The 24-year-old got in front of his man to cushion the ball beyond the stand-in keeper from close range, releasing celebrations which showed all the years of pent-up hurt against this opposition.

Substitute Colm Maher added a second late on to ensure Cathal Delaney got to lift silverware for Ballymackey. Eamonn White was the best on the day for Ballymackey, who now must go and repeat this level of performance week in week out.

FIRST DIVISION SHIELD

Borroway Rovers 8-2 Borrisokane

Borroway Rovers completed their high-scoring first division shield campaign in similar fashion, as David Bourke’s side hit visitors Borrisokane for eight goals in Loughtagalla Park, Thurles on Sunday.

Player/manager Bourke helped himself to a hat-trick and two assists while veterans Paraic Fogarty and Tommy Brophy netted a brace apiece in the rout while Borrisokane could only muster two in reply. Borroway have scored 18 goals in three games in the shield campaign, with Bourke netting eight and Brophy five.

DIVISION 2 SHIELD

Birdhill 1-0 Nenagh Celtic

Birdhill retained the second division shield after a hard fought 1-0 victory over Nenagh Celtic in Birdhill on Sunday. With a large and vocal travelling following, Celtic came to Birdhill with great expectations of their first piece of silverware since their return to the NT&DL.

The first half was very much a stalemate with neither side able to make the breakthrough. However, Birdhill stepped it up a gear in the second half and were rewarded with a goal by Andy Lynch midway through the half. This forced Celtic to throw caution to the wind and push forward with more intent for the remainder of the game. They came agonisingly close with the last kick of the game when a corner kick was headed goal bound by Paul Walsh, only for Stephen Kelly to clear it off the line - much to the dismay of the large crowd of Celtic fans.

DIVISION 2A SHIELD

Ardcroney 5-4 Templetuohy

Jamie Ryan scored the 90th minute winner as Ardcroney ‘B’ defeated Templetuohy 5-4 in a thrilling Division 2A Shield final in Ardcroney on Sunday.

A bicycle kick from substitute Ryan drew Ardcroney level at 4-4 late on before getting the match-winner in a game where both teams finished with ten men. Ross Hughes was also on the mark.

Templetuohy’s goals came in the form of an own-goal, Eoin Stakelum, and a brace from Sean Gleeson.