Shinrone finally get the better of Moneygall in day one upset
SOCCER: North Tipperary & District League Review
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
Game of the Week: Moneygall 0-1 Shinrone United
There is no love lost between these neighbours and you could probably go as far as to say that for new Shinrone manager Derek McLoughlin, this was the most important game of his season. Having failed to get the better of Moneygall (within 90 minutes) in their last eight meetings, it was a hugely satisfying victory for Shinrone who just wanted it that bit more in this NT&DL Premier Division opener in Moneygall on Sunday.
Scott Kelly was like a man possessed in the heart of Shinrone’s midfield, while new signing George Hayes simply wanted every ball more than whoever he was marking at centre half. Veteran Keith McEvoy continued to reel in the years with a no-nonsense performance at full back, while Terry Bartlett made the number 3 jersey his own on the other flank. In the heart of the defence, 44-year-old Michael Cordial continues to defy modern sports science with his impressive performance levels week-in week-out, season after season.
However, for all the dogged pressing and work that Shinrone got through in defence, there was only one name on everyone’s lips, Simon Hayes. The 23-year-old new signing from Highfield in Birr has pace to burn and is not one bit afraid to mix it physically. If Shinrone can keep him and the rest of their relatively threadbare squad fit for the entirety of the season, they will be right in the mix when the honours are given out.
Having been spanked 8-1 by Ballymackey just two weeks ago, Derek McLoughlin had implemented an almost siege mentality within the group. He has a team of fighters on his hands, and if they can get over the line at home to BT Harps this Sunday, then it will be hard for the new manager to supress talks of the title.
Moneygall have little time to lick their wounds, with a new-look new-management Holycross coming to town on Wednesday night. Holycross are a new animal this season by all accounts, with an improved physicality most noted by their opponents. Billy Hayes will be hoping that new signing Joe Fogarty can add a creative spark in midfield to help improve their attacking threat.
Special mention to referee Jim McGrath who had a difficult task but never wavered.
Player of the Match: Scott Kelly (Shinrone United)
Moneygall (4-3-3): Julian Bentancourt (8); Mikey Ryan (7), Cian McLoughlin (7), Dylan Hogan (7), Dylan Maher (7); Cameron Fleming (7), Paul Costello (7), Jack O’Brien (7); Tom Sheedy (8), Niall Maher (7), Sean Moroney (7). Subs: Lee Doran (6) for Fleming (61); Dylan McCormack (6) for Moroney (61); Dara Lee (6) for O’Brien (71); Jayden Coughlan (6) for Sheedy (80)
Shinrone United (4-2-3-1): Jason Ryan (7); Terry Bartlett (8), Michael Cordial (8), George Hayes (9), Keith McEvoy (8); Scott Kelly (9), Dean Cahill (8); Kian Fallon (7), Martin Harty (7), Simon Hayes (8); Riann McLoughlin (7). Subs: Conor O’Sullivan (6) for Harty (76); Conor Ryan (6) for Fallon (88).
Ballymackey 5–2 Ardcroney
Ardcroney were the masters of their own downfall on Sunday in a second half capitulation in the backyard of title favourites Ballymackey.
The visitors led 1-0 at the break thanks to a Jamie Ryan set-piece goal at one end and some inspired goalkeeping from Kevin Shinnors at the other.
Ballymackey left some of their main stars on the bench, opting to start with a weakened attack which Ardcroney looked fairly comfortable in containing. However, an undercooked back-pass five minutes after the restart saw in-form Cian Galvin nip in to open the scoring, and it was at this point that Damien Bentley & George Haverty introduced the cavalry - Cathal Delaney, James Kenneally, and Eamonn White - from the bench.
The Ardcroney heads were already down when the ball hit the net for 1-1, and they dropped further four minutes later when another back-pass ended in Aidan White continuing his fine run of scoring with a crisp finish.
Next on the scoresheet was the hottest player in the NT&DL, James Kenneally, whose quick feet seemed to have the ball on a string. The 19-year-old curled in the pick of the goals on the hour mark, an absolute peach which concluded a ten-minute scoring spell to quash the Ardcroney uprising.
The visitors did pull one back from a long throw with Paul Molloy firing in after Jamie Ryan made first contact, but two further goals from the White brothers killed the tie.
It’s fair to say that Ballymackey had the tips of their fingers slightly burnt from starting a weakened team, while Ardcroney wasted no time in dipping into the transfer market, with Cian D’Arcy and Willie Cleary set to keep it in the parish after leaving Cloughjordan.
BT Harps 2-1 Portumna Town
Defending champions BT Harps made a winning start with a hard-earned home win over newly promoted Portumna Town on Sunday.
Having coughed up nine goals to Ballymackey in the Shield, it was no surprise to see Portumna manager Mark O’Sullivan adopt a low block when his depleted side made the hour-long journey to take on the champions.
Although Harps dominated possession, they found it increasingly hard to break down the visitors who lined out in a 5-3-2 formation and were fairly comfortable to just sit deep and soak up the pressure. However, that game-plan relies on no mistakes, and when their keeper spilled a corner after the hour mark only for Lorcan Campion to capitalise, Portumna had to come out.
Substitute Killian Fennell made a big difference after coming on in the 54th minute, and he got on the scoresheet to make it 2-0. The visitors pulled a goal back through Jakub Wysocki to leave the game in the mixer heading into the final furlong – which is all that Mark O’Sullivan could have asked for considering their lack of bodies on the day. Indeed, the perfect snatch and grab performance almost came to fruition with the last kick of the game, but star man Wysocki was unable to find the target.
Plenty of positives for newly promoted Portumna, whilst Harps are yet to hit full stride.
Rearcross 3-1 Holycross
Rearcross got their campaign off to a winning start with victory at home to newly promoted Holycross on Sunday.
Davy English has returned to the helm at Holycross and has brought some familiar faces back to the fold too. The new-look side gave Rearcross a scare early on when Calum O’Connor curled a beautiful free-kick into the top corner after seven minutes, but the sides were level on the half-hour when Stephen Rochford scored from distance. Rochford then completed his brace on the stroke of half-time from close range after the keeper spilled a high ball.
His older brother James completed the scoring on the hour mark to get Rearcross off to the perfect start.
Division 1
Moneygall ‘B’ got their campaign underway on Friday night with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Sallypark Odhrans with goals from Corey Moloney, Anto Devereux, Johnny Powell, Conor Ryan and a brace for Dara Lee.
The only other game in the division saw Borrisokane concede a walkover defeat to Knigh United.
Division 2
In Ballinaclough on Sunday, Nenagh Celtic had to come from behind to win in their first league match back since returning to the NT&DL against BT Harps ‘B’.
The visitors were the better team in the first half, during which Abdul Ali forced Paul Walsh to clear off the line and Josh Quinlan struck the crossbar. Harps took a deserved lead at the start of the second half, Cathal Leahy converting from the penalty spot after Marco Quinlan was brought down by goalkeeper Jordan Leigh.
Harps started to tire from the effort expended and Celtic caught them with two goals in five minutes. Johnny Reilly equalised with a lovely goal bent into the top corner from the left side, before Roberto Ipsalat got on the end of a trivela cross from Brian Mitchell to complete the comeback.
John O’Reilly, Brian Mitchell and Jamie Mitchell all impressed for Celtic while credit must also go to referee Colin O’Gorman, as this was far from an easy assignment given the vocal crowd.
Clodiagh Rangers struck late with a controversial penalty to deny Cloughjordan an opening day win on the road on Sunday.
The visitors went into the final 25 minutes two-up thanks to a Dean O’Meara strike in the first half and a Michael Hennelly goal in the second. However, Clodiagh are nothing if not fit, and it was no surprise to see them pull this one out of the fire thanks to a Thomas Purcell finish and a late penalty from skipper Oisin Treacy. Fearghal Doheny was the best for Clough while the scorers were the shining light for Clodiagh.