Rearcross held by resilient Portumna
SOCCER: North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
Game of the Week: Rearcross 2-2 Portumna Town
Much like the road from Newport to Rearcross that straddles the county boundary with Limerick, Rearcross are currently being redeveloped.
While that road seems to be getting much worse before it gets better, the same cannot be said about this Rearcross team. Foreman of the Rearcross ‘A’ project, Paul Carey, can certainly report progress as he gets stuck into his second year in charge. However, despite donning a brand-new set of jerseys on Friday night, some of the same old issues in front of goal were the predominant takeaway from the performance.
It was a cold, wet, and windy night in the Slieve Felim mountains, but Rea’ started like a house on fire and were a goal to the good after just three minutes. Young Patrick Ryan receiving the ball from James Deegan before showing good strength and trickery down the right side and finding the net with a cross-come-shot.
The winger almost made it two on the quarter hour mark with a fine strike from the edge of the box, only to be denied by the woodwork. Central midfielder Eoin Sheldon shone brightest for Rearcross in the first half, but despite dominating possession, the home side went in level after being caught on the counter by the Galway men; Conor Moore levelling for the visitors after some fine work by fellow midfielder Padraig Kennedy.
Rea’ continued to turn the screw in the second half and were rewarded seven minutes after the restart when Cillian Kennedy headed in an inviting cross from Paddy Dawson.
From here, they had multiple chances to extend their lead but a mixture of some poor finishing and a player of the match display from Portumna keeper Johnny O’Meara, ensured that Rea’s lead was kept to the minimum.
Portumna’s forays into opposition territory were few and far between in the second half, but despite that they managed to draw level from a scrappy corner with a quarter of an hour left to play. Callum Moore completing his brace to continue his fine run of scoring form in the early part of the season.
Clear cut chances came and went for Rea’ with Cillian Kennedy, James Deegan and Kayden Amodeo all being denied by a mixture of fantastic saves by Johnny O’Meara and some last-ditch tackling from Ethan Dagg.
In the end, Portumna were delighted to escape the mountains with a hard-earned point, one which could come in very useful come the end of the season.
Rearcross are very close to things clicking into place. In truth, they could and should have scored four or five goals, and as the season progresses you would expect the finishing touch to come for the strike partnership of James Deegan and Cillian Kennedy. Indeed, it would be far worse if they weren’t even getting into scoring positions in the first place.
Player of the Match: Johnny O’Meara (Portumna Town)
Rearcross (4-4-2): Cathal Kennedy (6); Brian Nolan (6), Greg Kennedy (7), Paul Nolan (6), Philly Deegan (6); Paddy Dawson (7), Eoin Sheldon (8), Conor Nolan (6), Patrick Ryan (7); James Deegan (6), Cillian Kennedy (7). Subs: Kayden Amodeo (6) for Ryan (68); James Rochford (6) for Deegan (84).
Portumna Town (4-3-3): Johnny O'Meara (9); Conor Moore (6), Ronan O’Meara (7), Ethan Dagg (7), James Conway (6); Padraig Kennedy (8), Callum Moore (9), Oisin Fogarty (7); Leon Tierney (7), Jakub Wysocki (7), Gerard Ward (6). Subs: Adam Fogarty (6) for Ward (45); David Lynch (7) for Conway (45); Zane Keane (6) for Conor Moore (55); Ethan Kasprzak (6) for Tierney (89)
Referee: TP Sullivan
Munster Junior Cup
On Saturday, a rampant Moneygall side weathered a twenty minute storm in Shinrone before utterly dominating the remainder of the tie to progress to the next round of the Munster Junior Cup with a 5-0 win.
Joe Fogarty, Paul Costello, Sean Moroney, Conor Longe and an own goal did the damage for Billy Hayes’ men with Fogarty, once again, setting the tempo and shone brightest for the visitors, who to a man performed at a very high level.
The scenes at full time and indeed throughout the game showed that there is still no love lost between these raucous neighbours, who have locked horns many times in key games throughout the last decade.
Every dog has its day, and right about now it certainly feels like is Ballymackey’s as on Sunday they recorded a 3-0 Munster Junior Cup win away to BT Harps.
George Haverty & Damien Bentley’s side kept BT Harps scoreless for the second time in 28 days. For context, Harps have only drawn a blank in seven of their last 42 games in all competitions.
Ballymackey’s new-look back four of Ben O’Dwyer, Darragh McDonnell, Eamon White & Darragh Spillane were the foundations of their victory but it was Adam Steed in central midfield who was the standout performer, showcasing his quality on the ball alongside his trademark ability to win possession and break up opposition attacks.
Ballymackey came closest to breaking the deadlock when Cian Galvin struck the upright, but at the interval the game was still scoreless. The breakthrough arrived in the 55th minute when Colm Maher cleverly flicked the ball over a defender’s head to release James Kenneally, who unselfishly squared the ball to his Aidan White who took a composed touch before firing home.
The visitors doubled their advantage with twelve minutes remaining, this time with White turning provider for Galvin, whose pace took him clear before sliding it under the onrushing Cian Sheedy.
As time drew to a close, White found substitute Johno Lawlor in space between the lines. The new signing from Nenagh AFC showed great strength and determination to ride a challenge before finishing confidently in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Bally are at home to Rearcross in round three, which will be played on or before November 1st, with the winner through to the open draw of the last 32 teams.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Ardcroney and Knigh United could not be separated despite their divisional difference, with the premier side needing penalties to see off their noisy Knigh neighbours after a 1-1 draw.
The impressive Danny Butler scored for Knigh while new signing Willie Cleary netted for Ardcroney on his first full ninety minutes. Both sides were reduced to ten men when former Ardcroney goalkeeper Keith Kelly.
Munster Junior Shield
Ballymackey were the only NT&DL team to successfully navigate their Munster Junior Shield games over the weekend.
Paul Tuohy’s side defeated Slievenamon Celtic/Kilsheelan United 2-1 thanks to a brace of goals from Paddy Tuohy. David Shananan in midfield and Brendan Hayes in goal also impressed for the Ballinree side, who are at home to Powerstown in round three.
Division 1
A quite frankly crazy game between two unbeaten sides, Moneygall ‘B’ and Borrisoleigh played out an eleven goal thriller on Sunday with visitors Borris edging it 6-5.
The visitor’s goals came through a Sean Shanahan brace, an own goal, and a goal apiece from Tom Ryan, Jack Fitzgerald, and Kevin Maher. Moneygall netted through a Corey Moloney brace, and a goal each for Anto Devereux, Gary Culbert and Johnny Powell.
Sean Shanahan, Tom Ryan, Kevin Maher, Jerry Kelly, and JD Devaney all shone for Borris, who will be hot favourites for the title if they can produce a squad of a similar standard week-in week-out.
Elsewhere, Tommy Brophy’s return to his old club, Grange United, didn’t exactly make the 6-1 news as a feel-good story. Paddy Stakelum netted Borroway’s only goal of the game, whereas the Laois side found the net through Eoin Fitzpatrick, Stevie Finan, Aaron Moore, Scott Coyle, and a Dean Carey brace. Best for Grange were Carey, Coyle, Jer Quinlan & Cillian O'Riordan.
Sallypark Odhrans put Arra Rovers to the sword with seven unanswered goals. Sean Ryan hit a brace, while Aaron Reid, Daniel Keogh, Brian Rohan, Colm Ryan, and Robbie Leamy, all helped themselves to a goal apiece in the rout.
Second Division
Cloughjordan shipped five goals when Birdhill came to Townsfields on Sunday.
Jamie Twamley hit the crossbar for the hosts early on, but that was as good as it got for Eoin Killackey’s side, who conceded a brace apiece to Conor Floyd and Andy Lynch, and one to Darragh McGrath.
In the top of the table clash in Drombane, Nenagh Celtic’s discipline wavered at times in a 3-1 loss to Clodiagh Rangers.
Celtic have a chance to get back on track this Sunday when Toomevara Celtic come to Ballinaclough Sportsfield, in what is certainly one of the games to keep a close eye on.
Youths
Of the four youth’s games scheduled for Saturday, half had to be called off due to a lack of referees. In Templemore, Harps were big winners over Ardcroney, with Dominic Boruch, Bo Feehan, Tom Collier, and Abdul Ali on the scoresheet. Michael McCarthy and Dominic Boruch were the best for BT.
Ballymackey put three unanswered goals beyond Arra Rovers with skipper Darek Hickey goal helping himself to a brace and Evan Ryan getting the other. Karl Boland and James Ryan also impressed for the hosts.