New signings make instant impact for Ardcroney
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
FAI Junior Cup
Despite being down key personnel and playing almost the entire second half with ten men, Ballymackey pushed Two Mile Borris/St Kevin’s all the way in the first round of the FAI Junior Cup on Sunday, losing out 4-3, after extra time.
Cian Galvin, James Kenneally and Cathal Delaney all netted for the Northmen, while Liam Hogan saw red in the regulation ninety minutes with the visitors finishing with nine men as Stephen Cantwell became the second player dismissed in the 107th minute.
Elsewhere, Clodiagh Rangers went down 2-0 at home to TS&DL side Cullen Lattin.
NT&DL Premier Division
Game of the Week: Holycross 2-3 Ardcroney
A goal in either half from new signing Cian D’Arcy saw Ardcroney claim their first points of the season in a five-goal thriller with Holycross on Sunday.
Fellow deadline day signings Stephen D’Arcy and John O’Meara from Borrisokane also performed well for the visitors while the returning Chris Fogarty looks to have improved his game during the season he took ofs.
Cian D'Arcy opened the scoring on the quarter hour with an emphatic finish into the roof of the net after arriving late at the back post.Indeed, had the player ratings been based on first-half performances alone, D’Arcy would have gotten at ten.
Since his peak teenage years where he won an FAI Youth Cup with Nenagh AFC and included a trial with English Championship side Reading, D’Arcy has struggled to replicate his performances from his iconic school days, but the 28-year-old seems to have rediscovered some of that destructive form in an Ardcroney jersey.
Thomas Cleary should have benefitted to the tune of two or three goals from D’Arcy’s crossing, but instead it was head-in-hands moments for the striker whose all-round play was much improved, however.
With both starting and second-choice goalkeepers out through injury and suspension, Lucas Jones was given the task of Ardcroney netminder for the day. Holycross stung the palms of the stand-in keeper in the 24th minute with Seanie Dwan unable to turn in the rebound. Holycross had an even better chance through Gavin Ryan but it came to nothing.
Holycross were an improved side at the start of the second half with Stephen Maher and Ben Hennessy impressing. A long ball by Andy Hayes saw a further chance go abegging for Thomas Cleary midway through the half before penalty drama overtook proceedings. Firstly, a Holycross penalty shout fell on deaf ears, only for Chris Fogarty to go straight up the other end and win a penalty from where Kieran Spain sent James Gildea the wrong way.
However, the two-goal cushion did not last for long as substitute Jack Dwan headed in from a long throw to reduce the deficit. Ardcroney did not sit around feeling sorry for themselves though; another emphatic Cian D’Arcy finish at the back post restored the visitors two-goal lead shortly after.
Stephen D'Arcy hits both posts with one shot as the game ticked towards conclusion, while Cian D'Arcy was denied a hat-trick by the post late on.
Jack Dwan found the net late on to leave a nervy final thirty seconds, but Ardcroney had done more than enough to secure their first points of the season.
Player of the Match: Cian D’Arcy (Ardcroney)
Holycross (4-3-3): James Gildea (6); Sean Britton (6), Kyle Denny (6), Cian Hevey (6), Stephen Maher (6); Ben Hennessey (7), Stevie Flanagan (7), Jamie Dwan (6); Stephen Quinlan (7), Gavin Ryan (7), Seamie Dwan (6). Subs: Aaron Ryan for Dwan (45); Jack Dwan (7) for Maher (45); Jack Ryan (8) for Hevey (90).
Ardcroney (4-2-3-1): Lucas Jones (6); Dave Slattery (7), Andrew Hayes (7), John O'Meara (8) Kieran Spain (7); Ross Austin (7), Matthew Moyles (7); Chris Fogarty (7), Stephen D'Arcy (8), Thomas Cleary (6), Cian D'Arcy (9). Subs: Kevin Boyle (7) for Slattery (55); Eoin Carroll (7) for Fogarty (70); Eamonn Coonan (6) for S D’Arcy (80)
Referee: TP Sullivan.
Moneygall 1-2 Rearcross
James Deegan answered his critics by assisting both goals in a surprise Rearcross win over Moneygall.
Rearcross had a full squad to choose from and decided to go with the same starting eleven from the week prior and they got off to a flying start and a goal to the good after eight minutes; Deegan latching onto a long ball from Cathal Kennedy before pulling the ball across the box for the onrushing Patrick Ryan, who took advantage of some sleepy defending to make it two goals in as many games.
This seemed to jolt Moneygall into life and they levelled in the 16th minute through Niall Maher, who turned home a scuffed shot from Tom Sheedy.
While the first half was an open and attacking affair, the second half was more cagey with neither team wanting to lose the point they had. Cillian Kennedy and James Deegan were working tirelessly up front for Rea’ and it was a moment of magic from the latter that nearly put the visitors ahead. Eoin Sheldon played a pass up to half-way that found Deegan. The striker settled himself before sending a beautiful half volley the length of the field which left Moneygall keeper Julian Bentancourt stranded only for it to hit the crossbar and away to safety.
When the Rearcross winner eventually did come, it most certainly was worth waiting for. From a Moneygall corner, Rearcross again went early to Deegan on halfway, who rolled his man before waiting for reinforcements. Right on cue, Patrick Dawson came like a train and took a lovely touch before unleashing an unstoppable effort beyond Bentancourt and in off the post to send the Rearcross crowd wild. A finish that you could watch over and over again and it was nothing more than Rearcross deserved.
Portumna Town 1-4 Shinrone United
A brace apiece for Simon Hayes and Rian McLoughlin got Shinrone United back on track away to Portumna Town on Sunday.
Shinrone went in front early on though McLoughlin and it would stay that way until the 70th minute when he struck again. Portumna striker Adam Fogarty got his first of the season seven minutes later but a late brace from new signing Simon Hayes ensured the Offaly side would leave Galway with the three points.
First Division
Knigh United bounced back from their first defeat with a 4-2 win away to Moneygall. A brace from Jack Lee threatened an upset for Moneygall either side of goals from Knigh’s Danny Butler. However, Romanian substitute Andrei Calugarita would have the last laugh, firing in two high-quality goals late on to send Knigh into second place in the table.
Borrisoleigh continued their perfect start to the season with a 3-1 win over Arra Rovers.
The game was scrappy in the first half hour before captain Sean Shanahan opened the scoring from edge of the box after a corner. Borris doubled their lead soon after when free-scoring Eddie Ryan headed in.
Arra were much improved from their recent drubbings at the hands of Borroway and Sallypark, and they gave the visitors a wake-up call after the restart when the hard-working Robert Seymour got a deserved goal on his debut for the senior team.
A nervy period followed for the league leaders, but a strong defensive display from Paul McCormack and Sean Shanahan ensured Borris didn’t falter. and when Jack Fitzgerald took advantage of a goalkeeping error for his fifth goal of the season, Borris could breathe easier.
Sean Ryan scored four and was simply unplayable form as Sallypark Odhrans beat Grange United 5-3 in an entertaining encounter on Sunday.
The visitors went two goals up early on and seemed to be coasting towards victory, but you can never rest on your laurels when Sean Ryan is about. Everything the 26-year-old touched turned to goals, and having lost eight games on the bounce, Sallypark suddenly have two wins on the trot! Aaron Reid netted the other Park goal, while Jamie Dooley, Jason McCormack and Stephen Carey netted for the Laois men.