Returning Grange secure Shield silverware

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Division 2 Shield Final

Newcomers Grange United were far too good for Thurles Town on Sunday in Killasmeestia to secure the Division 2 Shield on a 3-0 scoreline.

The crowd that came out for this match was well in excess of that which turned out for this season’s Premier Division Shield final, and they will not have been disappointed with the football on show.

The first half was entirely dominated by Grange who got the ball down and played; Trevor Abbott and Philip Tynan went close with well-executed shots, and the Laois side nearly scored from each of their first three corners, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag and the woodwork.

The pressure finally told in the 26th minute as Grange United’s most experienced player Jason McCormack, chased down a lost cause and earned himself his sixth goal in this season’s Shield campaign.

The key to success for Grange was limiting Tommy Brophy to less than scraps, the veteran goal ace was very isolated in attack and only had long balls to work with.

Thurles somehow only went in one down at the break, and ten minutes after the restart their hopes of a comeback increased when Grange’s Jamie Dooley was shown a straight red card, but in truth the home side never lost control of the game.

Mark Ryan’s side doubled their lead in the 78th minute when substitute Darren Drennan played in his captain Steven Finan for his second goal of the season. Drennan put the game to bed two minutes later, this time it was another substitute, Noel Delaney, who provided the assist.

All in all, it was a lovely day for the people behind the revival of Grange United, particularly chairperson Woody Fitzpatrick, who lived every kick of the ball on the day.

It is very hard to see any other result but comprehensive wins for Grange against most sides in Division 2 this season.

FAI Junior Cup

Borrisoleigh’s run in the FAI Junior Cup came to an end on Friday night under the lights, as Rearcross ran out 6-1 winners on home soil.

James Deegan opened the scoring for Rea in the fifteenth minute, before Patrick Dawson doubled the advantage with a free kick on the half hour.

A James Devaney goal after the break gave the young Borrisoleigh men hope of a comeback. However, Michael O’Gorman scored a diving header from a corner to restore Rea’s two-goal lead. Cillian Kennedy and Patrick Dawson added a goal each for the hosts before Michael O’Gorman rounded off the scoring.

Killavilla United and Ardcroney bowed out of the FAI Junior Cup with 5-1 losses to Cashel Town and St Michaels respectively.

Clodiagh Rangers advanced to the next round with a 3-2 away win over St Nicholas, with goals coming from a Davy Butler brace and a Brian Hanrahan strike.

Premier Division

BT Harps and Borroway Rovers shared the spoils following a six-goal thriller in Michael Fennell Park on Sunday.

Dean McCormack had Borroway ahead inside five minutes, but an Aaron Quinlan strike on fourteen minutes and a Ben Stapleton penalty on 28 minutes saw Harps go in 2-1 up at the break.

Ben Stapleton doubled the home side’s lead after half time and things went from bad to worse for Borroway when they were reduced to ten men in the 67th minute. However, Paul Gould’s charges rallied and found a route back into the game through a Jake Moore penalty in the 73rd minute. Seamus Woodlock completed the comeback on the 77th minute to ensure a share of the spoils.

Arra Rovers got back to domestic competition on Sunday and back to winning ways following a 2-0 win away to Ballymackey. Callan Cottrell opened the scoring in the 57th minute before Eoin Maloney secured the points in the final minute of normal time. Player of the match was Arra keeper Kevin O’Halloran, who made an important penalty save in the 67th minute.

Division 1

A strong Cloughjordan side travelled to Shinrone on Sunday for what should have been, at least on paper, an easy game considering how depleted Shinrone were on the day. But in the end Clough were lucky to get out of there with a 5-2 win.

A woeful start from Eoin Killackey’s side allowed Shinrone to storm into a two-goal lead. Philip Murphy opened the scoring for Shinrone in the eleventh minute, whilst Oisin Keeshan finished very smartly to double the host’s lead in the 35th minute. Kevin Kennedy had a few sniffs at goal without managing to find the net, but Clough were very relieved when the ageless striker pulled on back in the 40th minute to give them a platform to build on in the second half.

A couple of positional changes at half time saw Clough take control after the break. Matthew Moyles was causing havoc down Shinrone’s right side, and when he was deftly played in behind by Eoin Hogan in the 50th minute he got his head up well, before pulling the ball back to the edge of the box for Kevin Kennedy, who applied the exact finish to level the scores.

Clough were rampant now and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead. Eoin Hogan obliged on the hour with an accurate strike from range into the bottom corner. The silver fox completed his hat-trick ten minutes later, whilst Cian D’Arcy concluded the scoring in added time. Michael Cleary was very impressive for Shinrone in centre midfield, but the player of the match award must go to Eoin Hogan on this occasion, as he changed the game when moved to centre midfield at half time.

Portumna Town and Moneygall have built up a bit of a rivalry in recent years, and on Sunday these well-matched sides could not be separated and had to share the points following a 2-2 draw.

Portumna’s talisman, Adam Fogarty scored in the fifth & 20th minutes to send the home side seemingly on their way. But a goal from Thomas Sheedy in the 35th minute and another from Cian McLoughlin in the 40th minute saw the sides go in level at the break. There were plenty of yellow cards in the second half but no further goals.

Division 2

Killavilla United ‘B’ made the short trip to Moneygall ‘B’ on Friday night and came away with a 2-0 victory. The Roscrea men did not have it all their own way though; keeper Roddy Teehan made a brilliant penalty for Villa just before half time. Fionn Ryan struck early in second half to give ‘Villa the lead. Cillian Walsh must have been inspired by this because straight after the reset he hit a screamer to double the Killavilla advantage.

Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ went away to Rearcross ‘B’ on Saturday night and came away with an impressive 4-2 win. Jim Dwyer scored a brace for Clodiagh, whilst Oisin Treacy and Michael Quinlan chipped in with a goal each too. The experienced Kieran Devitt and Rob Harrington scored for Rea’.

Sallypark ‘B’ came from behind to win 3-2 away to Cloughjordan ‘B’. A Colm Williams goal from all of forty yards and another from Alex Wade had Cloughjordan 'B' 2-1 up at half time, the skilful veteran Jimmy Shanahan netting for the ‘Park.

A mistake in the Clough box resulted in a penalty in the 65th minute, which goalkeeper Brian McGahey dispatched to draw Sally level. Another mistake in the Clough back line saw Jack Hogan handed a clear run on goal in the 81st minute before scoring to give Sallypark the lead. It is a disappointing result for Paddy O’Farrell’s side considering the promising position they had gotten themselves into, but with players returning from injury in the coming weeks they should be able to start picking up some points.

Templetouhy were 3-1 winners at home to Ballymackey ‘B’ thanks to goals from Christy Moore, Brian Fanning and Eugene Davy. James Kenneally netted the visitor’s only goal.

Munster Youths Cup

BT Harps had an impressive 5-0 win away to Killavilla United in the Munster Youths Cup. Shane Monaghan and Cormac Foy netted a brace each for Harps, whilst Finan McAleese rounded off the scoring. Matthew Moore was the best for Killavilla, whilst Harps captain Cormac Foy was their player of the match.

YOUTHS PREMIER DIVISION

Ballymackey had an impressive 5-3 win away to Arra Rovers on Saturday. The away side were 3-1 up at half time. James Kenneally and David O’Brien netted a brace each for the Ballinree men, with Jack Doran also on the scoresheet. Matt Madden, Diarmuid O’Donoughue and Harry Hunt were all on target for the Portroe side. Diarmuid O’Donoughue was the best for Arra, whilst David O’Brien stood out amongst the rest for Ballymackey.