Villa defeat opens up title race
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
PREMIER DIVISION
Ardcroney 1-0 Killavilla United
The NT&DL Premier Division title race was blown wide open on Sunday when Killavilla United fell to a 1-0 defeat in Ardcroney.
Having been defeated by bottom side Clodiagh Rangers the week before, everyone expected Ardcroney to come up short at home against the title favourites, ‘Villa. However, this was far from a walk in the park for the Roscrea outfit.
It was a physical game with few clear cut chances throughout. Killavilla dominated possession in the first half but poor finishing in front of goal prevented them from taking the lead. Ardcroney’s best chance came on the stroke of half time as a free kick delivered into the box, fell kindly to Shane Doran who had two attempts to score, but the Killavilla goalkeeper produced two fine saves to keep it level.
Once again, the second half was well-contested in the midfield in a tough and physical game from Jack Daly and Alan Darcy, the latter absolutely rising to the occasion and relishing the physical battle that David McNamara offered. Killavilla fashioned a number of fine opportunities down the left on the hour mark, but Andrew Hayes was always in the right place at the right time to deny Micky Ryan at the back post.
Ardcroney struck the only goal of the game in the 75th minute and it was no more than they deserved. The hosts won a free-kick on the half-way line in a central position which Dylan Armstrong sliced in towards Jamie Ryan, who rose highest from a stationary jump and expertly turned the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Ardcroney withstood the chaotic attempt that Killavilla made to get back into the game, holding out to put them right back into the title conversation. Ardcroney are away to Arra Rovers next Sunday, a game which will be hotly contested given past meetings and current league positions.
Ballymackey 1-2 BT Harps
BT Harps travelled to Ballymackey on Sunday and continued their title charge with a nervy 2-1 win.
It was the visitors first game since the Christmas break and it showed, they were very rusty but did manage to take the lead on the half hour through a JJ McLoughin strike.
Harps were the better team but with only a goal in it, Ballymackey had something to play for, and they managed to pull level in the 65th minute through Adam Hall.
This spurred on the visitors, and they went in search of a winner. With time running out BT’s pressure paid off when a cracker of a free-kick from Stevie Nolan flew into the net from outside the box.
Rearcross 1-2 Arra Rovers
Holders Arra Rovers kept their own title aspirations alive with a 2-1 win away to Rearcross on Sunday.
The home side started brightly and dominated for the majority of the opening twenty minutes, but Arra did enjoy spells of possession, the best of which culminated in them striking the crossbar from a free kick in the sixth minute. Rearcross attacked mostly down the right wing, but the final pass was proving elusive for the home side, whilst Kevin O'Halloran in the Arra goal dealt comfortably with anything remotely threatening.
Similarly, Arra’s final pass was also not reaching its intended target, thus it was scoreless at the break, which was a fair reflection on the half.
Rearcross started strongly after the break and took the lead in the 49th minute through Patrick Dawson, who finished beautifully after great work from James Rochford.
Unfortunately for the home side, this was just the spark the visitors needed to ignite an immediate response, as Diarmuid O'Donoghue headed the ball into the Rearcross net just four minutes later. The goal came following a perfectly lofted ball from attacking full back Jack Maloney.
The champions doubled their tally just three minutes later through Callan Cotterell, the pacy striker slamming home a powerful effort from the edge of the box after good approach play down the left wing from Conor Ryan.
Arra found themselves pretty much in control after this despite Rearcross pushing hard to get back on level terms, but O'Halloran in the Arra goal dealt with their shots capably.
To their credit, Rearcross maintained the chase to the end, with a free kick and corner in the final minutes which made for a nail-biting finish, but Arra Rovers held firm and secured a valuable three points on the road, which will set them up for a determined second half to the season.
John Sheedy Jr and Jack Maloney were excellent throughout for Arra in the full back positions, whilst seventeen-year-old Diarmuid O'Donoghue was again exceptional on the wing, however, the player of the match was Jack Maloney for his performance at both ends of the field.
Clodiagh Rangers 2-3 Borroway Rovers
An injury-ridden Borroway Rovers outfit went away to Drombane on Sunday and won 3-2 to stifle the Clodiagh Rangers revival.
The hosts took the lead against the run of play through Michael John Carroll, but Paul Gould’s side kept plugging away and managed to draw level before the break courtesy of a David Bourke strike in the 40th minute.
Both teams went for it in the second half and created plenty of chances, but neither side converted until Borroway’s David Bourke ran onto a loose ball and chipped Adrian Cooke, the ball landing neatly into the bottom left corner.
The visitors caught Clodiagh for a third goal after some fine play from Dean McCormack down the left wing saw him break though and slot home. Clodiagh rallied and pulled one back through David Butler, but the Borroway backs held on for valuable three points in this tightly contested title race.
A draw probably would have been the fairest result, but Borroway were more clinical in front of goal than Clodiagh and will be delighted with the result as they are heavily depleted with injuries at moment. There were good performances from Borroway’s Tom Shorley, Jack Derby, Gary Dunne, and Aaron Cullen, but the player of the match was easily David Bourke.
DIVISION 1
Sallypark won 7-1 against relegation-threatened Birdhill in Latteragh on Sunday.
The hosts raced into a two-goal in the opening ten minutes, the first coming after a quick throw-in from Jack Sanders who put Craig Connolly through with the striker making no mistake to score his first of four on the day. Connolly’s second came after Stephen Flynn raced in behind the defence before squaring the ball for his cousin to slot into the bottom corner.
Birdhill got a foot on the ball then and played some nice football. They pulled a goal back after a great run by their right back, who passed the ball out to the wing, from where a cross was put in which came off the outstretched foot of the Sallypark defender and ricocheted into the bottom corner. This woke Sallypark up and they took control of the game once more. They had a number of chances ruled out for offside but eventually got the third goal after some good build-up play between Brian Mitchell and Jack Sanders, the latter squaring for Craig Connolly to complete his hat-trick.
Sallypark came out after half time fired up and they were 5-1 up after 59 minutes, Jack Sanders and Brian Mitchell doing the damage with two good strikes. Both teams made a number of changes, and the game went a bit dead until Craig Connolly stepped in and got his fourth in the 65th minute, a calm lob from outside the box. Danny O’Donoghue got the final goal of the game after he took the ball from the Birdhill defender and slotted it past the keeper.
Bryan McGee, Brian Duffy, and Jack Sanders were well on top on midfield for Sallypark, but player of the match was Craig Connolly for his four-timer.
Portumna Town destroyed Cloughjordan 7-2 on Sunday in a statement win which solidifies their promotion aspirations. Jacub Wysoki scored in the second & 85th minutes, Neil Connelly in the 15th & 55th, David Fogarty in the 60th & 67th with Alan O’Meara completing the scoring. Cloughjordan got a reply in either half through Paidi Williams, but the reality is that this was a sobering result for a side with promotion aspirations.
DIVISION 2
Grange United's first game of 2024 saw them sweep aside Cloughjordan B's in emphatic fashion, 8-2.
Jason McCormack went down in the box on four minutes and Brian Bowe netted the penalty which set the wheels in motion for a game of goals. Emmet Jones added Grange United's second on 37 minutes and Bowe grabbed his brace just before the half time whistle with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box.
The goal of the game came immediately after the restart; Jamie Dooley spotted Scott Hodgins off his line and stuck a thunderous shot from all of forty yards, to the delight of the local crowd. Jason McCormack kept his fine form going with his most recent club, this time netting a wonderful effort from the edge of the box on 51 minutes after some great team play. Steven Finan added Grange's sixth with Emmet Jones grabbing his second of the game not long after. Clough responded with a well-taken goal through substitute Shane Hodgins.
Debutant and former Thurles Town goal machine, Tommy Brophy got himself on the score sheet on 75 minutes after collecting a wonderful through pass from Gearoid Gaughan and cooly slotting home after rounding the Cloughjordan keeper. The visitors pulled another one back thanks to a Richard King penalty; however, Grange were always in control of the game and kept their unbeaten run going with ease.
Sallypark ‘B’ were emphatic 6-0 winners over Thurles Town in Latteragh on Sunday. Jack Hogan scored three while Tom Delaney netted a penalty. Kieran Maher also scored in the first half with Brian Rohan in the second half of a game which end with three red cards.
YOUTHS
In the league, Killavilla United won 2-1 at home to BT Harps on Saturday in a game which was hotly contested. Cormac Foy scored for BT, whilst their best player was Ryan Loughnane. Ryan O’Callaghan was best for the Roscrea men; it was his goal and another from young Eoghan McLoughlin which ensured the points stayed put in Roscrea.
Arra Rovers were 6-2 winners away to Holycross on Saturday. Player of the match John Grace scored a hat-trick, whilst Joe O’Dwyer netted a brace, and Luke Power also got in on the act.