Killavilla just about stay in title hunt
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
Premier Division
Rearcross 1-2 Killavilla United
Killavilla United just about stayed in the title race bargain by beating Rearcross 2-1 away on Sunday, as all eyes turn once again to Loughtagalla Park next Sunday, where top of the table Borroway Rovers play host to Rearcross in a must-win game.
It was scoreless at the break and things went from bad to worse for Villa when James Deegan opened the scoring for Rea’ in the 49th minute. Killavilla replied in the 69th minute through Josh Wynne, and Ruari Murphy notched the winner eleven minutes later against the run of play.
It was a tough game in difficult conditions as Killavilla grinded it out in the end though despite being under the cosh from the running power of James Deegan for large spells. With home games to come against Ardcroney, Ballymackey, Clodiagh Rangers and Rearcross; and one away game against Arra Rovers, the title is in Killavilla’s hands.
Division 1
Portumna Town have been one of the most dangerous attacking outfits in division one this season, and Shinrone saw this first hand on Sunday when the Galway men put eleven goals past the Offaly outfit to managed two themselves.
Adam Fogarty helped himself to a double hat-trick, firing in three goals in either half. Ciaran Haugh also netted a brace for Dave Flaherty & Dave Madden’s charges, whilst Jakob Wysocki, Oisin O’Sullivan and Leon Tierney, all helped themselves to a goal apiece.
Portumna will face Shinrone one more time this season in the Barry Cup semi-final, with the winner booking a place in the final against Sallypark.
Turning back to matters in the league, the Holycross players and management will be donning any yellow and blue attire they can get their hands on for next Sunday’s meeting of Sallypark and Portumna Town, a match that will decide the outcome of the title.
A Sallypark win sees the league silverware calling Young’s of Latteragh ‘home’ for the next year, whilst a Portumna win would see an NT&DL delegate making a trip to Glenbane for a trophy presentation to Holycross, whereas the unlikely event of a draw would force a title play-off between Holycross and Sallypark.
Division 2
Ballymackey ‘B’ recorded a 3-1 at home to Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ on Sunday. The sides were scoreless at the break, before the Ballinree men found the net through a brace of Shane Gibbons penalties and a strike from Morgan Connolly, whilst Mikey Griffen netted the visitors sole reply.
Division 2A
Sallypark ‘B’ continue to look good in division 2A on Sunday they dispatched Templetouhy with four unanswered goals on home turf. David Young had ‘The Park’ 2-0 up at the break, before the skilful Jimmy Shanahan added a third, and Brian McGahey rounded off the scoring.
Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup
In a thrilling encounter, Arra Rovers overcame Grange United 3-1 in what was a highly anticipated Tipperary Cup quarter final on Sunday.
Playing last year's Premier League champions marked a significant occasion for Grange United, who returned to competitive football this year after a hiatus spanning back to the mid-1980s, and currently sit comfortably at the top of division 2.
Despite recent adverse weather conditions, the pitch in Killasmeestia stood in remarkable condition, setting the stage for an intense battle between two formidable sides. Grange United boasted a well-rounded squad, blending youth and experience, but they were missing a few crucial first team players like Jason McCormack, who is facing a spell on sideline due to injury.
Arra Rovers showcased their possession-based style throughout, contrasting with Grange's swift counter-attacking approach.
The match commenced with a flurry of action as Grange launched multiple attacks. The home side went closest when a rapid attack down the right wing narrowly missed the mark, Philip Tynan's shot grazing the top of the crossbar.
However, it was Arra Rovers who seized the early advantage, dominating possession and finding the back of the net in the tenth minute through Stephen Kennedy's opportunistic strike from a Cathal O’Brien corner.
Grange will have felt hard done by to concede from the first set-piece of the game but quickly responded, capitalizing on a rare misjudgement from Arra's young goalkeeper, Luke Conneally, which opened the door for Darren Drennan to level in the 20th minute.
Nevertheless, Arra Rovers reclaimed the lead just before half time with a display of exquisite skill from Chris Riordan, showcasing his prowess by chipping the ball over Grange's defence before unleashing an unstoppable shot from close range. Grange arguably had the better of the chances in the first half but went in a goal down.
As the second half unfolded the game took on a more open nature, presenting opportunities for both sides. Luke Conneally's commanding presence in goal proved pivotal for Arra Rovers, as last year’s youth cup winning captain thwarted numerous attempts from Grange's attacking contingent.
Arra too had plenty of chances to wrap up the tie and managed to put the ball into the Grange net on four separate occasions only for play to be pulled back for offside. However, the Portroe side’s persistence paid off in the dying moments of the game when young substitute, Harry Hunt capitalized on a fortuitous rebound from the post to secure a decisive victory for Arra Rovers. The goal will go down as a mixture of good fortune and an error from Grange's goalkeeper, Michael Moore.
Grange United's captain, Brian Bowe led by example in the midfield while the attacking duo of Jones and Drennan posed a constant threat, yet they were effectively contained by Arra Rovers' resilient defence.
Notably, Arra Rovers midfield was strengthened by the return of Kevin O’Halloran, but it was the industrious Chris O’Riordan that was hailed as the player of the match for his impactful performance in the Arra attack.
Throughout the match emotions ran high, resulting in multiple altercations that were adeptly managed by referee Derek Halpin. With this victory Arra Rovers march on to the Tipperary Cup semi-final, but the competitive showing from Grange suggests it may not be long before these sides meet again.
First Division Barry Cup
Sallypark hosted Moneygall in the Barry Cup semi-final on Sunday in what was the fourth meeting between the teams this season, with the result once again going the way of Sallypark, this time on a 4-1 scoreline to secure their third league cup final appearance on the bounce.
The home side started the brightest on what was a soggy pitch in Latteragh and piled on the pressure early doors. However, the visitors nicked the opening goal on thirteen minutes, against the run of play, when Sallypark keeper David Kinane came to collect a long ball only to collide with the onrushing Moneygall striker Niall Maher. The ball squirmed out of the keeper’s clutches before falling kindly to Sean Moroney, who curled it into the empty net.
Sallypark rallied and put on the pressure and were rewarded on nineteen minutes when a corner was headed back across the box by Brian McGee before being brilliantly finished by Alan Flynn to level proceedings. Sallypark upped the pressure straight from the restart and were rewarded with a penalty when Brian Duffy was brought down after a mazy giggling run. Jack Saunders stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot to give the home side the lead.
Sallypark did not take the foot off the gas and were rewarded gain in the 32nd minute when Jack Saunders rifled in a free kick from thirty yards out, to see Sallypark 3-1 up at the break.
There wasn’t much football to be played in the opening half hour of the second half as the weather played havoc and the pitch deteriorated. Moneygall managed a few decent efforts on goal, producing some good saves from David Kinane, but Sallypark sealed the win on 77 minutes when a beautiful pass from Bryan McGee found Alan Flynn, who slotted to the roof of the net for his second goal.
Credit must go to Billy Hayes’s young Moneygall team, they did not drop the heads and kept fighting until the final whistle. All in all, it was a very good performance from Sallypark who are looking to retain the Barry Cup. Jack Saunders and Eoin Ryan were solid in central defence, whilst Christopher ‘Niddy’ Ryan was in excellent form in midfield, the former Nenagh Celtic man getting ninety minutes for the first time this season after having to make do with substitute appearances until now.
Bryan McGee and Daniel Keogh also impressed in midfield, but considering he scored twice and also covered every blade of grass for Sallypark, the player of the match was Alan Flynn.