Ardcroney continue strong start

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

The NT&DL community were plunged into grief last week as news broke of the sudden and untimely passing of Cloughjordan FC player Chinenyenwa 'Chiboy' Nwabufoh during a training session in Moneygall on Thursday night.

Cloughjordan’s game away to Grange United on Sunday was postponed, while Moneygall FC cancelled all activity at their grounds over the weekend, and a minute’s silence was observed at all NT&DL games.

Premier Division

Ardcroney 3-1 Ballymackey

There were as many red cards as goals when Ballymackey travelled to Ardcroney on Sunday.

Ballymackey saw the majority of the ball in the opening quarter of an hour, but Ardcroney eventually came into the game with a particular emphasis on their left side of attack. Indeed, it was a cross from left winger Paul Molloy that was headed into the net by Ross Austin for the opening goal in the 20th minute.

The home side were inches away from doubling their advantage shortly after, but the referee deemed that the ball had been cleared off the line just in time on two separate occasions.

Then, the game was flipped on its head when Matthew Moyles was shown a straight red card for an incident off the ball. Ballymackey immediately came into the ascendancy, and it was Ardcroney’s turn to clear off the line, Alan D’Arcy throwing himself in front of the ball to help keep Kevin Shinnors’ sheet clean.

Colm Maher had threatened with runs in behind Sean Hayes after the sending off, and on the stroke of half-time, his presence at the back post resulted in Cathal Spillane firing in the equaliser.

Ardcroney came out with renewed vigour and deservedly restored their lead through Luke Dervan shortly after the restart. The captain tapped in at the back post after Paul Molloy added to a Jack Daly free kick.

A man up but a goal down, the odds were still favourable for Ballymackey However, that all changed when the visitors overcommitted on a corner and were reduced to ten men as last man Stephen Cantwell mis-timed his tackle on Ross Austin, whose powerful burst out of defence saw him clean through on goal before being taken down on the halfway line.

It was now ten versus ten but things went from bad to worse for the visitors when David O’Brien was shown a red card for the second off-the-ball incident of the game.

The situation deteriorated further when Brendan Hayes came out of his area to close down Paul Molloy, but the youngster managed to get a shot away, and the result was a handball; Ballymackey were now down to eight men.

The final nail in the coffin was driven in from two yards by Paul Molloy, who capped off a player-of-the-match display by forcing in a late Kieran Spain corner.

Next up for Ardcroney are Moneygall, a team that they dominated in multiple friendlies last season. A lot has changed since then; on paper, both teams are weaker in attack, especially given Jack O’Brien’s injury and Matthew Moyles’ presumed suspension. Having brought in a top-class keeper, Ardcroney are the slight favourites for this one, where defences are expected to come out on top in a tight affair.

Arra Rovers 0-2 BT Harps

BT Harps travelled to Portroe on Sunday to inflict a third consecutive league defeat on Arra Rovers.

First-half goals from Ben Stapleton and Jack Johnson were the extent of the scoring in Shouldice Park, as Kuba Beben kept a clean sheet in his first game since transferring from St Michael’s. The top-class Polish keeper has played for Evergreen too and will have had interest from further afield, but the 25-year-old has returned to his childhood club to strengthen Harps' spine further.

The breakthrough came on the half-hour mark, when quick reactions to a second ball saw Ben Stapleton with space to find the net and give BT a deserved lead. Harps kept the pressure on and were rewarded ten minutes later, Jack Johnson’s relentless pressing earning the 21-year-old his second goal of the season.

Arra tried to respond with direct long balls to Brian McEvoy, but the defensive partnership of Sean Paddy Guerins and Brian Roche showed great composure and leadership to deal with the danger.

BT came out strongly again after the break, with Szymon Popiela, Ryan Loughnane, and Cormac Foy all going close to adding a third. But alas, the second half finished scoreless.

Stapleton, Johnson, Cormac Foy and Sean Purcell all impressed for the title favourites on the day. More positive news for Harps was Brian Mitchell coming off the bench late on to make his debut for the Templemore club, marking his second change of scenery since his days at Nenagh Celtic.

Harps should make light work of a depleted Ballymackey side this weekend; however, we all would have said the same before they drew back in March, a result which ultimately cost Harps dearly.

Arra’s Jack Maloney was their top performer on the day. Dermot O’Halloran will be looking to end Arra’s nine-game losing streak in all competitions as soon as possible, but the fixtures are not getting any easier.

Holycross 1-5 Rearcross

Paul Carey’s impressive start to the league campaign continued in Glenbane on Sunday as Rearcross left with full points against Holycross.

There were two goals each for the athletic strike duo of James Deegan and Cillian Kennedy, while Paddy Dawson followed up his recent player of the match performance with a goal of his own. Young Clay Lohan netted the sole reply for Holycross.

Rea’s tails are up now, and they have a perfect opportunity to continue their positive start this weekend against a very fragile Arra Rovers outfit.

First Division

Portumna Town handed out a significant reality check to Borrisokane on Sunday, as newly appointed Mark O’Sullivan oversaw a 5-0 thrashing of the much-fancied visitors in his league debut.

O’Sullivan started four players under the age of 18 and brought three more off the bench. But it was one of the more experienced players, Ronan O’Meara, who got the onslaught started inside the opening quarter of an hour. Youth starters, Michael O’Sullivan and Jakub Wysocki, netted the following three goals before the two youth substitutes combined to cap off the five-star performance, Peter Duggan finding the net off an Ethan Dagg pass.

Borris were admittedly missing a few starters, with the lack of pace in the backline coming back to haunt them against the nippy Port frontline, which Adam Fogarty is yet to come back into.

Michael O’Sullivan up front was named the player of the match for his brace, whilst there were honourable mentions for two youngsters making their competitive debuts for the senior side: Oisin Gordon and Peter Duggan.

The youthful Portumna side were full value for the comprehensive scoreline, which sent shockwaves through the rest of the first division. And it looks likely that they could repeat the feat next week too, when Borroway Rovers make the hour-long trip to the border town.

Borrisoleigh picked up a surprisingly comprehensive- win over Borroway Rovers in Thurles on Sunday. The visitors found the net through an own goal, a Patrick O’Connell penalty, and strikes from Paddy McCormack and the player of the match - Sean Shanahan. In comparison, Borroway’s sole reply was from veteran striker Colm Breen.

Second Division

Ballymackey ‘B’ were knocked out of the Munster Junior Shield at the hands of St Nicolas on Sunday in Ballinree. Cathal Dervan and Paddy Touhey were on target for the hosts, whose best performers on the day were Tommy Hogan and Terry Delaney.

Shinrone United ‘B’ lost 5-1 to Peake Villa ‘B’ in the Munster Junior Shield, with Jack Dorman scoring the Offaly side’s only goal of the game. Despite defeat, Dorman impressed beside Lee Doran at centre back.

Birdhill had an expected league win away to BT Harps ‘B’. James Moloney, Sean Nolan and Lee Ryan all scored for the Birds, whereas Ciaran Barry fired one in for the hosts. Frank Troy at left back was the best for Birdhill.

Jack Sanders was the difference between one and three points when Knigh United travelled to Templetuohy. The Knigh player/manager scored twice from direct free kicks to help his side to a 4-2 win under the windmills. Lenny Raleigh and Uziel Fernandes were also on target for the visitors, while Jamie Bartlett and Sean Gleeson replied for the hosts.

It was honours even as eight goals were evenly shared between Rearcross ‘B’ and Sallypark ‘B’ on Friday. Rea’ found the net through a Michael Feehan brace and a goal apiece from Colm Nolan and Kieran Devitt. In contrast, the visitors responded through a Kieran Maher double and a goal each from Tom Delaney and Michael Carey.

Moneygall ‘B’ were 2-1 winners at home to ten-player Shinrone United ‘B’ on Thursday. The big talking point was John Pio Fitzpatrick’s straight red card for a tackle on Jayden Coughlan.