Harps hold nerve to progress in Munster Junior Cup

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Munster Junior Cup

Fairgreen Celtic 0- BT Harps (2-4 on pens)

BT Harps advanced to the last 16 of the Munster Junior Cup thanks to a heroic goalkeeping display from Kuba Beban, during 110 minutes of gritty cup football in Ennis on Sunday.

Beban stood up when needed most; keeping Harps alive in the tie with a giant one-on-one save at the end of normal time, and produced two unbelievable saves in the shootout to send North Tipp’s finest onwards in Munster.

Henry Newman had a full squad to pick from against the Clare Premier Division side, Fairgreen Celtic, and surprised a few of the travelling Templemore faithful by handing Dean McEnroe his first start of the season.

The opening stages were cagey as both sides felt each other out, but BT created the first real openings through Ryan Loughnane. The youngster using his pace to get in behind twice, only to be denied by the Fairgreen keeper on each occasion.

For the most part, defences were on top, and Kuba Beban was ready whenever BT’s was breached; the former St Michael's man produced a smart save to keep the game scoreless at half-time.

Harps came flying out of the traps in the second half and began to dictate the game thanks to the midfield trio of McEnroe, Cormac Foy, and Dylan Cody all getting on the ball and driving the team forward. But despite the pressure, the elusive breakthrough just wouldn’t come.

BT threw caution to the wind in search of a late winner, but it was Fairgreen who almost snatched it with two minutes to go; the home side breaking through one-on-one, only to find Kuba Beban standing tall to pull off a stunning point-blank save to keep BT aalive.

Extra-time followed the same pattern, with the NT&DL side dominant and pushing hard, wearing down the hosts, but ultimately unable to convert. And so, the dreaded penalty shootout was required.

Szymon Popiela, Dylan Cody, Eanna McBride and Jack Kennedy all finished their spot-kicks with composure. But the hero of the day was without doubt Kuba Beban, who produced two unbelievable saves in to send BT through to the last 16.

Lyndon Fairbrother, Sean Paddy Geurins, and Cormac Foy all put in massive shifts in what was an inspiring team performance built on dogged defending, courage, and work-rate across the pitch.

Harps manager Henry Newman has assembled a formidable backroom team this season for his assault on the Premier Division, and their work is paying off. The efforts of head coach Johnny Coleman and assistant coach Shane Purcell have resulted in a more professional Harps outfit than ever.

Harps will find out their round of 16 opponents on November 29th.

Premier Division

Sallypark Odhrans 1-3 Shinrone United

Shinrone United kept pace in the title race with a solid 3-1 win over Sallypark Odhrans on Friday night.

Sallypark were the hosts, opting to play the game under lights in Michael Fennell Park, Templemore.

A brace of assists from 45-year-old Derek McLoughlin inside the opening quarter of an hour saw Shinrone cruising from early on. Pacy winger Kian Fallon opened the scoring after just four minutes, and skipper Michael Cordial added a second ten minutes later.

Lee Doran had his hands full marking Sean Ryan and did a stellar job for much of the game, but the pacy striker did break free in the 40th minute to pull one back for the ‘Park. The game was not put to bed until the 86th minute when substitute Dan Bevans converted following a pass from his skipper

Recent signings from Birr, Rian Dempsey and Dean Cahill both impressed in midfield for the Offaly outfit, who have a potentially season-defining game this Sunday against BT Harps. A win on home soil would see Shinrone leapfrog the title favourites, whereas a loss would all but end their own hopes of finishing top of the pile.

Shinrone had a player sent off when these sides met in the shield final, and will need to keep eleven on the field if they are to have any hope of a favourable result. A low-scoring affair is on the cards, particularly given the form of Kuba Beban, but whatever this intriguing tie may lack for in goals, it will no doubt make up for in hard tackling and high-quality football.

First Division

The ten men of Borroway Rovers leapfrogged Clodiagh Rangers into second place when the sides met in Loughtagalla Park on Sunday.

With every other game in the division falling foul of the weather, Clodiagh had the opportunity to go top of the table, but instead came out the wrong side of a seven-goal thriller against their near neighbours.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring inside the opening minute when Michael John Carroll burst through the Borroway defence, before crossing for John Ryan to poke home his third of the season.

The home side came into the game through their wide men, Niall Dunne and Curtis Ryan, with the latter restoring parity in the tenth minute from the penalty spot. The Thurles side were in the ascendancy now and took a deserved lead in the 38th minute through player-manager David Bourke, who finished low after intercepting a back-pass.

Damien Walsac looked menacing for the hosts, whilst MJ Carroll was a threat at the other end. However, it was Borroway’s right back Martin Cussen, who got the next goal. Following on from a player of the match performance the week prior, Cussen made an enterprising run from defence before cutting inside and unleashing a snapshot, which put daylight between the neighbours at the interval.

Clodiagh came out of the traps fighting and pulled one back after just three minutes through Hughie Purcell. The 18-year-old coolly rounding the keeper after being played through by MJ Carroll. Purcell levelled the tie ten minutes later with his fifth goal of the season, John Ryan supplying the ammunition on this occasion.

Borroway were understandably starting to panic, but the player of the match Curtis Ryan alleviated their anxiety with a strike from all of thirty yards, which nestled neatly into the far corner of the net.

Borroway were reduced to ten men when player-manager David Bourke saw red for an incident off the ball. This acted as an invitation for Clodiagh to throw the kitchen sink at the visitors, and they duly obliged for the final quarter of an hour. Their efforts almost paid dividends; Clodiagh thought they had scored an equaliser in injury time, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

Having gone unbeaten in their opening five league games, Clodiagh have now lost two on the bounce. There is, however, reprieve on the horizon for Adrian Cooke’s side; they should have more than enough to overcome Cloughjordan in Drombane this Sunday.

43-year-old Paraic Fogarty continues to impress for Borroway at centre half. The tight pitch in Thurles definitely suits his style of play in the swansong of his career; indeed, he will likely thrive in the even narrower conditions of Borrisoleigh this Sunday. However, Borroway must be wary of the massive threat that Jerry Kelly offers if given space in behind to run into. The absence of David Bourke might be enough to see Borrisoleigh produce a shock result on home soil and distance themselves from relegation.

Second Division

Knigh United may have the second division title fairly well under wraps already, but the race for promotion remains neck and neck between Moneygall ‘B’ and Birdhill.

The Birds scored seven unanswered goals away to Templetuohy on Sunday. Conor Nolan and Sean Wrynn had Anthony Floyd’s charges in front at the interval, and a second-half brace from Jack Delahunty and further goals from Sean Wrynn, Matt O’Flaherty, and Eric Bates ensured a comprehensive victory for Birdhill for whom Sean Nolan was best in the middle of the park.

Soft conditions underfoot in Shinrone did not stop Moneygall from coming out the right side of a five-goal battle on Friday night. The visitors took a deserved lead in the 24th minute, Jack Lee scoring direct from a free kick.

Shinrone drew level against the run of play on the stroke of half-time, Dan Doughan slotting home after the visitors failed to deal with a set-piece.

Parity was short-lived however as Moneygall’s Dara Lee won possession from tip-off at the start of the second half, the ball was eventually worked through for Tom Sheedy to score. Anthony Devereux was introduced shortly after, and he made quick work of putting daylight between the sides; the Moneygall skipper slotting home off the back of a Jack Lee cross for 3-1.

Moneygall had numerous chances to add to their tally, but a late set-piece saw Shinrone pull get a consolation goal. Dave Corbett impressed in goal for Moneygall, but the player of the match was Dara Lee.