Shinrone subs steal the show in 7-goal thriller

North Tipperary and District League Review

By Gary Culbert

And then there were three... Ardcroney and Rearcross were effectively knocked out of the title race following their respective defeats away from home in high-scoring thrillers.

Premier Division

Shinrone United 4-3 Rearcross

Rearcross have never and will never be guilty of throwing in the towel, but ultimately it was Shinrone United’s second half substitutes who stole the show and all three points in this hotly contested thriller on Sunday.

The tackles were fierce but fair on the stodgy surface at Shinrone Community Centre, in a match that required the cool head of referee Robbie Nevin.

Chances were few and far between in the early going, so it was no surprise when the scoring was opened from a set-piece; the impressive James Deegan latching onto a set-piece from the halfway line which was whipped in by Paddy Dawson.

Cathal Kennedy pulled off two big one-on-one saves as Shinrone upped the ante, but there was nothing the captain could do to stop Paul Lake taking the ball around him in the 40th minute. Lone striker Coley Cleary providing the assist after dropping deep to receive the ball, before playing the lightning quick wide forward in behind for a deserved equaliser.

Both sides struggled to put any real patterns of passing play together, until Derek McLoughlin was introduced from the bench on the hour mark. The 45-year-old got on the end of a cross from his son Riain just two minutes later, converting from three yards out with his first touch of the game.

Rea’ hit back straight away when a looping cross from the end-line by substitute Darragh Carr was parried by Jason Ryan, only as far as substitute Eoghan Kavanagh, who didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

At this stage, the match was end to end and the next goal was going to be crucial. Shinrone now had someone on the pitch with the intelligence to keep things simple, and the composure to pick a pass. Both attributes were evident in the crucial fifth goal, which was a father-son affair once more as Derek repaid Riann with a defence splitting pass. The younger McLoughlin taking the ball around the onrushing Cathal Kennedy to finish from a tight angle.

The goal all came from the simplest of one-two passes between the marauding Michael Cordial up from centre half and the senior McLoughlin, indeed that trademark run from the back is something that Cordial should consider implementing more often, especially given the success it has had down through the years.

Rea’ had another huge chance to draw level from yet another cross, but it would be another Shinrone substitute who would have the final say: DJ McLoughlin (no relation) putting daylight between the sides after some industrious work from Riann McLoughlin and Scott Kelly.

Rearcross pulled one back with the last kick of the game, but it was too little too late for the Slieve Felim side, who will turn their attention to the cups now.

Brian Nolan did well for Rea’ at left back when tasked with the impossible job of marking Paul Lake, whilst Paul Nolan was up for the fight in the heart of the midfield. Riann McLoughlin impressed for Shinrone, but the player of the match was his father, Derek, whose goal and assist from a 30-minute cameo were the difference.

Ballymackey 3-2 Ardcroney

Free-scoring Ballymackey upset top of the table Ardcroney in Ballinree on Sunday.

The Bally breakthrough arrived on the half hour when Colm Maher brought controlled a Brendan Hayes kick-out before releasing his opposite winger Cian Galvin, in behind the Ardcroney defence to finish at the second time of asking.

The footwork of Ballymackey’s dynamic front pairing, James Kenneally and Aidan White, continued to trouble the visitors, with the latter doubling the host’s lead from the penalty spot shortly after the opener. The penalty won by White himself when the onrushing goalkeeper brought him down just inside the box.

Ballymackey picked up where they left off in the second half, with Galvin becoming increasingly influential down the right wing. On 65 minutes, the 23-year-old nipped passed his 45-year-old marker, Dave Slattery, to reach the end-line and deliver a pinpoint cross for White to finish and grab his second, and his ninth of the season.

The three-goal cushion appeared to take a little edge off Ballymackey’s intensity and Ardcroney were given renewed hope when Jack Daly pulled one back from a corner. A further cross from a free kick reduced the deficit to the minimum, but the home side reorganised well and saw out the game professionally to claim a well-earned victory.

Adam Steed was outstanding in the centre of midfield for the hardworking Ballymackey side, whilst White and Kenneally showcased their quality up front throughout. Ballymackey’s main attacking threat came from the wide areas, where Galvin and Maher were consistently difficult to contain.

The wait for a goal from the Ardcroney front three goes on, whereas Aiden White continued his free-scoring form with two of his own. Indeed, the vast differences in the identity of these two teams was highlighted in this game.

Ardcroney goalkeeper Kevin Shinnors made two excellent saves early on to deny the lively Colm Maher, who caused constant problems cutting in from the left wing, and he also had to use every inch of his commanding height to tip a superb Cathal Delaney drive over the bar.

First Division

The biggest shock of the weekend across all three divisions came in Thurles, where a hat-trick from player/manager David Bourke and a brace from veteran Pauric Fogarty saw Borroway Rovers beat promotion hopefuls Borrisoleigh 5-0.

Borrisoleigh started slowly, coming up against a brick wall in central midfield, where Pauric Fogarty was being deployed further up the pitch than his usual centre half berth.

Borroway were getting lots of joy down the wings though Davy Mahoney and Damo Walczak, and it was the latter who assisted David Bourke for his first goal on the half hour mark. Davy Mahony and Patrick O’Connell went close for either side, but alas it remained 1-0 at the interval.

Borris suffered a killer blow when the home side doubled their advantage immediately after the start of the second half; Bourke on target again after some fine link-up play out wide between Walczak and Fogarty.

The wings were proving fruitful for Borroway and this time it was left winger Davy Mahony who crossed for Fogarty to finish into the bottom corner. Fogarty was on target again, this time heading in a David Bourke free kick. Bourke completed his hat-trick with the last kick of the game following a long ball from Colm Breen.

Despite Bourke’s hat-trick, it was the arial dominance of 43-year-old Pauric Fogarty that earned the player of the match plaudits.

Borrisoleigh still have promotion in their sights, but it is now apparent that they will need their star players, Jerry Kelly and JD Devaney, in the team to achieve that goal.

Second Division

Knigh United stayed unbeaten thanks to a 2-0 win away to fourth placed Birdhill on Sunday.

Knigh started quickly and almost took an immediate lead from a corner kick. Knigh got their opener soon after when a Shane Gleeson cross was left by James Quigley for the onrushing player/manager Jack Sanders to finish into the top corner. Knigh continued to turn the screw and could’ve been two or three up at the break.

Birdhill started well in the second half and pressed high for the opening five minutes, however, Knigh dealt the killer blow soon after to quell any comeback; Billy Seymour with a composed finish following a smart through ball.

Knigh kicked on from here and continued to dominate the remainder of the game but couldn’t find a third goal. Keith Kelly marshalled the Knigh defence from the goals sweeping up well, whilst there were also solid contributions from Davy O’Brien in midfield and Jack Sanders on the right wing.

Munster Junior Cup

BT Harps were away to Villa FC of Waterford in the last 16 of the Munster Junior Cup on Sunday.

It was a fantastic achievement to get this far, but the NT&DL side came up against a team that is going to be playing in the third tier of the League of Ireland as they went down 6-0.

Henry Newman’s side were only two down at half time and were unlucky to see Jack Kennedy’s effort hit the post. Ultimately, the favourites to lift the trophy extended their lead in the second half while keeping the Tipp men at bay.

The away supporters outnumbered the home sides fans, a testament to the buy in from the community to the good work that BT Harps are doing for the town of Templemore and surrounding areas.