Harps all-weather to the rescue
North Tipperary and District League Review
By Gary Culbert
The importance of BT Harps’ full-size all-weather pitch, and indeed its value to the region as a whole, was brought into sharp focus last weekend in the NT&DL.
Of the 14 fixtures that were scheduled, only five games went ahead, with three being held on the new top-of-the-range facility in Michael Fennell Park, Templemore.
In years gone by, there was a certain snobbery about playing on artificial surfaces; it was banded around that these pitches were bad for your knees, hard on your feet, or even that they changed the way football is played. But opinion has well and truly changed, nearly everyone accepts now that these pitches are essential for local soccer to grow, or even survive, in the current structure of winter leagues.
Not only have BT Harps achieved something exceptional by building the infrastructure, but they’ve also shown other clubs that it is possible to deliver a project of this scale. They have broken a glass ceiling of sorts, and now others can follow suit. Indeed, there are rumours that Moneygall are looking into the possibility of converting their main pitch to an artificial surface, in order to help with increasing member numbers and adverse weather conditions.
Indeed, next weekend on the BT astro there will be games at: 10.00am, 11:30am, 1.00pm, 2.30pm, 4.00pm, 5.30pm & 7.00pm.
KEVIN FOGARTY Tipperary Cup
Knigh United 4-1 Shinrone United ‘A’
Knigh United have flown under the radar, but the element of surprise is well and truly gone following a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Shinrone United 'A' in the first round of the Tipperary Cup in Templemore on Sunday.
For anyone unfamiliar with the history of some of these Knigh players, a second division team overturning a premier division title challenger would appear, at least on the surface, to be a big cup upset. However, this was not a case of a plucky side securing a snatch and grab win; no, this was a professional outfit with proven top tier standard players across the pitch: Ronan Ducie Hogan, Alan Flynn, Jack Sanders, Kieran Ryan and Damien Corcoran all played premier division soccer with Sallypark Odhrans last season; while Darren Moran, James O'Meara and David O'Brien lined out for Ardcroney, Arra Rovers and Ballymackey respectively. Last but not least, John O'Meara played for Nenagh AFC in the Limerick League last season.
Another key ingredient, and one which swung this game even more in Knigh’s favour, was the venue: BT Harps' astro. Shinrone’s struggles on a big pitch had previously been highlighted, and those concerns reared their head on the vast surface in Templemore.
This pitch suited the Knigh players, especially skipper Darren Moran. The big striker is most dangerous with space to run into; he harassed and bullied the Shinrone backs from the first minute; indeed, the power, stamina, and pace of this Knigh team was evident in both their swift counter-attacks and their constant pressure on the ball when defending.
Knigh started fast, testing goalkeeper Ray Cordial on multiple occasions before deservedly opening the scoring on the quarter-hour; Moran first on the scene when a Jack Sanders strike from outside the box proved too hot to handle by the stand-in keeper.
From here, Billy Seymour hit the post after Sanders left Keith McEvoy for dead down the left, and the same upright was struck shortly after by Sanders himself. During this period, Cordial made an instinctive low save with his feet to keep the deficit to a minimum. The truth is that it could have been three or four by the time Shinrone got going with Scott Kelly tapping in for 1-1 at the break.
However, Knigh found another gear in the second half, with Darren Moran, Jack Sanders, Ronan Ducie Hogan, John O'Meara, and Alan Flynn all impressing in a display of relentless hard work in attack and defence.
Darren Moran restored his side’s lead with a well-taken, controlled volley finish at the start of the half. Ronan Ducie Hogan was the provider, and on the hour, he put daylight between the sides when Shinrone were caught playing out from the back. Billy Seymour added to his assist for the third goal by killing the tie with Knigh’s fourth.
The momentum of this new team was reflected in the number of Knigh fans that made the journey to Templemore to stand in the cold mist; they outnumbered the Shinrone support.
For years, Knigh's underage system has purred, producing top players in both girls’ and boys’ soccer. But when the boys finished with the Knigh youths’ team, there was never a senior team there to accommodate them, which resulted in players giving up soccer or moving elsewhere. Their youth teams were always competitive, but the group of players as a whole would always fail to make that step up to ultimately forming a senior team.
In truth, it is a big step up for any 18-year-old to come into the second division, never mind a whole team doing it at once and with no senior players to help guide them along. Knigh United’s new senior team are a huge addition to the NT&DL, and the big winner here is local football.
For Shinrone United, it’s a case of déjà vu: they were knocked out in the first round of the Tipp Cup last season by Sallypark Odhrans 'B'. The Offaly side could have said no to the venue change and played the match next week in Shinrone, and the truth is, it would have worked against many of Knigh's strengths, but hindsight is 20/20, of course.
Take nothing away from Knigh though, they were great value for the 4-1 win and will be favourites this against first division Borroway Rovers. Indeed, the odds have significantly shortened on a Knigh Tipp Cup win - with home ties all the way to the final, anything is possible if this group stick together.
Cloughjordan ‘B’ 0-2 Moneygall ‘A’
Cloughjordan ‘B’ proved a tougher nut to crack than Moneygall ‘A’ could ever have imagined before they emerged as winner in Moneygall on Sunday.
The Clough centre half pairing of Kevin Quinlan and Seamus Williams reeled in the years to deny Moneygall time and time again.
Even the most optimistic Clough supporter could not have envisaged holding the Tipp Cup holders scoreless for over an hour but ultimately, there was to be no giant killing; in the end, finishing 2-0 to the hosts thanks to a quick-fire double in the 65th minute.
Young referee Cormac Sullivan played his part in producing this rip-roaring classic, expertly allowing the game to breathe, which resulted in the difference in divisions not being as crystal clear as most expected, where the big takeaway was the mutual respect gained between these two full-blooded sides.
Cloughjordan’s Kevin Quinlan was the player of the match, with Moneygall’s Conor Longe receiving an honourable mention for the opener and his overall performance up front.
This was a very good run out for Moneygall, a tough test that will stand to them in the coming weeks as they look to retain the Kevin Fogarty Tipperary Cup. Credit to Moneygall for facilitating a switch of venue after Clough's pitch failed inspections.
In the only other tie played last weekend, BT Harps ‘B’ defeated Birdhill 2-1.
Premier Division
Top of the table Ardcroney continue to keep the chasing pack honest with a 3-1 home win over Arra Rovers.
Luke Dervan headed in the opener for the home side from a Matthew Moyles corner after twenty minutes. The visitors replied through Jack O’Brien shortly after, with what turned out to be one of their only shots on goal in the entire game.
One big positive for Ardcroney is that the goal drought for their front three was ended when Thomas Cleary headed in the second from a corner. They sealed the win on the hour mark, as Jack Daly converted a penalty past stand-in keeper Aaron Gleeson.
Youths Cup
It was another classic when the two heavyweights of youth soccer met on Saturday as Borrisokane came out the right side of a nine-goal thriller with BT Harps, after playing a ten goal thriller in the league back in October.
Best for Borris were Ryan Donnelly up front; Savva Rashkevich on the wing; Joe Murphy, Adam Guest, Luke Morgan and Darragh O’Brien in defence.
The top performers for Harps were Jack Bevens in defence, Tom Collier and Jack Duggan in the middle of the park, Finbarr Breathnach on the wing and Ryan Loughnane up top.
This was the only youth’s game to go ahead on Saturday, and it was only possible thanks to the amazing facilities that BT Harps have brought to the NT&DL.