North Tipp's in League of Ireland Review

By Gary Culbert

Senior Men

Ballina’s Jack Brady continued his fine form for Treaty United with a crucial save against Athlone Town at the Markets Field on Friday night. Treaty went on to record a shock win against second place Athlone thanks to two second half goals. Portumna native Conor Barry is part of the Athlone coaching team.

Senior Women

Treaty United picked up their first win of the league campaign at the second time of asking on Saturday. Ballymackey’s Clodagh Daly played the entire game as they strode to a 3-0 win over Waterford.

Isabel Ryan started for Athlone Town on matchday one and provided an assist as the defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw. On Saturday, the Birr native came off the bench as Athlone won 1-0 at home to DLR Waves.

A brace of Ceola Bergin penalties saw Galway United maintain their perfect start to the league campaign with a 2-1 win at home to Sligo Rovers

16-year-old Molly Kirwan came off the bench in both of Wexford’s league games so far, both of which ended in draws.

Under 20 Men

Brody Lee helped himself to a goal and an assist as Cork City ran out 3-0 winners over Kerry on Saturday.

Lee has been named in Republic of Ireland Under-19 squad for the upcoming 2027 Euro Championships qualifiers.

Under the new UEFA format, teams qualify for the Euros through a three-round process spread across two seasons. The boys in green travel are in Scotland this week for round 1. First up, on Wednesday (today), Ireland take on Poland in Kirkintilloch Community Sports Complex, Glasgow at 11am. This Saturday, Ireland face hosts Scotland in the same venue at 3.30pm. Lastly, on Tuesday, March 31st, Ireland meet Italy, once again in the Kirkintilloch at 7.00pm.

Round 2 will take place in the autumn, with progress to round 3 dependant on Ireland’s performance in the second round.

Under 17 Boys

Chris Bahon had to miss Treaty United’s 3-1 win over Cork City due to a groin injury. The Roscrea centre half in expected to be out for a couple of weeks.

Under 17 Girls

Knigh United’s Jenna McSherry scored Treaty United’s only goal in a 1-1 draw away to St Patrick’s Athletic. Knigh United’s Ellen Meaney and Borrisokane’s Ciara Austin also started while Roscrea’s Callie Cullinane and Cloughjordan’s Mioda O’Shea came off the bench.

Under 15 Boys

Dunkerrin native Harry Jones came off the bench for Bohemians in their last two outings. The former Moneygall hitman scored in a 4-0 win at home to Finn Harps recently, and on Saturday he came on for the final 40 minutes in a 2-0 loss away to Dundalk.

Former BT Harps player Danny McGuinness recorded an assist as Klub Kildare ran out 4-2 winners over Wexford. Moneygall’s Aidan O’Meara and Templemore’s Rory Ryan started for Athlone Town in a 6-2 win over Mayo.

Under 15 Girls

Kilruane native and former Nenagh AFC youth Rosaleen O’Leary has been named in the Under 15 Republic of Ireland schools’ squad for the Bob Docherty Cup.

The withdrawal of Scotland and England this season has left a reduced number of competitive outings for the two nations remaining – the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The St. Mary’s Secondary School student travelled to Belfast on Sunday for the first leg, which saw the Republic of Ireland claim a 6-0 victory. O’Leary did not feature in the first leg, so will likely play a role in the return leg this Sunday, March 29th at 2.00pm in Home Farm FC, Dublin.

Guerins for Euro’s

BT Harps skipper Sean Paddy Guerins played a key role in the Munster Football Association winning the 2026 FAI Amateur Inter-Provincial Tournament over the weekend in Donegal, qualifying for the 2026/2027 UEFA Regions' Cup.

The UEFA Regions’ Cup is Europe’s top amateur football competition. The 2026/2027 edition runs across two rounds of qualifying before leading to an eight-team final tournament in the summer of 2027.

In an action-packed weekend, Sean Paddy Guerins played the full 90 minutes at centre half on Friday, keeping a clean sheet as Munster narrowly defeated hosts Ulster 1-0.

On Saturday, the 31-year-old showed serious physical and mental conditioning to be back in the starting eleven again, and this time he was named the captain and guided Munster to a solid 3-0 win over Connacht.

Guerins started the third and final game against Leinster on Sunday. He was withdrawn midway through the first half as Munster went on to record a nervy draw but enough to lift the title.

Ireland will be the host nation for their Group B games against Belarus, Croatia and Malta later this year, where Munster will hope to repeat the heroics of the 2015 Ireland representative who won the tournament outright on home soil.

USFL

Nenagh’s Barry Coffey kick-started his USA journey in earnest on Saturday with a goal and an assist in Hartford Athletic’s third game of the league.

The former Cobh Ramblers goal-ace assisted the opener against Brooklyn in the 18th minute, and he made it 2-0 in the 40th minute, timing his run to perfection, rising highest from the corner kick to power home.

Hartford are up to second place in the table with seven points. Next up for Coffey is his first home match as Indy Eleven come to Trinity Health Stadium this Saturday at 9.00pm Irish time, on ESPN+.