Larkin cracker yields Moneygall win

SOCCER: North Tipperary & District League Review

By Gary Culbert

Premier Division

Game of the Week: Ardcroney 1-2 Moneygall

Gearoid Larkin was the hero on Sunday in Ardcroney, curling the ball into the top corner with the last kick of the game to deliver Moneygall the three points.

Moneygall’s shiny new signing Joe Fogarty opened the scoring from a Niall Maher pass after just half an hour, with Ardcroney once again the architects of their own downfall playing out from the back.

Things went from bad to worse a couple of minutes later when their goalkeeper was sent off for the second week in a row. Paddy Reddin was given his marching orders for handling outside the area, just half an hour into his first game back since completing Europe and Asia by bicycle. Alas, Ardcroney had their fourth different keeper in their last two games when Michael Egan relinquished his midfield duties for the good of the team.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Ardcroney came out with renewed energy after the break and equalised in the 56th minute when Matthew Moyles netted following a long throw into box.

It looked like Ardcroney had done enough to pick up their first point of the campaign but Moneygall boss Billy Hayes emptied his bench and it was one of the substitutes that made himself an unlikely hero. Gearoid Larkin could have easily stayed away this season given the abundance of riches at Billy Hayes’ disposal but when the ball left the 27-year-old’s foot from outside the box in the 97th minute, his decision was vindicated 10-fold.

Player of the Match: Joe Fogarty (Moneygall)

Ardcroney (4-3-3): Paddy Reddin; Kieran Spain, Luke Dervan, Andrew Hayes, Lee Doran; Michael Egan, Jack Daly, Matthew Moyles; Ross Austin, Thomas Cleary, Cian D’Arcy. Subs: Jamie Ryan for Cleary (46); Willie Cleary for Austin (70); Rob Austin for Spain (87)

Moneygall (3-4-3): Julian Bentancourt; Cian McLoughlin, Cameron Fleming, Mikey Ryan; Tom Sheedy, Dylan Maher, Sean Kenneally, Sean Moroney; Conor Longe, Niall Maher, Joe Fogarty. Subs: Andy Hoolan for McLoughlin (46); Dylan McCormack for Sheedy (57); Cillian O’Gorman for M Ryan (70); Aodhan Ryan for Moroney (70); Gearoid Larkin for Longe (70)

Referee: Derek Halpin

Ballymackey 5-1 Shinrone United

Ballymackey recorded their second big victory over Shinrone United of the season thanks largely to a first-half hat-trick from the Premier Division Player of the Month for September, James Kenneally.

It was Shinrone who took the lead after just five minutes, Kian Fallon netting his third goal of the season after being played through by Riann McLoughlin.Despite being without their injured midfield general Cathal Delaney, Ballymackey responded well and were level on 18 minutes when in-form Kenneally fired in his first after being set up by Cian Galvin.

Three minutes later, ‘Mackey had turned the game around courtesy of another Galvin assist as Aidan White netting his eighth goal of the seasont.

White assisted Kenneally for his second and third goals in the 26th & 34th minutes. Colm Maher concluded the scoring in the second half, with Galvin supplying his third assist, which further silenced any critics of the speedster’s end-product.

Portumna Town 2-3 Holycross

Holycross have had to suffer their critics for quite some time, so it was all the sweeter when they finally broke their duck on Sunday afternoon in Galway with victory over Portumna Town.

The home side took the lead against the run of play after nine minutes through Leon Tierney, but Holycross kept the faith and were level and given a man advantage on the half hour; Kyle Denny scoring from the spot after David O’Meara saw red for his challenge on Stephen Quinlan in the box.

‘Cross were in dreamland on the stroke of half-time when young full-back Sam Ryan had the composure to pick out Stephen Quinlan, who rattled the net from the edge of the box.

Holycross continued to take full advantage of their numerical advantage after the break with Aaron Ryan and Ben Hennessy dominating in midfield, indeed it was Ryan that sent Quinlan through once more to make it 3-1 with a sharp finish. Portumna hit back with ten minutes remaining thanks to a fine strike from distance from returning skipper Oisin O’Sullivan. Portumna piled on the pressure for the remainder of the game but the visitors held on for a rare three points.

BT Harps 1-0 Rearcross

Champions BT Harps made it three wins from three with a hard fought 1-0 win at home to Rearcross on Sunday.

The only goal right on the stroke of half-time from a Dylan Cody strike from outside the area. The champions couldn’t add to their tally but withstood a nervy finish to continue Johnny Coleman’s perfect start to the league.

First Division

Moneygall ‘B’ continued their fine start to life in the big leagues with a hard-earned 2–1 victory away to new-look Borrisokane on Sunday.

It was a feisty contest with Borrisokane’s youngsters showing no signs of taking a backward step. The visitors eventually opened the scorings thanks to a Jonathan Powell penalty in the 66th minute before Jack Ryan doubled the lead with a quarter of an hour to go.

Borrisokane fought back and found the net through substitute Johnny Quinn on his debut, but Moneygall held on to secure another valuable win on the road.

Borroway Rovers got back on track in emphatic fashion, firing just the eleven goals past Arra Rovers.

NT&DL First Division Player of the Month for September, Tommy Brophy, helped himself to four goals, including two penalties in the rout. Player/manager David Bourke fired in two as well to keep pace with his teammate in the race for the Golden Boot award, while there were also goals for Andras Schlingloff, Shane Dunne, Niall Dunne, and Simon McCarthy.

The biggest shock across the entire NT&DL last weekend came in Laois where Grange United claimed all three points against Knigh United.

Despite going behind early on to a Stephen Flynn goal, Grange responded well with some attractive football and equalised with five minutes remaining in the half through veteran striker Jason McCormack. Knigh were undeterred however and replied with a Darren Moran strike to put the visitors ahead at the interval.

The second half followed a similar pattern as Grange continued to play their way back into the game with Jamie Dooley dictating in midfield and creating opportunities. On 55 minutes, Dooley delivered a wonderful free kick to the back post where Stevie Finan applied trivela finish to level.

With fresh legs introduced in attack, Grange pushed for the winner late on, which came when Ryan Byrne made a brilliant darting run in behind the Knigh defence and flicked the ball around the oncoming David Corcoran, with Stevie Finan on hand to follow in and secure all three points.

Youths

Moneygall and BT Harps played out a physical and intense 1-1 draw last Wednesday night.

Harps saw the majority of the ball and were rewarded midway through the second half when Bo Feehan finished off the back of a mazy run from Dominic Boruch. There was no surprise at Moneygall’s scorer to equalise, Lucian Buga, as he led the line well as the lone striker throughout.

It was a quick turnaround for Harps as they had a tough 4-3 loss away to Clonmel Celtic on Saturday in the Munster Youths Cup.

Some defensive errors early on saw Harps trail 3-0 at the break but they showed great heart to pull the game back to lose by the narrowest of margins with econd half goals from Dominic Boruch, Bo Feehan and Tom Collier.

Knigh United are the only NT&DL team remaining in the FAI Youth Cup thanks to an impressive 6-2 win at home to Vee Rovers on Saturday.

It was Knigh’s Kieran Fitzgearld who opened the scoring, but Rovers equalised through Jack Darmody. The Northerners took over after the break with sensational Simon Cleary netting four and Fitzgerald completing his brace. Knigh skipper Rory Hackett caused plenty of problems and provided two assists, but the player of the match was Knigh’s Rian McGrath, who was outstanding in midfield.