Munster Champions Trophy
Nenagh AFC faced a difficult away assignment in this quarter final game as against TDSL Premier League champions Clonmel Celtic and succumbed to a 4-1 defeat. The hosts were two nil ahead at the break thanks to a Paul Kennedy header midway through the half and a twenty yard effort from Dwayne Burns which squirmed over the line late in the half. The Clonmel side took up the running again in the second period and increased their advantage to three with a second from Dwayne Burns. Nenagh AFC pulled a goal back with twenty minutes remaining with a smashing free kick effort from Ryan Gilmartin. Clonmel Celtic upped the ante and made it 4-1 when Paul Kennedy was on the mark again with a headed goal to leave no way back for Nenagh AFC on this occasion.
Premier Division League
Nenagh Celtic clashed with BT Harps last Sunday in Templemore with the visiting side emerging victorious by the odd goal in five. The visitors enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the opening half and led two nil at the half time whistle thanks to a Davie Walsh headed goal and an Enrico Casey shot from the edge of the box. BT Harps were left with an uphill battle when Mark Walsh stretched it to three nil from a well taken free kick early in the second half. The Templemore side upped the tempo and brought it back to the minimum with goals from Sean Guerins and James Kavanagh, however it was a case of too little too late.
Lough Derg were the visitors to Rearcross FC Grounds for this Friday evening fixture against the home side and left with maximum points on a three nil scoreline. John O’Connor scored the opener on 26 minutes with a well taken goal, this was followed two minutes later with a Rob Cassidy goal from a free kick. Rearcross tried hard to get back in to the game in the second half, however Thomas Grace wrapped it up for the Ballina / Killaloe side with a converted penalty seventeen minutes from time.
Thurles Greyhound Stadium hosted the meeting of Thurles Town and Moneygall last Sunday with the Thurles side claiming the win on a three nil score line. Robbie Jordan fired Thurles Town ahead with a fine effort following a Padraig Fogarty assist on 13 minutes, the second goal was a similar affair as Padraig Fogarty was again the provider to Robbie Jordan who netted his second of the afternoon with another cracking finish. Aidan Croke made it three nil seven minutes before the break thanks to a well-executed finish. The home side were reduced to ten men early in the second half when the Thurles Town custodian saw red following a handling infringement outside the area, however replacement goalkeeper Sean O’Connell turned in a sterling display to keep a clean sheet and maximum points for Thurles Town.
Cloughjordan romped to a five nil victory over Sallypark at the away venue last Sunday morning, Diarmuid Kennedy opened the visitors account with a headed goal on the twenty minute mark, Kevin Kennedy then made it two nil with a volleyed effort ten minutes later. Sallypark enjoyed a period of dominance at the start of the second half but were unable to get the breakthrough their efforts deserved. Ger O’Brien stretched the Cloughjordan lead to three with a close range header on the hour mark and then Ger O’Brien followed up minutes later with his second of the day after converting from the spot. Kevin Quinlan wrapped it up for the winners five minutes from time with a solo effort to cap of a convincing win for the visiting side.
First Division League
It finished honours even on a three all scoreline in this local derby fixture between Ardcroney and Borrisokane on Sunday morning. Borrisokane got the perfect start after going ahead inside the opening minute courtesy of a John Butler strike, however the home side picked it up after this and took a 2-1 lead to the break thanks to a Jamie Gaynor penalty and a well taken goal strike from Garry Curran. The visitors held the upper hand after the restart as John Doyle pegged it back level on 68 minutes before Matt Power edged the visiting side ahead with thirteen minutes to play. Ardcroney kept plugging and snatched a deserved equalizer in the dying stages with a wonder strike from Jamie Gaynor.
Roscrea United ‘A’ had to battle all the way to secure a 2-1 result over Borroway Rovers at the Kennedy Park venue on Sunday morning. The home side took the lead when David McNamara finished between the posts midway through the opening half. A battling display from the Thurles side saw Al O’Brien draw the tie level in the 66th minute. It looked as it game was heading for a draw, however John Cordial popped up to snatch a dramatic winner in the 89th minute to give Roscrea United five wins from five outings.
Clodiagh Rangers ‘A’ were on their travels to Portroe for a league fixture against Arra Rovers ‘A’ and made the journey worthwhile with a 5-3 result, Liam Moylan gave Arra Rovers the lead after seven minutes, the visitors took over after this and netted three in succession through Paul Doyle, Ger Grant and Garret Foxton. It was end to end as Cathal O’Brien bagged a brace in a six minute spell late in the half. The visitors restored their advantage with a Mark Quinlan effort to leave Clodiagh Rangers ahead at the break. Paul Doyle scored the only goal of the second half to seal a hard earned victory for the Drombane Club
Nenagh AFC ‘B’ ran out comfortable winners against Nenagh Celtic ‘B’ on a 5-1 score line at Nenagh VEC. The Brickfields side enjoyed a two nil lead at half time courtesy of goals from JoJo Dillon and Birindar Singh on 14 and 24 minutes respectively. Nenagh AFC were on top again in the second half and tagged on three more through Ciaran O’Reilly, Trevor Morrissey before Birindar Singh completed the rout with his second of the day. Seanie Tanner netted a second half consolation goal for the Hoops.
Second Division League
Streamstown Celtic cruised to a 6-1 win over Shannon Rangers to make it seven league wins in succession. The home side were three nil ahead at the interval with goals from Chris Murphy, Craig Phelan and Paul Franks. It was more of the same in the second half as Craig Phelan completed his hat-trick with the latter of the three coming from the spot, Roddy Teehan rounded off the scoring for the league leaders on the stroke of full time. Shannon Rangers lone reply came courtesy of an own goal late in the game following good pressure from Willie Cleary and Pakie Burke. Streamstown Celtic had a man of the match performance from Paul Franks.
Holycross ‘A’ were comprehensive four nil victors over Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ in this derby tie played in Drombane last Sunday. The visitors made the better start and opened their account after two minutes when James King got on the end of Kevin O’Dwyer’s corner kick to nod home. The Glenbane side increased their lead midway through the half after James Shanahan rounded two defenders and crossed to the in-rushing James King who headed his second of the day between the posts. Holycross were fast out of the traps again in the second half and added to their tally when Kyle Denny set James King through who completed his hat-trick with aplomb. The Glenbane side copper fastened the win in the dying moments when Dan Corbett’s shot from distance was parried by the Clodiagh custodian, however Philly Cullen was on hand to head home from close range.
Ballymackey and Portumna Town met in this league fixture last Sunday with the Galway side shading the issue on a slender one nil score line. Craig O’Meara scored the all-important goal for Portumna in the 32nd minute which proved enough to seal the win on the day.
Third Division League
A divide of the spoils on a two all score line was the final outcome from this floodlit league encounter between Rearcross ‘B’ and Lough Derg ‘B’ played at Rearcross FC Grounds last Wednesday evening. The home side hit the front on ten minutes when good work from Darren Quigley in the middle of the field triggered a move involving James Deegan and Joey Nolan before Liam Ryan finished between the posts from inside the box. The lead was short lived as the Ballina / Killaloe outfit were back level two minutes later after Keith Stritch’s free kick nestled in the bottom corner of the net. Rearcross were fast out of the traps in the second half and restored their advantage three minutes in when Paul McGrath was the provider to Liam Ryan who chipped the keeper for his sixth of the season. The visitors equalized late on when Jason Monaghan’s free kick assisted by a deflection finished in the net. Both teams had chances to snatch a winner in the final minutes, however it finished stalemate at the full time whistle.
League leaders Cloughjordan ‘B’ had too much firepower for Nenagh Celtic ‘C’ last Saturday evening in Cloughjordan. The home side were three goals to the good at the interval thanks to a Dean O’Meara brace which was complemented with an Andy Brennan strike. The rout continued in the second half as Andy Brennan netted twice before Alex Wade got on the scoresheet to make it six nil. An in form Andy Brennan hit the target again to bring his tally to four on the day, Johnny Donnellan scored a consolation goal for Nenagh Celtic near the end.
Gurtagarry and Borrisokane played out a one all draw in a highly competitive affair at the Latteragh venue. Borrisokane had taken a one nil lead on seventeen minutes when David Foxe’s corner kick was met by Kieran Fox who headed to the back of the net. Gurtagarry got back level courtesy of an own goal ten minutes in to the second half. Both sides pushed for the winner, however it finished level at the full time whistle.
Noreside Celtic claimed the plaudits over Holycross ‘B’ on a narrow 2-1 score line in Montore last Sunday to make it three wins on the trot. The Noreside goal scorers were Mark Treacy after three minutes and Tommy Porter in the 88th minute, the Holycross reply came from Shane Maher.
Roscrea United ‘B’ were at home to Rearcross ‘B’ on Sunday afternoon and won out on a two nil score line. A goal either side of half time decided the outcome in favour of the home side, Martin Harty set Roscrea on their way on the half hour mark and then Martin Harty was in the action again with a second strike in the 66th minute to clinch the win Roscrea.
Clodiagh Rangers ‘C’ and Sallypark ‘B’ shared six goals on a three all score line in this league fixture played in Drombane last Sunday, the Sallypark marksmen were Joe Shanahan who bagged a brace while Jack O’Donnell was also on the scoresheet. The Clodiagh Rangers sharpshooters were Jamie Moloney who chipped in with a double hit and Patrick Lowry with a converted spot kick.
Youths League
Ballinree was the venue for this Youths League fixture on Saturday evening where Ballymackey claimed the win over Nenagh Celtic on a 3-1 scoreline. The sides were scoreless at the break, however the Hoops made a strong start in the second half and went ahead with a cracking Paul Finn strike from the edge of the box. Ballymackey got back level five minutes later courtesy of a John O’Connor strike. The hosts kept the pressure on and made it 2-1 with a well worked goal from Niall McDonnell on the 65 minute mark and then Gearoid Murphy sealed the win with an opportunist goal ten minutes from time.
FAI Youths Cup
Lough Derg Youths welcomed Clonmel Celtic to the Clare venue for an FAI Youths Cup game and emerged victorious over the TSDL opposition on a 4-1 score line. Lough Derg were two goals to the good at the half time whistle after Seamus Monaghan scored from a corner kick on 33 minutes and then Seamus Monaghan netted again from a Thomas Conway pass three minutes later. Clonmel Celtic pulled a goal back five minutes after the restart through Paul Fitzgerald. Lough Derg enjoyed the better of the exchanges after this as Nathan Wood made it 3-1 from a corner kick. It was game, set and match four minutes from time when Shane Moloney netted after latching on to a Thomas Conway assist.
Nenagh AFC Youths outplayed an understrength Arra Rovers side in Nenagh last Saturday, goals from Ryan Gilmartin, Alan Sheehan, Francis Munsterberg, Anton Provotorov and Craig McDonald secured passage to the next round.