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North Tipperary & District League

Supporting Amatuer Soccer

Weekend Review for Week Ending 2nd March

ByGer Kennedy

Mar 4, 2014

FAI U-17 Cup
Nenagh AFC U-17’s advanced to the semi-finals of the FI U-17 Cup with a thrilling 3-2 win over Mervue United at Nenagh Brickfields last Sunday. Nenagh AFC opened up a one nil lead on the thirty minute mark when Josh McCarthy’s in-swinging free kick was met by David Kelly who rose highest to steer the ball to the back of the net with a headed goal. Nenagh continued to press and doubled their tally minutes later after Dylan Kelly released Cian Darcy who kept his nerve to coolly slot the ball past visiting custodian Eoin Curry. The Galway side brought it back to the minimum on 79 minutes when centre half Robert Carroll got forward to finish with aplomb setting up a hectic finish to the tie. The equalizer came four minutes later when Nenagh lost possession as Jamie Kelly took full advantage before ramming the ball between the Nenagh posts. A dramatic finish to the game ensued, however it was Nenagh AFC who grabbed the all-important winner after Josh McCarthy was again the provider to David Kelly who got up to send a bullet of header to the Mervue net to clinch a place in the last four.

Barry Cup
Borrisokane ‘A’ and Roscrea United ‘A’ clashed in this Barry Cup quarter final game played in Borrisokane on Sunday morning with the visitors shading the issue by the odd goal in five. Roscrea made the better start and hit the front in the 7th minute when Robbie Ryan scored with a rasping shot from twenty yards. An end to end affair throughout saw Borrisokane back level on 32 minutes when an in-swinging corner kick fell to Gordon Harding who bundled the ball over the line. The visitors restored their lead ten minutes in to the second half after Robbie Ryan was on the mark again with a good effort. Borrisokane took the game to their opponents after this and pegged it back level with sixteen minutes remaining when Joe Gleeson converted from the penalty spot. It looked as if the tie was heading for extra time, however Roscrea had other ideas as Paul Kirwan got on the end of a corner kick to score a last gasp winner deep in to injury time.

Premier Division League
Nenagh AFC were at home to Cloughjordan last Saturday and stretched their lead at the top of the table with a narrow one nil win over the visiting side. It was scoreless at the break, however the Brickfields side made the breakthrough on the hour mark when Mark McKenna met Brian Quinn’s cross to guide the ball home with a headed effort, Alan Sheehan could have put Nenagh AFC two nil up, however the Cloughjordan keeper produced the goods with a fine save seven minutes from time and then Gerry Treacy in the Nenagh goals not be outdone made a superb block in the dying moments to secure all three points for the league leaders.

First Division League
Nenagh AFC ‘B’ made the short journey to Ardcroney for this league encounter and recorded a 3-1 victory over the home side. A luckless Ardcroney outfit conceded an own goal to give Nenagh an early advantage, however Ardcroney went in level at the break thanks to Philip Blackwell who powered home a headed goal from a corner kick. The home team had their chances early in the second half, however it was the Brickfields side which proved the more clinical when Trevor Morrissey hit the target with twenty minutes to go before Oísin Fitzpatrick wrapped it up for Nenagh AFC late on.

Second Division League
League leaders Streamstown Celtic stretched their lead with a facile 6-1 result over Nenagh AFC ‘C’ last Sunday. Benny McMahon scored the Nenagh AFC consolation goal.

NT&DL Tipperary Cup
Roscrea ‘B’ had too much firepower for Portumna Town on a seven goals to nil score line in this Tipperary Cup fixture played in Roscrea last Sunday. The home side laid the foundation in the opening half hitting five without reply courtesy of a Paul Brussells hat-trick in addition to a brace from Martin Harty. It was more of the same in the second half as Martin Harty completed his hat-trick before Martin Loughnane copper fastened the win for the home side.

Youths League
BT Harps had to battle all the way against Ballymackey to grind out a 2-1 win at the Ballinree venue. The Templemore side took the lead on the half hour mark with a long range shot from Stevie Nolan. BT Harps stayed on the offensive and doubled their tally when Dylan Loughnane converted from the penalty spot early in the second half. Ballymackey came back at the visitors after this and pulled it back to the minimum when Gearoid Murphy scored with a fine free kick effort, however BT Harps dug deep after this to hold out for the win.