Youths Shield
Ballymackey made it to another final in the form of the Youths Shield with a dramatic win over BT Harps Youths. The home side had raced into a 2 – 0 lead at the break with strikes from Alan Ryan and a penalty from Gearoid Murphy. Ballymackey looked home and dry until the last ten minutes when BT Harps scored twice in the space of 5 minutes to level the match and when it looked like penalties for the second game in a row for the Templemore side, up popped Calvin O’Rourke in the 91st minute to grab the winner for the home side.
Nenagh AFC Youths are looking to retain the Youths Shield and having brushed aside Lough Derg in the round previous, the Brickfield side travelled to Glenbane to face Holycross Youths and continued their free flowing scoring and came out on top by scoring 7 and keeping yet another clean sheet to ensure a repeat of last season’s cup final where they will face Ballymackey.
Premier Division
Nenagh Celtic ‘A’ made it two wins from two with a well-deserved 3 – 1 victory away to Sallypark ‘A’ in Latteragh. Celtic were first off the mark when Jimmy Hynes latched onto a pass from Mark Walsh and finished the move with aplomb. It was soon 2 nil when Kevin Connelly also finished well. After the break the home side began to get a foothold in the game and were rewarded for their endeavours with a well taken goal from Orrie Quirke. Sallypark pushed for the equaliser but were undone when Danny Ryan dispatched a penalty to restore Celtic’s two goal advantage and secure all three points.
Nenagh AFC ‘A’ also continue to impress at this early stage of the league with a comprehensive 3 – 0 win over BT Harps ‘A’ at the Brickfields venue. Captain Mark McKenna opened the scoring for the home side with a thunderous effort from all of 35 yards. Not long after it was 2 nil when Ryan Gilmartin opened his account for the season when he tapped home from close range. Harps looked to reduce the deficit but had an opportunity ruled out for off side but instead soon after saw Dan Dalton made it 3 – 0 to secure the points with another well taken effort from distance.
Cloughjordan ‘A’ travelled to Drombane for their first league game of the season to face Clodiagh Rangers ‘A’ and lost out in a well contested game where the hosts ran out winners on a 1 nil score line. Both sides had good chances in front of goal in the opening half with Cloughjordan seeing an effort cleared off the line and the hosts clipping the crossbar just before half time. The game continued in the same vein in the second half and it was evident that it would only take the solitary strike to win and it was Mark Quinlan in the 75th minute who tapped home at the back post after capitalising on good work by Paul Doyle down the right wing. Clodiagh defended sternly for the remainder of the match to secure their first 3 points of this league campaign.
Lough Derg ‘A’ visited the C.B.S. grounds to face Roscrea United ‘A’ and were defeated 3 – 1 as the Roscrea outfit were keen to kick start their challenge after losing the week previous. Paul Kirwan was on the mark with a well taken brace for the second week running to move clear as the premier league’s top scorer and the third goal was scored by Brian Moloney. The visitors eventually broke the strong Roscrea rear guard with 5 minutes remaining but the game was well over as a contest at this stage.
First Division
Streamstown Celtic ‘A’ continue to maintain the pace at the top of the first division and have taken maximum points in all their league games to date with an impressive 4 – 1 home victory over Ardcroney. Streamstown were first off the mark mid-way through the first half with a deflected effort and the score remained 1 nil at half time. The home side’s advantage was doubled soon after the break when Wally Kirwan continued his fine scoring form of late. It was then 3 nil when Craig Byrne converted from the penalty spot. Ardcroney got on the score sheet late on through a Jamie Gaynor strike, but were soon again behind by three when Paul Doyle rounded off his team’s fine performance to ensure the Roscrea side stay on the heels of Holycross who received a walkover from Arra Rovers this weekend.
Borrisokane ‘A’ made the journey to Rearcross ‘A’ last Sunday morning worthwhile by returning home with all three points after winning out on a score line of 4 – 3, but were made to work all the way. Borrisokane took the lead through Brian Donnelly only to see his effort cancelled out by a fine free kick from Greg Kennedy. The home side then took a deserved lead into half time with another fine strike from Michael O’Gorman. Not to be outdone the visitors took the control of the game and scored three times with goals coming from both Brian and Gary Donnelly ably assisted by Graham McMahon. Rearcross will rue a number of missed chances especially after Matthew Ryan Luke reduced the score line to the minimum, but was a case of too little too late as the visitors held out for a well needed three points.
Borroway Rovers hosted Nenagh AFC ‘B’ in Loughtagalla for only their second league game will feel they left valuable league points slip away from them in a keenly contested encounter, which went in favour of the Nenagh side on a score line of 2 – 1. Al O’Brien crossed for David Burke who finished well to put the Thurles side ahead, but were guilty of a lapse of concentration after conceding straightaway from the restart to allow Nenagh level the game. Credit must be afforded to both teams who played attacking football and defended well and it took a world class strike from distance for the Nenagh side to win the game and take all three points.
Second Division
Portumna welcomed Cloughjordan ‘B’ to Galway last Saturday evening last and were comfortable winners in a game which saw a goal fest with the home side winning 6 – 3. The games biggest turning point was just before half time when the visiting custodian conceded a penalty and was also ordered to the side line reducing Cloughjordan to ten men. Cormac Houlihan scored the resulting penalty to score the home sides third after Garry Curran and Sean O’Meara had also found the back of the net. The home side added another three goals in the second half with O’Meara grabbing his second, Gary Hogan and Oisin Roystan also getting in on the action. On another day, the hat trick scored by Dean O’Meara for the visitors would normally earn you all three points, but O’Meara will have to settle for the match ball instead.
Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ travelled to Ballymackey ‘A’ and went down 5 nil at the impressive Ballinree venue. The hosts were not in hospitable form as they exploded into a 3 nil lead after 30 minutes when Robert O’Gorman and Shaun Kevin were on the mark, with O’Gorman bagging a brace, the second being a 30 yard unstoppable free kick. Ballymackey added two more goals in the second half through Darragh McDonnell and Denis Haverty to leave the Drombane side with an uphill battle in the third tier of NT&DL.
Kilcommon notched up their second win of the campaign in an entertaining match against Nenagh AFC ‘C’, where the hosts edged it on a 5 – 3 score line. On the mark for Kilcommon were Mikey Hayes with a double, Gary Ryan, Eamon Naughton and Brian Carr to secure their second win of the campaign.
Nenagh Celtic ‘B’ will rue late strikes from hosts BT Harps ‘B’ at the end of both half’s which denied them the opportunity to go joint top of the second division. The Hoops took the lead through a superb effort from Sean O’Meara, but were caught in time added at the end of the first half as James Kavanagh headed home for Harps to send both sides in for their half time refreshments all square. The hosts then upped the tempo of the game and took a deserved lead again through Kavanagh with a great free kick. Terry Delaney soon levelled matters by scoring for the visitors as both teams played attacking football in the search for three priceless points. Kieran Duffy looked to have secured all three points for the Nenagh side, but the referees watch indicated that there would be five minutes of added time which Harps took advantage of to level the game for the third time when hat trick hero Kavanagh rose highest to head home to help his side to a share of the points.
Division 3
Clodiagh Rangers ‘C’ delightedly returned to winning ways with an impressive victory on the road away to Streamstown Celtic ‘B’. In what was considered a tricky assignment for the Drombane side, David Considine continued his good form in front of goal by scoring his second brace of the season. The game was 1 – 1 at the break with all to play for in the second half. The game seemed destined for honours even at 2 all after Considine levelled matters but nobody told James Horan who stepped up with time almost up to bag the three points for Clodiagh.
Gurtagarry stay top of the third division at this early stage with a comprehensive 4 nil win over Lough Derg ‘B’. In what was the home side’s third clean sheet in a row, they surely look like worthy contenders in the battle for honours come the end of the season. On the mark for Gurtagarry were Paddy ‘Pio’ O’Rourke with a brace to continue his fine form of late and a strike each from Dinny Corcoran and Kieran Brislane ensured all three points.
Latteragh was the venue for Sallypark ‘B’ who entertained Rearcross ‘B’ and only edged out their visitors on a score line of 3 – 2. Sean Harte was yet another one of the players from the NT&DL this weekend to bag a brace but it was not enough to overcome Sallypark who make a welcome move up the league table with these vital three points in a well contested third division.
Templetouhy recorded their first win of the season away to Ballywilliam United in Birdhill with a 3 nil victory which incidentally moved them off the bottom of the table and overtake their opponents from this game.
Ballymackey ‘B’ visited free scoring Barnane and were one of the few sides to come away with a clean sheet as well as all three points. Rory Mounsey was once again the hero for the visitors as he got on the end of a cross from Garry McCarthy in the 55th minute to secure Ballymackey’s third win of the campaign.
Shannon Rangers were looking to keep their push at the business end of the table with a tricky away fixture to Borrisokane ‘B’ who were also looking to stay in touch with league leaders Gurtagarry. However, it was honours even at the Ballinderry venue with Liam Hogan scoring for the home side but will rue some genuine efforts in front of goal as the Roscrea side returned home with a share of the spoils to remain the single point behind their opponents in this fixture.