FAI Junior Cup – 4th Round
Borrisokane ‘A’ welcomed TSDL kingpins Clonmel Town and came out the wrong side of a 4 nil loss. The home side who were missing a number of their regulars were on the back foot from the off as their guests fast paced football on the wide pitch at Borrisokane caused headaches throughout the game. Borrisokane worked tirelessly throughout the game and will feel aggrieved not to have featured on the score sheet to have something to show for their days endeavours. Next up for Borrisokane who look to keep up their impressive cup form is Nenagh AFC ‘A’ in the Munster Junior Cup.
Munster Junior Cup
Clodiagh Rangers ‘A’ chances of making it to the open draw for the second year running were dashed by Nenagh Celtic ‘A’ in Drombane last Sunday morning. The all premier league clash saw a lively first half with both sides being guilty of wasteful finishing in front of goal, however it was the hosts who took the lead minutes before the break as Colm Breen tapped home after some neat build up play. Clodiagh looked to build on this lead, but found Celtic in ruthless form in the early exchanges in the second half as they quickly levelled matters through Stephen Flynn. Not long after it was 2 – 1 to Celtic after Danny Ryan converted from the spot. Celtic now had a taste for goal and killed the game off with two late strikes from Mikey Hynes and Craig Connolly. Any slim chance Clodiagh had of getting back into this game were dealt a blow when the impressive John Leahy went off injured, and having already used three substitutes, Clodiagh carried on with ten men.
Cloughjordan ‘A’ overcame a potential upset as they beat Nenagh AFC ‘C’ on a 3 – 2 score line. Cloughjordan took the lead against their hosts after 30 minutes thanks to Javi Gomez, and it remained 1 nil at the break. Nenagh struck first in the second half as Stevie Daly converted from the spot. Kevin Kennedy replied for the premier league almost immediately to take the lead again, and late on, Ger O’Brien scored from the spot to make it 3 – 1. Nenagh did add a second through Dean Morrissey to worry their guests and despite a late rally, it was too little too late as Cloughjordan progress to face the winners of BT Harps ‘A’ and Holycross.
Premier League
One of the stand out results of the weekend saw Sallypark ‘A’ travel to the fortress that is Kennedy Park to face Roscrea United ‘A’ and come away with a share of the spoils as they held the free scoring side to a nil all draw. Sallypark were on the back foot for the most part in this game, but defended well throughout and were unlucky not to see Mark O’Dwyer score as his effort went agonisingly over the bar having been set up with a terrific pass from Eoin Ryan. It was a much needed point for Sallypark who look to lift themselves out of a relegation dog and move level with Thurles Town, who were despatched of in clinical fashion by Nenagh AFC ‘A’ at the Greyhound Stadium venue Sunday afternoon. Town who were looking to build on last week’s impressive win over Cloughjordan, simply couldn’t match the pace and finishing of the premier league leaders. It was 2 nil at the break and Town would have felt they had a chance of getting something from the game, but as it appears to be every week, braces from Ryan Gilmartin and Thomas Sheppard, in addition to strikes from Dan Dalton and Mark Cahill cemented Nenagh’s top spot, who will take plenty of stopping especially with Roscrea dropping valuable points.
Division 1
Rearcross ‘A’ earned a badly needed three points in Saturday night’s floodlit game against Borroway overs as they overcame the Thurles side on a 5 – 1 score line. Greg Kennedy put Rearcross ahead, but not long the game was level as David Bourke struck home. Mark Hogan restored the lead for Rearcross to make it 2 – 1 at the break and it was the home side who dominated the second half as they added three more goals from Darragh Kennedy and Davy O’Toole. This result sees Rearcross stay out of the relegation zone over Ardcroney. Arra Rovers welcomed Streamstown Celtic ‘A’ to a foggy Portroe and almost caused another upset this weekend. Bottom side Arra, raced in to a 2 nil lead after just 25 minutes thanks to a Dermot O’Halloran brace. Streamstown had already hit the crossbar and saw an effort cleared of the line in this lively encounter but it was 2 – 1 at the break as Wally Kirwan tapped home with minutes to spare. Kirwan grabbed his sides second, and his twentieth for the season in the 66th minute as Celtic looked to take advantage of the fact both Nenagh AFC ‘B’ and Holycross were not playing this weekend. Arra stood firm until the last ten minutes of the game, as Streamstown were thankful to Darren Wren and Craig Phealan strikes to seal all three points. Ardcroney travelled to Moneygall and both sides were in need of three valuable points in their battle to avoid Division 2 football, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils as they drew nil all.
Division 2
Kilcommon welcomed Nenagh Celtic ‘B’ in this mid table clash, where again it was honours even in another of the weekends draws. Kilcommon took the lead through Leo Ryan and it looked to be enough to seal all three points, but Celtic grabbed a late equaliser through Kevin Nevin with almost the last kick of the game to leave a result which leaves both sides with the real possibility of being dragged into a relegation dogfight with only 6 points between them and bottom side Cloughjordan ‘B’. Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ certainly raised a few eyebrows with their merited 3 – 2 win over league leaders Roscrea United ‘B’ in Drombane Sunday afternoon. Joe Callaghan and Gavin Loughnane were on the mark for Roscrea, but two strikes from the in form Ailbe O’Donoghue and returning Loughlin Ryan saw an unlikely three points for Clodiagh, who having been reduced to ten men, had Niall Grant to thank in goal as he save two late Roscrea penalties.
Division 3
The third division suffered most from the recent bad weather as only two games survived this weekend. Streamstown Celtic ‘B’ made it a double for the club this weekend as they overcame an understrength Templetouhy side who can’t seem to lift themselves from the bottom two in the league table. It was 2 nil after just 30 minutes when Murthy Grimes and Kevin King both scored. Templetouhy gave themselves some hope as they reduced the deficit when Tony Bouston scored. It was 3 – 1 at the break thanks to a great finish from Shane Carroll. The second half started in similar fashion Jason Curry starting the half’s proceedings with a strike from distance. King grabbed his second not long after and the free scoring Roscrea side saw Colm Ryan add his sides 6th goal to keep them comfortably placed in mid table. Shannon Rangers had too much firepower for guests Rearcross ‘B’ at the Ballinree venue as they ran out comfortable 3 – 1 winners to leave Rearcross a single point off the relegation zone. Willie Cleary, Keith Kelly and Padraig O’Meara strikes were too much for the solitary response from PJ McLoughlin for Rearcross.
Munster Youths Cup
Nenagh AFC Youths made it through to the next round as they just shaded out BT Harps Youths on a narrow 1 nil score line. In a game of few real chances, it was a well taken long range effort from Jake Morris which decided the game.
There are no youth’s fixtures next weekend as NT&DL Youths face Kilkenny Youths at 2pm at Clodiagh Rangers F.C. grounds in Drombane. A large home crowd would be appreciated to spur on our Youths in their first home game in this season’s FAI Inter League competition.