John Delaney Cup
Nenagh Celtic were luckless to lose out to Clonmel Town following a penalty shootout in this John Delaney Cup semi-final game played at Nenagh VEC on Sunday afternoon when the sides were tied on a two all score line at the full time whistle. Mark Walsh edged the Nenagh side ahead after five minutes with a well taken goal following good approach play. Clonmel Town reacted almost immediately and pegged it back level through Shane Murphy to leave it all square at the break. The TSDL side took up a 2-1 lead midway through the half when Emmet Johnson got on the scoresheet, however Nenagh Celtic rallied and were back in the tie when Davie Walsh smashed the ball home from just inside the box. Nenagh Celtic were unlucky to miss their first spot kick but then scored four on the trot, however Clonmel Town went one better and scored five in succession to secure their place in the Final. The Nenagh Celtic penalty scorers were Christy Ryan, Danny Ryan, Craig Connolly and Enrico Casey while the Clonmel Town marksmen were Tony Scully, Evan Comerford, Emmet Johnson, Jason Barnes and Keith Brown.
First Division League
Borrisokane ‘A’ welcomed Nenagh Celtic ‘B’ to Borrisokane for this First Division league opener on Friday evening and recovered a two goal deficit to earn a share of the spoils. A lively encounter played in perfect conditions saw the visitors hit the front on the twenty minute mark when Terry Delaney took full advantage of a defensive mix up to push the ball between the posts. Nenagh Celtic doubled their tally two minutes in to the second half after Keith Langton got his name on the score sheet. Borrisokane turned up the heat after this and laid siege on the Celtic goals but had to wait until the 89th minute for the breakthrough when Danny Butler rattled the net and then John Doyle bagged a dramatic equalizer for Borrisokane deep in to injury time following good work by Andy Nevin.
Clodiagh Rangers ‘A’ were at home to Borroway Rovers and had to dig deep to secure maximum points on a tight 5-4 score line. The home side raced in to a commanding lead with goals from Mark Quinlan, Michael Browne and Colm Stapleton, however the Thurles side were thrown a lifeline when Paul Gould netted two minutes before the break. Paul Doyle restored the Clodiagh Rangers advantage shortly after the resumption, however Borroway Rovers stepped it up after this and brought it back to 4-3 after forcing an own goal coupled with a Damien Grimes strike. It was end to end as Colm Stapleton gave the home side some breathing space with a well worked effort. The visitors didn’t give up though and David Keane set up a tense finish with a fourth for Borroway Rovers five minutes from the end. The Drombane side defended in numbers in the remaining minutes to hold out for the win.
Kilcommon made a winning start to their league campaign after coming from two down to defeat Arra Rovers 3-2 in Kilcommon on Sunday morning. The Portroe side enjoyed a two nil lead at the break after John Barry scored from the spot on twenty minutes coupled with a well worked goal from Steven Kennedy with five minutes to go in the half. Kilcommon came storming back in the second half and pegged it back level with a double hit from Eamon Naughton. It looked as if the spoils would be divided on the day, however Gary Ryan crashed home the all-important goal in the 90th minute to snatch maximum points. Goalkeeper Dave Carroll turned in a man of the match performance for the home side.
Roscrea came from behind to secure a 2-1 away win against Ardcroney last Sunday afternoon. The home side took the lead midway through the first half when Paul Farrell squared for Pat McLoughney to fire home from close range. The lead was short-lived as Roscrea got back on par when David McNamara rattled the net on 24 minutes. Roscrea showed strongly after the re-start and David McNamara bagged his second of the day with just three minutes gone in the half. Ardcroney pressed hard for the equalizer but met stiff resistance from a stubborn Roscrea rearguard.
Nenagh AFC ‘B’ had too much firepower for an understrength Clonmore side in this one sided league encounter played in Nenagh on Sunday morning. The Blues were five goals to the good at the break and added three more in the second half. Willie Darcy bagged a hat-trick while Tommy Martin, Trevor Morrissey, Dylan Walsh, Oísin Fitzpatrick and Birinder Singh chipped in with a goal piece to give Nenagh AFC a comprehensive win on the day.
Second Division League
Streamstown Celtic won out by the odd goal in three against Holycross ‘A’ at the away venue last Sunday. The home side enjoyed plenty of possession early on but it was Streamstown who went ahead after fifteen minutes when the ball broke from a corner kick to Craig Phelan kick to tap in from close range. Streamstown took up a two nil lead three minutes before the break after Wally Kirwan broke through the centre to send a lovely finish between the posts from the edge of the eighteen yard box. Holycross dominated for long spells in the second period and were back in the fray on 64 minutes when Justin Shelly flicked on to JoJo O’Meara who lobbed the keeper to leave the minimum between the sides. It was all Holycross to the final whistle with Tom Fitzpatrick very much to fore for the Glenbane side, however the visiting defence stood firm to earn a hard earned win for Streamstown.
Newcomers Portumna Town were full value for their three nil win over Templetuohy on Sunday afternoon. The home side got the perfect start when Garry Hogan opened the scoring with just forty seconds gone and then Eoin McEntire made it two nil on twenty minutes to leave the Galway side with a two nil advantage at the break. Templetuohy tried hard in the second half to get back in to the game, however Garry Hogan wrapped it up for Portumna Town in the 85th minute with his second of the day.
Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ came out on top against Ballymackey ‘A’ on a 4-1 score line in this league fixture played in Ballinree last Sunday. The Drombane side went a goal ahead after ten minutes, however Ballymackey got level on the half hour mark courtesy of an own goal following a corner kick. Clodiagh Rangers outplayed the home side in the second half, tacking on three more in the process, Dylan Sheridan helped himself to hat-trick while Paudie Ryan was also on the mark for the winners.
Nenagh AFC ‘C’ defeated BT Harps ‘B’ on a 3-2 score line at the Templemore venue. Stevie Nolan was the BT Harps marksman with a brace of penalties in the 20th and 60th minute respectively.
Third Division League
Rearcross ‘B’ and Lough Derg ‘B’ played out a nine goal thriller in Rearcross on Friday evening with the visiting side eventually winning out on a 5-4 score line. Rearcross netted the opener on the ten minute mark when Darren Quigley was the provider on the left to Joey Nolan who steadied before sending a low effort whizzing to the back of the net. The home side conceded five on the trot with the first coming from a Noel McInerney corner kick which squirmed inside the near post. The Lakers took the lead in the eighteenth minute after Keith Stitches’ thirty yard drive went all the way to corner of the net. It was 3-1 to the Ballina / Killaloe side eighteen minutes before the break when Keith Stritch got on the end of a cross from the left to head home from the edge of the six yard box. The rout continued as Keith Stritch’s pass over the top saw Noel McInerney finish with aplomb. It looked as if it was game, set and match three minutes before the break when Noel McInerney completed his hat-trick after prodding home from in front of goal. Rearcross turned a fine performance in the second half as Liam Ryan reduced the deficit on fifty minutes after scooping to the net from six hards. The green & whites stayed on the offensive and scored again when the ball fell to James Deegan who rifled home from just inside the eighteen yard box. Rearcross were dominating at this stage and brought it back to 5-4 with eighteen minutes to go when James Deegan’s smashing strike from forty yards went all the way to net. Rearcross pushed on in search of a deserved equalizer and were denied two minutes in to stoppage time when William Mackey’s cross from the right was headed on target by Joey Nolan, however Emmet Hanly in the Lough Derg goal saved to thwart a gallant fight back from home side.
Noreside Celtic got their league campaign off to a winning start with a 4-1 victory over Nenagh Celtic ‘C’, Michael Hogan set Noreside on their way with the opener in the 6th minute, Martin Kennedy made it two nil seven minutes later and then Jason Quinlivan stretched it to three on the nineteen minute mark. The Hoops rallied somewhat and pulled a goal back three minutes before the break when Matt Tuttlebee scored with a volleyed goal. Jason Quinlivan netted his second of the outing four minutes after the restart to copper fasten the win for Noreside Celtic.
Cloughjordan ‘B’ overcame the challenge of Gurtagarry on a 3-1 score line at the Cloughjordan venue on Sunday morning. The home side enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the opening half and led two nil at the break thanks to a Dean O’Meara penalty kick and a well worked goal from Kevin Kennedy. Gurtagarry fought their way back in to the game in the second half and pulled a goal back through Billy Corcoran midway through. The visitors tried hard for the equalizer but were thwarted by good defending from Cloughjordan and then Andy Brennan scored the clincher three minutes from time to secure the win.
Borrisokane ‘B’ shaded it over Arra Rovers ‘B’ on slender one nil score last Sunday. It looked as if it was going to finish honours even, however Gary Power got in to snatch a late winner for the visiting side four minutes from time.
Roscrea United ‘B’ hosted this Third Division League fixture against Sallypark ‘B’ and held the upper hand with a narrow one nil result. Thomas O’Brien got what proved to be the all-important goal in the opening minute of the tie, Sallypark couldn’t find a way through after this against a dogmatic defensive display from the home side.
Clodiagh Rangers ‘C’ and Holycross ‘B’ clashed in this Third Division derby game played in Drombane last Sunday with Holycross ‘B’ claiming the plaudits on a four nil score line. Two goals either side of the half time decided the outcome. A James Doran strike and a Conor Ryan penalty accounted for the first half tally while James Shanahan and Kevin Callinan got in on the act in the second half to hand all three points to the Glenbane Club.