Compiled by Adrian Cooke
Premier League
Nenagh AFC ‘A’ returned to winning ways at home as they ran riot against Roscrea United ‘A’ in Brickfields as the home side well and truly avenged the heavy defeat inflicted on them in Kennedy Park earlier in the season. There was simply no stopping Nenagh AFC in this encounter as they looked to put last week’s result behind them with Ryan Gilmartin and Dan Dalton sharing the match ball as they bagged a hat trick each. Archie Mitchell and Bryan McGee also scored to compound the misery for the Kennedy Park side who also saw star striker Paul Kirwan seeing the side line early with a red card as they prepare to face local rivals Streamstown Celtic ‘A’ next week in cup action. Thurles Town had their relegation all but confirmed as they fell to a 5 – 1 defeat to league hopefuls Nenagh Celtic ‘A’ at the Thurles Greyhound Stadium venue. Thurles knew it was all or nothing in this game and with the wind at their backs, they took a deserved lead with a wonderfully struck finish from Luke Jordan to see the bottom side take a slender lead into the half time break. However, the second half was a completely different game where Celtic hit Thurles for 5 unanswered goals thanks to a Craig Connolly brace, strikes from Mark Walsh and Stephen Flynn coupled with an own goal. Celtic now can force a winner takes all play off with local rivals Nenagh AFC if both sides win their remaining games, which unfortunately for Thurles Town, includes matches against both the table topping sides.
First Division Barry Cup Semi Finals
Streamstown Celtic ‘A’ continue to have bragging rights over their title chasing rivals Holycross as the Roscrea side overcame a late rally from Holycross to book their spot in the divisional cup final. A windswept Glenbane saw a game of two halfs where Streamstown took a 2 nil lead into the half time break thanks to a headed goal from Christopher Murphy and a covered penalty from Craig Byrne. Brian Barrett got on the score sheet midway through the second half to test the nerves of their opponents, who held out despite some late pressure from Holycross who will feel their second half performance deserved the benefit of extra time. Borrisokane ‘A’ overcame Nenagh AFC ‘B’ in another thrilling semi-final where it took extra time to separate the sides. John Butler netted for the home side and Tommy Martin scored for the visitors, but both sides found it difficult to break down some well drilled defences and extra time ensued, where Butler grabbed his second and the games winning goal to set up a mouth-watering final with league hopefuls Streamstown Celtic, with both sides already having to face each other in their final league game of the season.
Second Division Nora Kennedy Cup
BT Harps ‘B’ defeated neighbours Roscrea United ‘B’ in a keenly contested semi-final and can take some solace in the result after the previous title play off which Roscrea won a number of weeks ago. In a game where it was all square at the break, it was Roscrea who took an early lead in the second half as John Pio Fitzpatrick netted, but the lead was short lived as Stevie Quinlan continued his good season with a clever finish. Again, Roscrea took the lead thanks to Joe Callaghan but again Harps levelled to force extra time via the boot of Dylan Loughnane. The winning goal came courtesy of Harps veteran Johnny Doran who placed an unstoppable free kick in to the roof of the net to set up a final with Nenagh AFC ‘C’ next Saturday evening as the Brickfield side look to leave the NT&DL with some silverware in their possession.
Third Division Fast Food Cup
Gurtagarry are still on course to complete a league and cup double as they saw off a determined Lough Derg ‘B’ to book their semi-final spot thanks to a late 2 – 1 win. It was one nil to the visitors at half time as Gurtagarry striker Billy Corcoran finished a well worked move for the league champions. Lough Derg to their credit piled on the pressure early in the second half and they were deservedly rewarded when Keith Stritch levelled. In a fast paced game, it seemed like extra time was required to try and separate the sides, but once again Billy Cocoran came to Gurtagarrys rescue as he headed home a late Nicky Ryan corner to win the game. In the first of the semi-finals, Shannon Rangers welcomed Sallypark ‘B’ to Ballinderry and it was the home side who booked their spot in the final thanks to a hard earned 3 – 1 victory. There was no denying Shannon Rangers in this tie and it was their clinical finishing in front of goal which was the separating factor. Keith Kelly was in unstoppable form as he bagged a brace in addition to a strike from team mate Sean Moran. To Sallyparks credit, they had Mark Dwyer on the score sheet but they couldn’t break down a stubborn home defence who will now face the winners of Gurtagarry and league newcomers Ballywilliam United in the cup final.
Youths Divisional Cup
Nenagh Celtic Youths travelled to Glenbane to face a resurgent Hoylcross Youths and were made to work very hard for a merited 3 – 2 victory to see them through to the next round. Celtic ran into a 2 nil thanks to Oisin O’Meara and a converted Jamie Kelly penalty. Holycross rallied and drew level in the second half thanks to a brace from the impressive Stephen Flanagan. However, Celtic weren’t to be denied their place in the next round as Jamie Kelly bagged his second goal of the game and the winner late in the second half. Ardcroney Youths pushed form side Ballymackey Youths all the way in high scoring game, where once again it was the free scoring Gearoid Murohy who was the difference on the day as he bagged yet another hat trick as his purple path in front of goal continues. BT Harps Youths delightedly returned to winning ways as they stream rolled an understrength Cloughjordan Youths side 5 nil to advance to the semi-final stages of the cup with goals coming from Connor Sheedy, Stevie Quinlan, Ciaran Thorpe and a Shane Fogarty brace.