Compiled by Adrian Cooke
Premier League
Thurles Town have it all to do to avoid relegation from the Premier League after they fell to a narrow 2 – 1 defeat on the road to Roscrea United ‘A’. The game played at the CBS venue exploded into life when the home sides top scorer this season Paul Kirwan capitalised on an early defensive mix up to tap home after just two minutes. As the half progressed, the deteriorating playing surface dictated that the winner of this match would have to dig deep as it was turning out to be a game where the free flowing attacking styles both sides are accustomed to wasn’t allowed to develop. It finished 1 nil at the break and as the first half started with a goal, so did the second, but it was the visitors who scored when Tom Brophy finished well to level matters. Thurles pushed hard for a winner to earn some desperately needed league points and were playing some good football despite their current league position, but the home defence was in no mood to concede again and Roscrea went one better when they scored the winner in the 72nd minute thanks to a fine individual goal from Joe Moloney. Thurles Town now have the task of looking to take points from the top two sides in the Premier League whom they face in their remaining matches if they have any chance of performing their own great escape. High flying Nenagh Celtic ‘A’ continue to impress with another fine display as they brought a halt to the recent Cloughjordan ‘A’ unbeaten streak. Celtic had the better share of possession and chances in the first half and limited Cloughjordan to the single effort on goal. Craig Connolly continues to impress in the attacking third and it was his well struck volley which put the hosts into a deserved lead at half time. Nenagh were finding matters in front of goal frustrating as the second half progressed with the woodwork coming to the rescue for Cloughjordan. However, the lead was doubled when the quick thinking Mark Walsh played an early free kick to the feet of Jimmy Hynes who made no mistake. Cloughjordan, to their credit rallied and reduced the deficit with ten minutes remaining when PJ O’Brien added to his impressive Premier League tally for the season to test the nerves of the home side for the remainder of the match. Celtic held out for another important three points as they continue to force Nenagh AFC ‘A’ to look over their shoulder in the race for league honours. Nenagh FC ‘A’ are still in pole position but know any slip up in the run in to their campaign could be costly.
Premier League Ricky Fogarty Cup
Current Ricky Fogarty cup holders Nenagh AFC ‘A’ embarked on the defence of their cup with a comprehensive 4 – 0 win over BT Harps ‘A’. Harps who were missing a number of regulars could not contend with the Brickfield side who were looking to put last week’s result in the Munster Junior Cup behind them and it was the Templemore side who bore the brunt of some clinical finishing in front of goal as Dan Dalton, Jahar Singh, Thomas Sheppard and Craig McDonnell all scored to safely see them through to the next round.
First Division
All eyes were on Fanure Sunday morning as unbeaten Holycross travelled to face league title rivals Streamstown Celtic ‘A’ in a match where only a single point would have sealed the First Division title for Holycross. However, in their way stood a determined Streamstown who themselves had only lost the single game so far this season. With Holycross winning the previous league encounter between these two sides, it was Streamstown this time who took control of the league title destination thanks to a ten minute spell in the first half where the Roscrea side scored 3 times thanks to quality strikes from Shane Moloney, Derek Halpin and Dippy Murphy. The second half started in favour of the Holycross side who no undoubtedly had strong words ringing in their ears from manager Thomas Dwan, and they soon got on the score sheet thanks to Calum O’Connor. The Glenbane outfit pushed hard for another but found Streamstown in mean form as they defended their advances with the aid of weather beaten home pitch. Kyle Denny scored a late penalty for Holycross to reduce the score to 3 -2 but the damage was done in that ten minute period of the first half which means Streamstown now have to face Borrisokane knowing only a win will see them outright champions and a draw forcing a title deciding playoff with Holycross.
First Division Barry Cup
Borrisokane advanced in to the next round of the divisional cup thanks to a slender 1 nil over Borroway Rovers at the Thurles venue Sunday morning. In a tightly contested encounter real opportunities were at a premium throughout and it appeared to be a game where the single goal would win it, and that transpired to be the case when Daniel Butler netted the all-important winner to knock last year’s beaten finalists out of the competition.
Second Division Nora Kennedy Cup
Clodiagh Rangers ‘B’ travelled to Islandbawn to face Nenagh AFC ‘C’ in this rearranged cup semi-final, which transpired to be a tough fought match with the hosts booking their place in the cup final thanks to a slender 1 nil victory. Kieran O’Brien netted the winner to see Nenagh AFC ‘A’ through to their second cup final in a row. Roscrea United ‘B’ booked their semi-final spot to play BT Harps after they overcame a depleted Ballymackey ‘A’ side with a convincing 7 nil win to see a repeat of the Second Division league decider with the only difference seeing the match to be played in Templemore where a cup final appearance will go some way to alleviating the outcome of the previous match for Harps.
Division 3
With league honours already decided, Gurtagarry travelled to face Lough Derg ‘B’ who are still in with a chance of promotion as they stay in third place thanks to 0 – 0 draw with the league champions. Both sides carved out their fair share of chances, but it was the visiting keeper who came out on top as he denied the home side the opportunity to pull clear of Ballymackey ‘B’ who are level on points with the Clarisford side after they too drew thanks to a 1 – 1 score line with Sallypark ‘B’. Eugen Foley netted for the home side but his effort was cancelled out by Rory Mounsey who adds to his impressive league tally. In another of the divisions drawn games this weekend, Ballywilliam and Rearcross ‘B’ played out an entertaining 2 – 2 draw, where the home side will rue giving up a 2 nil lead at the break after Shane Butler and Niall Madden both scored. They say that a 2 nil lead is probably the hardest lead to defend in football and this proved to be the case as Rearcross grabbed what at half time appeared to be an unlikely point thanks to efforts from Kieran Devitt and PJ McLoughlin. The game between Borrisokane ‘B’ and Clodiagh Rangers ‘C’ was abandoned due to a serious injury to Borrisokane player David Kennedy, whom we would like to wish a speedy recovery.
Youths Division
An impressive Holycross Youths side gave Nenagh AFC Youths a tough game in advance of Nenagh’s Munster Youths Cup Semi-Final next week. In this high scoring game, it was Nenagh who dominated the early exchanges and found themselves 2 nil up, but Holycross then took hold and scored three times to lead at the break thanks to a Philly Fogarty brace and a Stephen Flanagan strike. Not long into the second half Ross Glennon then levelled the game at 3 – 3 and it was two late goals in the last ten minutes that sees the Brickfields side remain unbeaten and in the most part in was down to the hat trick scored by Nenagh star player of late, Francis Munsterberg who continues to impress and both Junior and Youth level for his club.