Munster Junior Cup
The game of the day between Nenagh AFC and Nenagh Celtic at the Islandbawn venue produced an intriguing contest where Nenagh Celtic came out on top against last season’s Munster Junior Cup finalists on a 5-4 scoreline. Nenagh AFC were fast out of the traps and raced in to a two nil lead inside the opening fifteen minutes with strikes from Brian Quinn and Thomas Sheppard. Nenagh Celtic were back in the fray when Leigh Tappenden breached the opposition’s rearguard. It was all square at the break after Jimmy Hynes scored with a smashing headed effort following fine play from Sean Healy on the wing. A thrilling encounter saw Nenagh Celtic rattle the hosts with a hat-trick of goals early in the second half as Mark Walsh and Craig Connolly found the net while Leigh Tappenden added his second of the day. Nenagh AFC launched a late come back and a tension packed finale saw goals from Michael O’Gorman and Mark McKenna leave the bare minimum between the sides, however Celtic held firm to book their place in the 4th round with a home fixture against Limerick Desmond League side Broadford United.
Premier Division League
Thurles Town remain in contention following a 4-1 win over Borroway Rovers in this derby game played at Thurles Greyhound Stadium on Sunday morning. Liam Mackey set the home side on their way with a goal from a free kick on the fifteen minute mark. Eoin Dorney made it two nil after back heeling to the net on 24 minutes. Thurles Town kept the pressure and took a three nil lead to the break when Fintan Moore’s shot from distance went all the way. Borroway Rovers upped the ante after the re-start and pulled a goal back with a Keith Moore finish on the 65 minute mark. Thurles Town resumed control and Liam Dorney raced on to a through ball to slot home in the 73rd minute. Sean O’Connell had the ball in the Borroway net four minutes from time; however the effort was disallowed for offside.
BT Harps trekked to Borrisokane for this Premier league encounter and recorded a three nil victory over the home side. The tie was scoreless at the break; however James Kavanagh broke the deadlock a minute after the re-start to give BT Harps the lead. James Kavanagh added a second on sixty minutes before Christy Moore wrapped it up for the Templemore side with sixteen minutes to go.
First Division League
Rearcross were the visitors to Templemore for a league fixture against BT Harps ‘B’ and came away with the win on a 3-1 scoreline. Rearcross went ahead twenty minutes in when Liam O’Toole headed home at the back post following a corner kick. The visitors took up a two nil lead on 49 minutes when Eamon Wade scored with a fantastic effort from thirty yards. BT Harps didn’t give up and pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute after Paul Tuohy got on the end of Cathal Leahy’s delivery to finish to the corner of the net from just inside the box. Rearcross should have extended their advantage but were thwarted by some fine goalkeeping from Noel Leahy. Rearcross eventually seal the win when good work by Kieran Devitt saw Derek O’Toole break through the centre to finish between the posts with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Drombane was the venue for this First Division League game between Clodiagh Rangers ‘A’ and Moneygall ‘A’ with a two all draw the final outcome. The visitors made the brighter start and took a deserved lead on twenty minutes when Michael Parlon was on the mark. The sides went in level at the break after Paul Doyle curled home a delightful free kick from the edge of the box. A Damien O’Brien penalty on the hour mark restored Moneygall’s lead, Clodiagh Rangers kept the pressure on a grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of full time when Paul Doyle scored again with another free kick effort to give the home side a merited point.
Second Division League
Division Two pace setters Clonmore maintained their advantage at the top of the table with a gritty 2-1 away win over Kilcommon last Sunday. The visitors were first to score when Tommy Deegan rattled the net with just six minutes gone. The home side matched the league leaders throughout and equalized in the 4th minute of the second half courtesy of a Shane Ryan goal. It was end to end to the full time whistle, however Ray Doyle latched on to a cross three minutes from the end to knock the ball between the posts to clinch the win for Clonmore.
Templetuohy made it back to back wins following a 2-1 win over Sallypark ‘B’ last Sunday in Killoran Park. Sallypark enjoyed their fair session of possession in the first half, however it was the home side that held a one nil lead at the midway stage thanks to a PJ O’Brien strike. The visitors got it back to one all on the sixty minute mark through Damien Brady , however Templetuohy pressed strongly after this and pounced for the winner ten minutes from time when PJ O’Brien netted his second of the day.
Puckane’s winning ways continued with a narrow 2-1 win over Nenagh AFC ‘C’ last Sunday at the Puckane venue. A double hit from Paraic Kelly gave Puckane a two nil lead. David Fahey narrowed the deficit for Brickfields side on 55 minutes with a goal from the spot; however the home side defended in numbers after this to hold out for the win against a Nenagh AFC side that were unlucky not to take something from the game.
Third Division League
League leaders Shannon Rangers had to battle all the way to secure a 3-2 win over Ballymackey ‘B’ in Ballinree last Sunday morning. The visitors were first score when Josh McKenna was taken down in the box before stepping up to convert with aplomb. Darragh Haugh doubled the Shannon Rangers lead with his first of the season midway through the half. Ballymackey came back strong before the break but were unable to open their account. The home side attacked again after the resumption; however the Ballinderry side made it three nil with a fantastic finish from Barry Cahalan. Ballymackey didn’t throw in the towel and reduced the deficit on the hour mark with a David Fagan goal. A tense finish ensued when Michael Connolly netted a second for Ballymackey to leave the minimum between the sides. Shannon Rangers goalkeeper Keith Kelly was to the fore to secure the win for the table toppers.
Holycross ‘B’ kept the pressure on at the top of the Third Division league following a 4-2 result over Gurtagarry at the Glenbane venue on Sunday. Jojo O’Meara opened the Holycross account after eight minutes with a well worked goal. A Mark Shannon free kick effort gave the home side a two nil advantage at the midway stage. Gurtagarry showed strongly at the start of the second half and reduced the deficit through Ronnie Kinnane in the 55th minute. The Holycross reaction was swift as an in form Jojo O’Meara scored again a minute later to give Holycross a 3-1 lead. Gurtagarry kept plugging and brought it back to the minimum with ten minutes to go when Conor Maxwell hit the target. Holycross had the last say when Jojo O’Meara netted again on 82 minutes to complete his hat-trick and a deserved win for the home side.
The meeting of Moneygall ‘B’ and Nenagh Celtic ‘C’ in Ballingrawn produced six goals as the teams finished level at the end of ninety minutes. A double hit from Tony O’Connor including a penalty conversion and a brilliant 40 yard strike from Kevin Powell made up the Moneygall tally while Nenagh Celtic’s goals were scored by Brian Kevin who netted a brace in addition to a well taken effort from Callum Robertson
A high scoring league encounter saw Noreside Celtic and Cloughjordan ‘B’ tied on a four all scoreline at the full time whistle in Montore last Sunday. Michael Costigan helped himself to a hat-trick while Niall Matthews was also on the score sheet for Noreside Celtic. The Cloughjordan marksmen were Thomas Williams who scored twice from the spot, Andy Brennan and Conor Deane also obliged for the away side.
Munster Youths Cup
Nenagh AFC Youths welcomed Clonmel Town to Nenagh Brickfields for a Munster Youths Cup game and progressed to the fourth round on a two nil score line. Alan Sheehan and Danny Butler scored the Nenagh goals to send the TSDL side home empty handed.
Youths League
BT Harps Youths came out on top against Clodiagh Rangers Youths last Saturday by the odd goal in three in Templemore. The visitors went ahead with a Ger Grant goal in the opening half, however BT Harps enjoyed the better of the second half exchanges and were back on par in the 65th minute when Colin O’Donovan’s well struck shot found the bottom corner. The home side secured maximum points when Colin O’Donovan bagged his second of the outing with a twenty yard drive coming in the 79th minute to leave no way back for the visitors on this occasion.
Rearcross Youths and Arra Rovers met in this league tie played in Rearcross on Saturday evening with the Portroe side claiming all three points on a 4-2 score line. The home side opened the scoring on the fifteen minute mark when Gary O’Brien’s free kick was finished to net with a headed flick from Kevin Mulcahy. The visitors got back on par eighteen minutes before the break when Conor Ryan’s low pile driver was deflected to the net. Arra Rovers edged ahead in the 66th minute when Conor Ryan did well on the left before slotting to the corner of the net from a tight angle. The visitors stretched their advantage after Eoin Daly’s speculative effort was turned to net twelve minutes from the end to give Arra Rovers a second own goal. The sides traded penalties in the final two minutes as Aidan Moloney made it 3-2 to Rearcross with a well taken penalty in the 89th minute and then Conor Ryan not to be outdone stepped up to complete his hat-trick from the spot in the 91st minute.
Results
Munster Youths Cup
Nenagh AFC 2 Clonmel Town 0
Youths League
Ardcroney P-P Nenagh Celtic
B T Harps 2 Clodiagh Rangers 1
Rearcross 2 Arra Rovers 4
Munster Junior Cup
Cloughjordan 1 Ballymackey 0
Nenagh AFC A 4 Nenagh Celtic 5
Premier Division League
Thurles Town 4 Borroway Rovers 1
Borrisokane 0 B T Harps 3
Sallypark P-P Lough Derg
Division 1 League
Arra Rovers P-P Thurles Celtic
Nenagh AFC B P-P Ardcroney
BT Harps B 1 Rearcross 3
Clodiagh Rangers 2 Moneygall 2
Division 2 League
Templetuohy 2 Sallypark B 1
Puckane 2 Nenagh AFC C 1
Kilcommon 1 Clonmore 2
Division 3 League
Holycross B 4 Gurtagarry 2
Moneygall B 3 Nenagh Celtic C 3
Ballymackey B 2 Shannon Rangers 3
Noreside Celtic 4 Cloughjordan B 4
Lough Derg P-P Clodiagh Rangers B
The North Tipperary & District League fixtures will resume on January 5th-6th.
A full programme of fixtures will return on January 5th while only Under-13 Division One games will take place on December 29th. The NTSFL would like to congratulate both Tommy Holland (Ardcroney) and Cian Darcy (Nenagh AFC) for playing with the Ireland under-15 side last week. The NTSFL would also like to wish Stevie Nolan (BT Harps) all the best as he flies to Qatar to play for the Ireland under-15s against Qatar and against Juventus at the acclaimed Aspire Academy.
Fixtures
Saturday, December 22nd
Under-12 Division 2
Holycross v BT Harps B at 12.30pm
Sallypark v Nenagh AFC C at 11am
Under-14 Premier
Ballymackey v Holycross at 12.30pm
Nenagh AFC v Ardcroney at 10.30am
Arra Rovers v BT Harps at 11am
Under-14 Division 1
Nenagh AFC B v Lough Derg at 12noon
Under-16 Premier
Ballymackey v Nenagh AFC at 11am
BT Harps v Arra Rovers at 11am
Holycross v Ardcroney at 11am
Under-16 Division 1
Lough Derg v Nenagh Celtic at 11am
NTSFL Girls League
Under-14 Girls
Holycross v Shinrone at 1.30pm
Saturday, December 29th
Under-13 Division 1 (11am)
Nenagh AFC C v Cloughjordan
Arra Rovers v BT Harps B
Silvermines v Sallypark
Shinrone v Nenagh AFC B
Results
Munster Girls Under-14 Cup Final
Nenagh AFC 0-3 Rathkeale
Under-13 Premier
Nenagh AFC 8-0 Holycross
BT Harps 5-0 Ballymackey
Under-13 Division 1
Nenagh AFC C 1-4 Shinrone
Under-15 Premier
Sallypark 2-1 Cloughjordan
Under-12 Girls Premier
Borris-St Kevin’s 3-3 Ballymackey
Birdhill 0-5 Holycross
Nenagh AFC 2-1 Shinrone
Under-12 Division 1
Nenagh AFC B 1-4 Cloughjordan
Nenagh Celtic 4-3 Holycross B