Clodiagh Rangers come out on the right side of a seven-goal thriller with Ballymackey

North Tipperary District League 

Clodiagh Rangers B 4

Ballymackey B 3

Clodiagh welcomed old foes Ballymackey to Drombane on Sunday last for this important NTDL Division 2 clash.

The large crowd in attendance didn’t have to wait too long to be entertained as both sides went toe to toe from kick-off, with no quarter offered or expected.

Clodiagh began brightly and were unlucky not to take the lead through Conor Ryan, who saw himself through on goal only to be thwarted by the Ballymackey goalkeeper. The home side did finally break the deadlock in the 27th minute when Oisin Treacy netted his first after some good work from Blaine Carroll saw him through with only the keeper to beat.

Clodiagh soon doubled their lead when the superb Pa Dwyer latched onto Niall Shanahan’s knockdown to drill a low shot in off the post to send the home crowd wild.

Oisin Treacy bagged his second just before half-time when he cleverly lobbed the keeper to give Clodiagh a comfortable lead just before the break.

Unfortunately for the home side, complacency slipped in and Ballymackey pulled one back just before half-time to give themselves a lifeline.

The second half started as the first ended with Ballymackey on the attack. This paid off in the 61st minute when they scored again and Clodiagh’s season-long issues with maintaining a lead emerged again. Ballymackey continued to fight and their tenaciousness paid off in the 82nd minute when they scored a third to draw level, silencing the home crowd.

Clodiagh managed to snatch the victory in injury time when substitute Jim Dwyer was the quickest to pounce after Pa Dwyer’s good work in midfield saw the ball spill and the striker through on goal. Jim Dwyer's clever finish below the onrushing keeper secured the points for the home side much to the relief of the home crowd.

Clodiagh Rangers B: Mickey Griffin, John Ryan, Eanna Ryan, Rian Treacy, Stephen Gleeson, Pa Dwyer, Blaine Carroll, Niall Shanahan, Sean Ryan, Oisin Treacy, Conor Ryan.

Subs used: Michael Brown, Tom Foot, Eamon Cullagh, Jim Dwyer, Keith Ryan.