FAI Cup Quarter Final Reports 11th February 2024 Match Reports
Peake Villa 3 – 0 Buncrana Hearts
Current TSDL Premier league holders Peake Villa booked their place in the quarter finals of the prestigious FAI Junior Cup on Sunday afternoon when they downed a highly rated Buncrana Hearts side who came to the Premier County with a big reputation, at the Tower Grounds in Thurles. The visitors began with a slight breeze at their backs, and started the better, taking control of the early possession for the first twenty minutes, but without creating a lot in front of goal. It was the hosts who had the first good chance in the half on thirty four minutes when Darragh Byrne had a shot on goal that was well saved by Taylor Clarke in the Donegal’s sides goal. But eventually the Villa grew into the game, and just three minutes later they took the lead when a corner made its way out to Michael Quinlan, whose shot found the bottom corner of the net. They nearly doubled their lead two minutes before the break, when a great free kick from Pippy Carroll rattled the crossbar, but was cleared away to safety. The second period however saw the TSDL side take the game to the visitors playing some good football, and they finally did get that second goal twenty minutes from time when another corner, this time taken by Quinlan, was headed into the net by Pippy Carroll. After travelling all the way to Tipperary, the Buncrana side tried to find a way back into the game and had a great chance ten minutes from the end but home keeper Shane McGuire made a great save to deny them. The goal of the game came three minutes from time when Dale Loughnane broke away and passed four defenders before slotting his shot to the bottom corner, to the delight of the home fans. They saw out the game to record a great home win in front of a large crowd and must now be beginning to believe that this might be the year they could become the third Tipperary side to pick up this most prestigious of trophies in Irish football
Clonmel Celtic 2 – 1 Letterkenny Rovers
Jamie Hearne may only be a recent addition to the squad but he wrote his name into Clonmel Celtic folklore with an injury time strike that completed a stunning comeback to clinch a place in the last eight of the FAI Junior Cup for the TSDL side. Moments earlier Cian O’Sullivan scored a deserved equaliser just when it looked the Donegal side had done enough after Zach Gorman had fired them ahead in the 53rd minute. Played on a good surface before a decent sized crowd, Celtic made a good start to the game with some nice link up play and seemed to settle quicker that the visitors. The away side did have the first attempt on goal with Adrian Delap trying a shot from distance that didn’t trouble Fabian Kerton however. Delap was looking likely as the Donegal side began to find their way into the contest and Zach Gorman saw his free kick clear the bar ten minutes in. Two minutes later Cian O’Sullivan was called into action to stop a promising attack from the Rovers. Celtic at this stage were relying on quick breaks and were nearly in on twenty one minutes but Blake Forkan was quick off his line to deny Philly Drohan with a fine save. They came even closer on the half hour, when from a quick break Philly Drohan released Darren Sweeney who did well to hold off the defender but his effort was inches wide when it looked destined for the corner of the net. The Donegal side finished the half well but the home rearguard held firm. Adrian Delap was prominent again in the early stages on the second half and he flashed a shot just wide two minutes in. The visitors didn’t have to wait much longer and they hit the front in the fifty third minute, when Zach Gorman’s low shot served away from Kerton to find the net. It was a blow for Celtic but their response was excellent. Straight away they took the game to Letterkenny winning battles all over the pitch. The away side began to drop deeper and deeper and on seventy-three minutes, minutes Sean Brown’s overhead kick saw Blake Forkan scrambling across his line to push the ball away. At this stage it looked as time would be Celtic’s enemy, despite creating lots of chances, seeing themselves denied time after time. But the best was saved until last. It was a great fighting display by the hosts and they got their reward in the final minute when another ball into the box fell at the feet of Cian O’Sullivan and he made no mistake as he fired low through a crowd of players to find the net to huge roars from the home crowd. It looked as the game was heading for extra time but Celtic had the momentum now as they continued to push forward. After suffering a late setback last week, it was the opposite this time. Two minutes into time added on, Philly Drohan did well on the left and his cross found Jamie Ahearne on the edge of the box and he kept his composure to fire a stunning effort to the corner that left the Rovers’ keeper rooted to the spot. Celtic have had some big wins over the years, but rarely has the bypass witnessed such a joyous reaction from supporters when Ahern’s hit the net. It completed a stunning late comeback to an exciting contest, and heartbreak for Letterkenny who played their part in a very sporting game.
Evergreen 0 – 2 St Michael’s
St Michael’s made it a clean sweep for the TSDL away in Kilkenny on Sunday, to book their quarter final place in the FAI Cup, with a very assured performance against Evergreen. They were right at it from the beginning and almost took the lead in the opening minute, but Russell Quirke’s shot went narrowly wide. The game then settled into a tense dogged tussle with clear chances at a premium. The first goal was always going to be crucial and first blood came to the Saints in the twenty eight minute when Jimmy Carr got the ball on his left leg and his effort flew in off the post to the visiting supporters delight. Aido Walsh did well to punch away an Evergreen free kick as they looked for a quick response, but the experienced Tipperary side drew the sting out of their attacks and went to the break a goal to the good. The Kilkenny sided had a lot of possession in the second half but found Adrian Walsh and the visiting defence equal to everything that came their way. They did have a spell midway through the half, where they looked particularly dangerous, but the wily old Saints produced heroics time and again to keep them out. A tight game was eventually put to bed seven minutes from time, when Jimmy Carr won a free on the left and Rhys O’Regan’s delivery saw Seanie Guerins flick a header beyond the grasp of Nathan Owens in the Evergreen goal to double the Saint’s advantage. Evergreen threw everything at the away side over the last few minutes, but it was never going to be enough and once again Michael’s must be thinking of how close they are to the trophy they covet probably above all others.
TSDL First Division 11th February 2024 Match Reports
Old Bridge 0 – 5 Galbally United
Galbally secured a vital three points in this game as they leapfrogged a very disappointing Old Bridge side in the Division One table at Ferryhouse on Sunday. With both sides in danger of being sucked into a relegation battle, the result will have ramifications beyond the game itself, but the visiting side were right on their game from the beginning, and opened the scoring in the third minute through a neat finish by Ger Quinlan. This was quickly followed when Michael O’Sullivan found the net, and Ger Quinlan added to his home sides woes with a third after just fifteen minutes. This left the away side in total control and there was little in response from The Bridge with the exception of an Alex Greene effort, which hit the crossbar midway through the half. In the end there were no more goals and Galbally were very good value for their first half lead. They didn’t take their foot off the pedal in the second period either and added two more goals with efforts from Jamie Morrissey and Cathal O’ Mahoney to complete the rout. All in all it was a deserved win, but Bridge will have to improve very quickly if they are not to slide into a battle they never expected at the beginning of the campaign.
TSDL Second Division 11th February 2024 Match Reports
Rosegreen Rangers 1 – 5 Two Mile Borris
Borris’ seconds travelled to Rosegreen on Sunday morning in their first league game back since before Christmas, and showed no signs of ring rustiness when they recorded a big win that extends their large lead over the pack in Division Two. Aided by a strong wind in the first half, the visitors Borris created plenty of chances only to be denied by some fine saves by the home keeper. They finally broke the deadlock however in the twentieth minute, when a Martin Darmody corner was met by the head of Pauric Fogarty, and it sailed into the net unimpeded. Right on the stroke of half time they made it two, when Darmody himself finished from close range, after some excellent build up play. Now playing against a strong wind in the second half, the visitors had some extra work to do, but they still started where they left on in the first half, and were soon three to the good when Daniel Rafter headed to the net ten minutes in. Two minutes later the home side finally pulled a goal back through a Mark Furlong strike. But this didn’t un-nerve Borris, and they re-established their three goal lead ten minutes from time after a fine finish from Jack Delaney. Right on the stroke of full time, the away side were awarded a penalty after Delaney was fouled in the area, and Martin Darmody capped a fine team performance when he finished it coolly to the net to give his side a well-deserved win.
Powerstown 1 – 3 Suirside
Suirside took all three points away to Powerstown, to put a dent in the home sides hopes of catching up in the title race, in what were very tricky underfoot conditions on Sunday afternoon. John Allen put the visitors in front after just nine minutes, when a cross to the back post found him all alone, and his header trickled into the right bottom corner. The hosts responded well, and Cathal Mc Keown and Jack Barlow both with big chances but neither could find an equaliser before the break. The game was a tough battle in the second period with both sides finding it difficult to create clear chances, but finally a Brendan Boland header brought Powerstown back into the game five minutes after the hour mark. A cross from Gino Lonergan found Boland who made no mistake with the finish. But Suirside restored their advantage twelve minutes later. A home defender was adjudged to have handled the ball on the line, and the referee rightly pointed to the spot and brandished a red card, reducing the home side to ten men. David Brannigan stepped up and scored the resulting penalty to put his side ahead. The hosts then committed bodies forward in search of an equaliser but were punished, when John Darmody followed up with a third goal two minutes from time to conclude the scoring.
TSDL Third Division 10th February 2024 Match Reports
Donohill and District 1 – 3 SC & K United
The visitors continued their recent good form with another good win in this game when they travelled to Donohill and came away with a three goal to one victory. They started the brighter and were well on top in the opening ten minutes, and that pressure told when Mark Heffernan opened the scoring shortly after. That seemed to settle the home side down however, and they competed well, eventually getting an equaliser on the half hour mark, when Dinny Crosse rifled a free kick to the net. For the final fifteen minutes of the half, the home side were on top, but missed two glorious goalscoring chances, and the half finished all square. In the second period, the away side upped their game and Jamie Roche put them back in front in the sixty third minute with and excellent scissors kick goal. The hosts tried hard to get back into game after that, but the Kilsheelan based side dealt well with everything thrown at them. Ten minutes from the end, Mark Heffernan capitalised on a defensive error to put game to bed with his second and his sides third goal.
Ballingarry Albion 7 – 1 Tipperary Town
Ballingarry Albion out a recent defeat behind them with a big win at home against Tipperary Town on Sunday afternoon. They had their first chance of the game in the sixth minute when Ian Ivors played Marty Ivors in behind the defence but he failed to get a shot away. They continued to make chances however and finally made their pressure count in the twenty fourth minute when Ian Ivors won a free kick deep in the Tipp Town half and he took a quick shot catching the visiting keeper off guard to see the ball nestle in the net. But the away side weren’t going easily, and had not one but two great chances to equalise before the hosts added two quickfire goals in the last minutes of the first half through Paul Fogarty and Dylan Walsh, to give themselves a healthy three goal lead at the break. Dylan Walsh added his second of the day five minutes into the second half, to ensure there would be no comeback, but Town to their credit plugged away as any decent side does and gave themselves a lifeline in the seventieth minute when they won a penalty which was brilliantly dispatched. That was as good as it got for them however and the home side retook a four goal lead minutes after when Adam O Connell was sent through by Ian Ivors and the young man had the composure to lob the keeper from outside the box. They added a sixth seven minutes from time when John Pollard went through two tackles before being brought down in the box to win a penalty. Up stepped Bobby Chapman to coolly put away his first goal of the season and for the club. And they rounded off the day two minutes from time, when Pollard again flew down the right wing and flashed a great ball across the goal for Patrick Ivors to tap in from close range.
TSDL Youths reports 10th February 2024 Match Reports
Munster Youths Cup ¼ final
Cashel Town 1 – 2 Aisling Annacotty (AET 1-1 FT)
Cashel Town’s youths suffered heartbreak when they exited the Munster Youth Cup after an extra time defeat to Limerick side Aisling Annacotty at Dixie Currivan Park in Cashel on Saturday afternoon. The home side have been flying of late in domestic competition, but this is their first time in years getting so deep in a provincial competition, and showed some nerve in the early stages, allowing the visitors to start the stronger with plenty of possession but without creating any real chances. Eventually the hosts looked like they had grown into the game, but they were rocked back in the eighteenth minute when they were caught out by a goal from Cathal Downes, who waltzed all too easily through the home defence. Town didn’t let this set back affect them and drew level on nine minutes before the break, when Artem Izhko saw his stunning strike fly to the back of the net. The second half was a great game off football on a very heavy pitch with both sides creating chances but great goalkeeping and poor finishing failing to add any more scores. In extra time Cashel came close to scoring when a great shot from Callum Butler was headed brilliantly off the line. But from the clearance, the visitors broke and scored with Alex Keating finishing well. The final ten minutes saw the home side throw the kitchen sink at their opponents, but to no avail, and in the end, they were disconsolate to see themselves drop out of the competition.
Munster Youth Cup 1/4 Finals
College Corinthians 1 – 0 Two Mile Borris
This eagerly awaited match was played in ideal conditions with a good crowd watching. Corinthians started the game well and were in the ascendancy for the first twenty minutes but failed to find the net due to solid defensive work from the Borris back four and keeper. The TSDL side then had their spell on top for the rest of the half, and had some good chances to score but didn’t take any of them. They also had a big shout for a penalty but in the end the half finished all square at nil all. It was a very even game from the start of the second period, up to when the hosts took the lead in the seventy fifth minute. A corner was whipped into the Borris box and a Corinthians player rose high above everyone to score with a powerful header. Borris tried everything to equalise but despite coming close on a few occasions they just couldn’t find the net. The Cork side defended for their lives up to the final whistle and held out for victory in a very entertaining match.
TSDL Youths Div 2
Clonmel Town 1 – 3 Two Mile Borris
Clonmel Town’s seconds played hosts to Two Mile Borris in the home sides last youth league game of the season, at a wet and windy O’Callaghan Park on Saturday afternoon, and although they were the wrong side of the scoreline at the end, will be very happy that such a young team has gotten some brilliant experience at this level over the season. Town started brightly with Cian McGrath and Cian LeBlanc both getting shots away without troubling the keeper, before they took the lead in the tenth minute when Patryk Galka set up Conor Makim to stroke a wonderful shot over the keeper from distance into the top right-hand corner. That seemed to kick-start the visitors into life, and they scored two goals in the final five minutes of the half to go into the break in front. First Conor Ryan beat the home keeper from the end of the area, and then Cian O Dwyer headed home from a corner kick. The second half saw the heavy rain return and would continue to come down for the entire half. It looked most likely that a set piece would provide the best avenue for the next goal and Town had their share with Cian Le Blanc and Jack Cooney delivering good crosses and shots but the Borris defence held firm. Borris did have a brilliant chance to put the game beyond reach when they were awarded a penalty around the hour mark, but the Town keeper guessed right and saved to keep his team in the tie. Town had a strong penalty claim of their own when Cian McGrath shipped a heavy tackle in the box but stayed in his feet to shoot just wide five minutes from time. But in the end, as so often happens, in chasing an equaliser, the home side left themselves open, and the visitors did get an insurance goal in the final minutes when Cian O Dwyer pounced to add a second, and his sides third to ensure the win.