Munster Junior Cup Results 11/09/2022 Match Reports
Clonmel Celtic 1 – 2 St Michael’s
When the draw was made for the first round of this years Munster Junior Cup South Tipperary section, this was always going to be seen as the glamour tie, with a rejuvenated Clonmel Celtic side going toe to toe with their perennial rivals from Tipperary town. And the game lived up to its billing, even if the underdogs were unable to dump the Saints out of the competition at the first time of asking. A very wet surface contributed to the lively encounter, and the hosts had the first effort on goal with Tom Holland batting away a powerful effort from Seanie Hawkins after just two minutes. The away side settled into the game having lots of possession without really threatening the Celtic goal, but they did come close in the twenty eight minute with Fabian Kerton in the home goal getting down well to deny David Slattery. The home side had the best chance to open the scoring minutes before the break when Darren Sweeney was taken down in the penalty box, but Tom Holland dived to his left to push away Seanie Hawkins spot kick effort. Celtic were left to rue this miss, as just four minutes later they conceded a penalty themselves that David Slattery made no mistake with, and he send his side to the break with a goal lead. The visitors started the second half on the front foot and doubled their lead when Celtic failed to clear and Russell Quirke fired though a number of players to find the net five minutes after the restart. But they were given a lifeline minutes after the hour mark, when Sweeney was pulled down in the box for a second time, and this time Ayo Williams converted to make it two goals to one. Celtic pushed hard for an equaliser and Sweeney came closest twenty minutes from the end with an effort that just cleared the bar. The Saints always remained a threat going forward and Slattery came close to restoring their two goal lead with a header that was just over fifteen minutes from time. But there were to be no more goals, and in the end, it was the record cup winners that continued on in the competition.
Peake Villa 4 – 1 Rosegreen Rangers
Peake Villa entertained Rosegreen in the first round of the Munster Junior Cup in what was perfect conditions for a match at the Tower Field in Thurles on Sunday out. The visitors knew this was going to be a difficult task, and set out to frustrate the home side, doing so until a wonderful Dylan Coady strike found the top left hand corner of the net to put the home side one up in the twenty first minute. Five minutes later, Keith Cahill weaved his way through the Rosegreen defence and slotted home coolly to make it two goals to nil and give his side a comfortable cushion. The held this lead to the break and the second period started much the same as the first half finished with the home side doing all the attacking, adding a third goal when Robbie Stapleton made it three in the fifty second minute. To Rosegreen’s credit they never gave up and pulled a goal back through Gavin Ryan with a nice finish to the bottom corner in the sixty third minute. But the home side were to have the final say when Dale Loughnane made a good run down the left wing and he crossed to Robbie Stapleton who made no mistake to grab his second of the day ten minutes from time.
Cashel Town 3 – 2 Powerstown
This was a real banana skin for the Premier League side who have found the going rough this season, and then to be pitted against a team that are flying in the Third Division. But in the end the hosts managed to pull through by the odd goal in five, despite making hard work of the tie at times. It didn’t look like they were going to have much trouble when Kyle Ryan put them a goal up inside the first minute of the game, and they were well on top afterwards. But Powerstown eventually played themselves back into the tie, and got themselves level in the tenth minute when David Grace got behind the home defence to finish neatly. Cashel responded by resuming their dominance by the Third Division side managed to keep them at bay until the break. Continuing to sit back, Powerstown were always a danger on the break, and they caught the hosts with a classic break on the hour mark, moving the ball quickly upfield to see Stephen Lahart find some space in the Cashel area and he headed his team in front with an excellently taken goal. But the home side didn’t panic, and they were back in the game within five minutes when Darragh Browne was fouled for a penalty and Kyle Ryan finished to the net. Both sides seemed to tire after that, and the game looked like it was heading for extra time. But a hopeful long ball out of the Cashel defence five minutes from time managed to elude everyone and nestle in the net to give his side their place in the nest round of the competition.
Old Bridge 0 – 1 Bansha Celtic
A hugely frustrating game for the home side who missed the opportunity of causing a major upset in this first round Munster Junior Cup tie. The Bridge enjoyed the lion’s share of the early possession but failed to create any notable chances. In the twenty sixth minute, the game looked to have swung really to their advantage when the visiting keeper received his second yellow card for a rash challenge, giving them a player advantage but they were still unable to break down the unyielding Celtic defence before the break. As the game wore on, the Premier League side used all their experience and were extremely dangerous on the break. This coupled with the wastefulness of the home side was always likely to fall in their favour, and they struck the fateful blow with fourteen minutes to go, when a shot was saved by the home keeper, only to bounce back off a defender and nestle in the home net. Despite their best efforts from then to the end Old Bridge never came close to levelling the game and the visitors will be happy to be in the pot for the next round.
Two Mile Borris 8 – 0 Mullinahone
Two Mile Borris continued their excellent early season form by easing past Mullinahone in the first round of this years Munster Junior Cup at Newhill Park on Sunday morning. In charge right from the off, two goals inside five minutes from star striker Jamie Carey gave them the control they wanted, and when Jack Cleary added a brace himself around the half hour mark they made sure that the days outcome was going to be what they desired at the outset. Whatever chance the away side might have had of making anything of the game was ripped away from them when new signing Daniel Rafter added a fifth for the home side in the final minute of the first half. The second period got no better for the visitors when Carey completed his hat trick five minutes in, and two goals in the final twenty minutes from Jack Hackett and Loren O Toole gave the home side a very comprehensive win.
Clonmel Town B 1 – 2 Peake Villa B
Peake Villa’s reserves got the better of Clonmel Town’s in a game played in atrocious conditions in Ferryhouse on Sunday morning. Although Kevin Kirwan hit the side netting for the home side after two minutes and the visitors had a couple of long range efforts on target, the conditions made it difficult for the two sides to find any rhythm in their respective games. Stalemate at the break, the second half was a livelier affair and in the sixty seventh minute good work by the hosts led to Ben Smith turning the Peake defence to slot the opener home with a neat finish. The lead was short lived however, and only two minutes later a cross from Kevin Patan was tapped home by Conor Murphy to level it up. Both teams went in search of the winner and fifteen minutes from time, some sloppy defending by the hosts allowed Villa’s Alex Moloney to put his side two goals to one up. Town threw everything at their opponents from then to the end of the game and had numerous chances to equalise but poor finishing was to be their downfall as the Thurles side held onto the lead for and a place in the next round of competition.
Clerihan 2 – 0 Tipperary Town
There is always the chance of an upset in cup football, and this was delivered last Sunday when Second Division Clerihan brought high flying Tipperary Town down to earth with a hard fought two goal win, that very few would have predicted before the game. Both teams started tamely enough in what was a very open game. That changed in the twenty third minute when the home side took the lead after what looked like an innocuous cross was diverted into own net by a Town defender. Buoyed by this, the home side went close to doubling their lead ten minutes before the break through Jonas Kerr only for a last minute tackle, to see the ball fly outside of the post and away to safety. The second period started brightly for the visitors, dominating possession but never really managing to test the home keeper. Steven Quinn dropping deep and Ryan Maher on wing started to dictate the game for the visiting side, and Marky Roche was terribly unlucky not to hit an equaliser when he saw his effort hit the post twenty minutes from the end. Probably still wondering how they managed not to score, the visitors were caught cold from the kick out and some brilliant play saw the ball end and the feet of Daniel Quigley, and he shot low into the bottom corner from all of twenty five yards to put his side in a very strong position. Keith Flannery made a great save from Vinny Godfrey in the eightieth minute to keep his sides two goal advantage, and set them up to withstand a late onslaught from the away side, whose hopes were dented even further by being reduced to ten men three minutes from time. In the end, the home side held on, to the delight of their supporters.
Cahir Park 1 – 2 Wilderness Rovers
After a brilliant season last term, Wilderness Rovers have had a flat start to this campaign, but they got their first win in an entertaining game in Cahir on Sunday afternoon. This was an excellent game of football played in very wet conditions, and the home side started the brighter deservedly taking the lead in the twentieth minute when Hicham Briem finished off a very good team move. The visitors were always dangerous, but were unable to fashion many clear chances in that first period and the home side managed to keep their slender lead to the break. The second half continued to be an even affair with very little created by both sides and Eoghan Doyle in goal for the hosts keeping the visitors at bay when called upon. But he could do very little ten minutes from the end when the Wildies drew level thanks to a deflection after a shot back into the area from a cleared corner kick. And with the game seemingly destined for extra time, the home sides hearts were broken when the visitors struck a late late goal to send them into the next round of the competition.
Galbally United 2 – 1 Killenaule Rovers
This game had to wait until the second half to really take off, with neither side taking control of matters in the first period and real chances being very thin on the ground. The best of those that did come was when Ger Quinlan was denied by a point blank save from the visitors keeper to send the teams to the break level. It only took five minutes of the second period however to see the deadlock broken when Jordan Dineen took advantage of some good build up play to put the home side in front. They had a chance to double that lead minutes after the hour mark, when Eoin Mc Grath was pulled down in the area, but Dineens spot kick effort was brilliantly saved. And three minutes later they were left to rue the miss when Jonathon Ivors blasted home from all of twenty five yards out to level the game. But as good as the goal was, it still wasn’t the goal of the game as that arrived minutes later when Eoin O Mahoney fired a thunderbolt to the net that gave the Killenaule keeper no chance. Both teams continued to push for goals from there till the end, but there were to be none and the home side took the spoils in the end.
Premier League reports Sept 11th
Clonmel Town 2 – 1 Vee Rovers
In the only game played in the Premier League at the weekend Clonmel Town maintained their 100% record thanks to a two goals to one victory at home over a resolute Vee Rovers on Sunday afternoon. The visitors were without the services of a number of regular starters but managed to keep the home side at arms length for the opening half an hour. Kyle Cuddy, David Morrissey and Alan o Donnell all came close to opening the scoring, but it was the always dangerous Rhys O Regan who finally broke the deadlock, when nine minutes before the break he received a superb pass from Keith Guiry, turned and shot low into the corner of the net. Despite being the better side, the hosts were unable to add to this tally before the break, and had to wait another fifteen minutes into the second period before finally adding to the scoreline. Craig Guiry has been having an excellent start to his season, and he got on the end of an Alan O Donnell cross to head superbly into the net giving the home side a degree of comfort. But within five minutes, a free from the visitors Shane McGrath found its way past Evan Comerford in the home goal to give Rovers an unlikely way back into the game. But Town regained their composure and whilst never really threatening to increase their lead, they were equally comfortable at the back. They ran out comfortable winners and will be delighted with their four wins from four under their new management.
Second Division Sept 11th
St Nicholas 1 – 1 Cashel Town
Cashel Town travelled to Danny O Dwyer Park on Sunday morning after having to give up home advantage in this tie and found themselves a goal behind in the ninth minute when an excellent move by the hosts saw Eoin O Riordan find James Scanlon free in the area and the striker made no mistake from less than ten yards out. After that the visitors rallied and were unlucky not to be back on level terms when they had a shot skim off the crossbar in the twenty fifth minute. The home side had a similar experience just before the break but could not add to their advantage before half time. The game turned in the fifty fifth minute when Brian Lowry, the home sides imperious centre half had to go off with an injury and while the Saints were readjusting their defence, Cashel’s Sean Mc Cormack headed in an equaliser a minute later. After that the game was end to end with both sides having chances. The best fell to James Scanlon who had the ball in the net five minutes from time, only to see his score chalked off for an offside infringement. In the end the draw was the fairest result and both sides shared the points.
Dualla 5 – 1 Suirside
These two teams battled all the way last season in the Third Division, but had different starts in this years Second, and Dualla badly needed a result after starting their new campaign with two straight defeats. And they got it with a brilliant performance that consigned the visitors to their first league defeat in almost two years. Right from the off, the home side took the game to their rivals and were awarded a penalty in the opening minutes when Tossy Ryan was brought down in the area. The spot kick was dispatched by Stevie Coppinger to open the scoring and within minutes they had doubled that advantage when Ryan got his own goal with a neat finish beyond the keeper. Flying now, Eoin Moloughney added a third when he took advantage of a mix up in the Suirside defence, and the home side made sure of the points when they added a fourth when Ryan was set up by Paudie Ryan to put him through on goal minutes before the break. Early into the second half Dualla added a fifth when Ger O Dwyer climbed highest to finish with a convincing header from a corner kick. As the half wore on, Suirside kept battling and managed to pull a consolation goal back when Gavin Sheehan found space and with a good strike found the net. But it was no more than a consolation, and the home side easily played out a very convincing and very well-deserved home win.
TSDL Third Division 11th September 2022
Bansha Celtic 2 – 5 Kilsheelan United
Kilsheelan United put two wins back to back for quite a long time when they travelled to Bansha to overcome their hosts on Sunday afternoon last. The visitors started well and were first on the score sheet within five minutes, before doubling that advantage to two by the twentieth. The home side pulled a goal back on the half hour mark through Aiden Coffey, and that was it until Adam Hennessy levelled the game early in the second half with another well taken goal. That was as good as it got for the home side however as the visitors asserted their physicality on a young Bansha side and they hit three goals in the final twenty minutes to secure the win.
TSDL Youths 11th September
Bansha Celtic 2 – 2 Clonmel Town
The home side settled into the game quite quickly and could have broken the deadlock early on, only to be denied by a brace of excellent saves from the visiting keeper. But Celtic continued to push, and midway through the half finally opened the scoring when Leigh Murphy rose highest to head into the top corner of the net. This seemed to shake the visitors into action, and they dominated exchanges after this, finally pressuring the home defence into a mistake and getting an equalising goal through a home defender putting through his own net. Soon after this, this hosts were rocked again when some poor defending allowed Darragh Cronin to put Town in front with a shot from the edge of the six yard area. The visitors took this lead to the break, but the stoppage allowed the home side to regroup and they retook control of the game in the second half, albeit finding it difficult to break down some very resolute defending from Town. However with just ten minutes left, they got the reward their good play deserved when a cross into the Town area was met by Eoghan Byrnes and he headed back across goal into the far corner of the net. The two teams had a couple of half chances afterwards to try to take all three points but in the end the draw was probably the fairest result.
Mullinahone 5 – 3 Donohill and District
Mullinahones youths kept up their good start to the season when they consigned the visitor from Donohill to their third defeat in the season in a game filled with goals on Saturday afternoon. Dominant throughout the first period, the home side found themselves two goals to the good by half time thanks to a pair of goals from John Carroll and Philip Dunne. The visitors did play better in the second period and pulled a goal back early on when Darragh Kiely found the net. This saw a glut of goals being scored by both sides, with Liam Doyle and Adam O Connell having goals for the hosts being cancelled out by two more from Conor Gantley and Sean O Shea for Donohill to leave the game on a knife edge at four goals to three going into the final moments. But with the visitors pushing for the levelling goal, a second on the break from Adam O Connell ensured that Mullinahone would take all three points in the end.
FAI Youth Cup preliminary round
Deen Celtic (Kilk.) 3 – 4 Cullen Lattin (AET 2-2 FT)
Cullen headed to Castlecomer on Sunday for the preliminary round of the youths national cup, and the game didn’t disappoint the huge crowd who witnessed a battle the whole way to the final whistle. The home side hit first with a great strike in the twentieth minute from their centre forward who looked a really good player right from the start of the game. Cullen did settle though and were probably the better team from there to the break but unable to get the ball into the net. The continued to dominate in the second period and finally levelled matters around the hour mark when Paddy Downey finished off a brilliant team goal. It was all the visitors now, and Downey was just about to pull the trigger on a second goal in the seventieth minute, only to be fouled and see the referee point to the spot. But up stepped Dylan McGrath and he made no mistake, putting the TSDL side in front. Though at that time, there only looked like being one winner, the Kilkenny side thundered back into the game and finished strongly, scoring an equaliser five minutes from time and sending the game into an extra twenty minutes.
But Cullen re-established their lead minutes in with another good team goal that saw Stephen Carey and Tristan Stokes set up Dylan McGrath through to score his second, and put his side back in front. But back came Celtic again to score with just five minutes left in the second period, making it odds on that the game would have to be decided by the dreaded penalty shoot out route. That was until the visitors took things into their own hands again inside the final ninety when Downey who was brought down again, this time right on the edge of the box. But that didn’t stop Tom Ryan Bob, who flashed a winner into the bottom corner to the delight of the travelling fans.
Stoneyford United (Kilk.) 0 – 6 Clonmel Celtic
Showing some great early season form in the TSDL Youth league, Clonmel Celtic’s youths made the perfect start to their FAI Cup campaign with a six goal away win away to Kilkenny side Stoneyford Utd. The Clonmel side started started very strongly and actually scored all their goals in the first half. Their standout contributor was Senan Butler who scored a hat trick while Julian Kerton helped himself to a brace, with Aaron Costigan scoring his first goal for Celtic after just four minutes. This allowed the Tipperary side to take their foot off the pedal in the second half, but they never looked troubled and will now hope for a long deep run in this competition.