FAI Junior Cup, 6th Round, 12th February Match Reports
St Michael’s 3 – 1 Hibernians (Waterford)
Saints produced their best performance of the season here buoyed by a whirlwind start, and played with an intensity that blew away their highly rated opponents in the last sixteen of this years FAI Junior Cup, in this entertaining game which delighted the audience at Cooke Park. Evergreen Jimmy Carr provided a captain’s inspiration all day and within two minutes, his pacey run in from the left saw him fouled by Sean O’Keeffe and the home side awarded a penalty kick. Carr dusted himself off to beat Sean Whitty from the spot giving the home side the start they could only have dreamed about. Five minutes later they doubled their lead, when Carr turned provider, picking out David Slattery with a pinpoint crossed that was headed to the net. It almost became three in the eleventh minute, when Russell Quirke saw his right foot diagonal shot come back off the post. Hibs were shell shocked but began to find their feet slowly and on eighteen minutes, David Cooley saw his left foot effort gathered by Adrian Walsh, the first time the home keeper really had anything to do. Three minutes before the half hour, the hosts had appeals for a penalty turned down when Russell Quirke was tackled in the box, and Walsh was quick off his line to smother a chance when Jason Keane played in Conor Whittle. But the hosts finished the half on the front foot when after good work by David Slattery, Russell Quirke released Jimmy Carr on the left but Sean Whitty spread himself well to turn his shot around the post.
The home side were determined not to allow the Waterford side any succour or opportunity to get back into the game in the second period, and had a number of chances before they added a third goal in the fifty seventh minute. As it was all day, Carr was creating havoc, and beat three defenders on his way to the endline before cutting a cross back to the feet of Ed O Dwyer who couldn’t and didn’t miss from six yards out, to the cheers of the watching home supporters. To their credit, the visitors kept going and got a lifeline in the sixty fifth minute, when Adrian Walsh was deemed to have tripped a Hibs player, and Mark O’Keeffe kept his nerve to make it three goals to one from the penalty spot. The goal inspired Hibs for a spell and they had a number of half chances, but in reality, the Saints used their extensive fountain of experience to see the game out and move into the last eight of this famous competition. On this form, they will definitely be among the favourites to lift the trophy once again.
TSDL Premier League 12th February 2023 Match Reports
Bansha Celtic 1 – 0 Clonmel Celtic
Languishing at the bottom end of the Premier League table, Bansha Celtic really needed something from this game, and they delivered in style, with a single goal victory against a Clonmel Celtic side that continues to blow hot and cold on their return to the top division. The home side started this game on the front foot and had a couple of half chances inside the first ten minutes as they attempted to impose themselves on the tie. The finally made a chance count on the quarter hour mark, when a long throw into the box was flicked on and Liam Murphy was on hand to finish from close range. This prompted a response from the Clonmel side, and they were a better team for most of the rest of the first half, but the home sides defence managed to restrict them to a couple of long range efforts and they were unable to equalise before the break. The hosts lost two players to injury at half time and found themselves on the back foot, for the remainder of the game, with the away side camped in their half, and peppering their goalmouth with efforts. But Bansha still maintained a threat on the break, and eventually held out to take all three precious points, that will help them get back into the mix to climb to safety by season end.
Cashel Town 2 – 2 Wilderness Rovers
This was a massive game for both clubs, in the hunt for points to get themselves away from the relegation zone, and although they had both to be content with a share of the points, both will also have a case to make for leaving behind the three when the final whistle sounded. The home side started the better and were well on top for the first twenty five minutes, missing a couple of decent chances to poor striking and excellent defending by Rovers. Cashel were made to pay for that profligacy when the visitors were awarded a penalty just before the half hour mark, that was converted by Graham Kelly, to give the Clonmel side the lead. To their credit, the home came straight back with a goal of their own, through Kyle Ryan who finished well from ten yards out and levelled the game. The tie remained one all at the break, and the second half was a tight tense affair with both sides wary of giving away too much, given the potential importance of the final result. The home side finally took the lead nonetheless in the sixtieth minute, after a great cross from Kevin Keating was turned in to his own net by a Wilderness defender. On top at this stage, they failed to capitalise and were punished a second time when a corner was headed in from close range by Sean Browne late in the game. A point each seemed a fair result at the end, but it leaves both still looking nervously over their shoulder as the season draws close to its conclusion.
TSDL First Division Report 12th February Match Reports
Cahir Park 2 – 1 Clonmel Town
After seeing their rivals win earlier in the day, a nervy Cahir Park had to come from behind in a tight tense game, to overcome Clonmel Town and remain in the title race in the First Division. The visitors started much better here, as the Park didn’t seem to be able to get to the pitch of the game, and took the lead in the twelfth minute when a free kick came back off the hosts crossbar and was scrambled to the net via the despairing legs of a home player. After this the visitors remained the dominant team and were unlucky on a number of occasions not to add to their lead. They were left to bemoan this when in the twenty ninth minute the home side were awarded a penalty and Willie Dunne fired an equaliser to the net. The game went to the break level, but the home side started better in the second half, and went in front just three minutes in, when Tom Keating swung in a free kick and it was headed home by Ger Quinn. This presaged a period of dominance by the home side and they should have put the game to bed shortly after the hour mark, but were denied a goal when a Darragh Conway chance was expertly saved. But as the finishing line started to come into view the nerves came back for the home side, and the visitors took control again, forcing home keeper Brian Sweeney into a series of saves that kept his side in front, and in the title race. Tempers boiled over late on, but no more goals were scored and the home side remained in with a chance of winning the Divisional title for at least another week.
Tipperary Town 3 – 1 St Michael’s
Tipperary Town assured themselves of Premier League football next season, and placed one hand on the First Division one title, as they finished out their season with a good win against local rivals St Michaels at the Arra Road on Sunday afternoon. They settled whatever nerves they might have had when they got off to the perfect start with Markie Roche opening the scoring in just the second minute, cheekily back heeling a Dylan Cummins cross to the net. Shortly afterwards he brought a good save from Robbie McGrath in a one on one, as they threatened to overrun their opponents. But eventually the visitors played themselves into the game, and were level in the ninth minute when home keeper Eric Higgins misjudged a Dean Thompson shot, and saw it fly past him to the net. After that the game settled into a midfield battle with few enough clear chances, the best being a Kevin Browne effort which stung the hands of Robbie Mc Grath in the Saints goal, three minutes from the break. Mc Grath had to be alert again, a minute into the second period, to smother a ball at the feet of Vinny Godfrey after he latched on to a Marky Roche flick on. But the home side soon began to take control and retook the lead just before the hour mark when Roche forced Adam Roche into a foul inside his area, and Michael Ryan Tadger converted from the spot kick despite Robbie McGrath moving the right away. Saints did win a few set pieces after this, but huffed and puffed a bit, before Matty Moroney put the points to bed fifteen minutes from time, when he created space in from the left and finished well to the net for the league leaders. Both sides used their benches over the last quarter of an hour, but the game was over as a contest, and the winners will now anxiously wait for results next weekend to decide whether they go back to the Premier League as champions, or if a play off awaits.
Peake Villa 1 – 0 Mullinahone
Peake Villas seconds entertained already relegated Mullinahone on Sunday, and as the scoreline suggested, it was a tight enough affair, with the home side desperately chasing points to try to ensure they didn’t join their opponents in making the dreaded drop. The Villa did most of the pressing in the first half without making too many clear-cut chances. And as the half went on, Mullinahone grew into the game and had a couple of good chances before half time, but David Cashin in the Villa goal saved well for both, seeing the sides go to the break level at nil all. The home side changed it up in the second half and brought on Luciano Carelli, and he had an instant impact up front holding up the ball and bringing players and Villa’s young midfield into the game. Carelli was involved in the Villa’s goal, taking the corner, at which captain Jack Kelly jumped highest, and his header found the top corner to make it one nil in the fifty first minute. The hosts took control of the game after this, and had further chances to extend their lead ahead through Danny Treacy and Tony Galvin, but those chances were spurned. To Mullinahone’s credit, they continued to look for chances to get back into the game, and Cashin was called upon again near the end, making another good save, to ensure his side took all three precious points.
TSDL Second Division 12th February 2023 Match Reports
Dualla 1 – 1 Rosegreen Rangers
Dualla’s hopes of winning the Second Division title were dented on Sunday when they dropped points against local rivals Rosegreen on a cold Sunday evening in the mid Tipperary village. Rosegreen came to play and were in the mood to upset the home team, and in the early stages did exactly that, often pinning their hosts back through long balls and direct attacking. It was from one of these early attacks that the visitors won a corner kick, and when the home keeper spilled the set piece, Dan Corbett toe poked home to give his side a lead in the game. The rest of the half continued in this fashion, with both sides creating chances, but the away team often looking the more dangerous, without adding to their score. The home side were happy with the break and took stock, starting the second period much more improved. They were still being reduced to living off scraps as the away defence constantly broke up the attacks that might have looked like producing a levelling goal. That was until the home side won a free kick at the edge of the Rosegreen area, and Tossy Ryan drilled his effort low and hard into the net. The game flowed over and back after this with the visitors coming close to retaking the lead through a Gavin Ryan effort. The home side also had their opportunities with chances falling to Micheál Mc Dermott and Bozzy Walsh, but in the end, there were no more goals, and both teams could feel happy with their share of the spoils.
Clerihan 0 – 2 Cullen Lattin
Cullen Lattin welcomed Clerihan to Aisling Park Cullen on Sunday with both teams needing points for different reason. And it was the relegation haunted Clerihan that started the brighter pushing the title prospects back to the edge of their own area countless times in the first quarter of an hour. But the hosts eventually settled and enjoyed the most of the possession for the remainder of the half, opening the scoring midway through when Mikey Stokes released Micheàl Elligott down the right wing his excellent low cross found Tony O Neill who controlled well and finished to the net. Alan Hayes thought he made it two just before the break, when he took on the visiting defence, but his left footed shot just went narrowly wide. Desperately needing something from the game, Sean Maher thought he had got Clerihan back level five minutes into the second period, but his right footed shot from twenty yards out was tipped over by Darren Hueston in the home goal. But after that the title challengers controlled the game, and added an insurance goal five minutes from time when Fiachra O Grady played Danny O Dwyer through on goal, and O Dwyer showed excellent feet to finish well past the stranded keeper.
TSDL Third Division 12th February 2023 Match Reports
Moyglass United 2 – 0 Tipperary Town
Moyglass United continued their promotion push with another win on Sunday morning against struggling Tipperary Town. The home side were always in charge and dominated possession of the ball in the first half, but through a combination of excellent defending by the away side, and poor finishing by the hosts, the game went to the break scoreless. The second half followed a similar pattern and the home side must have felt time was running out for them, before they finally broke the deadlock just eight minutes from time, when Eddie O Brien was taken down in the Town penalty area, and Adam Lyons picked up the ball and blasted the resulting penalty to the net. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of the away side and they conceded a second five minutes later when Adam Hayes went on a mazy run and dinked a clever finish over the onrushing keeper, to ensure all three points for his side.
Burncourt Celtic 2 – 4 Bansha Celtic
Bansha Celtics seconds picked up just their second win of the Third Division season when they came out on top away to Burncourt Celtic on Sunday afternoon. In the early exchanges it was the home side that dominated but despite creating three or four clear chances in the first quarter of an hour, they were unable to get the ball into the net. They finally did so in the twenty second minute when Pa Ryan collected a through ball and made no mistake in sliding it past Alan Carter in the Bansha goal. The game settled down and it looked like staying as is until halftime, but the visitors got level with a late goal in the first half, when Aidan Coffey finished smartly after a deft ball over the top. The second period began as the first ended with the visitors on top, and they took the lead just three minutes in, when Adam Hennessy finished smartly from just inside the box into the bottom right corner. They added a third less than seven minutes later when Cormac Buckley finished from close range. After this the home side stirred back into life, but they were unable to find the net until ten minutes from the end, when David Cagney shot from just inside the area, into the top corner, to set up a cracking final finale. But as often happens when a team chase looking for a goal, they leave their flanks unprotected and following a mix up in the home defence, Craig Maher stole in to seal the points for the visitors with just minutes left in the game.
TSDL Youths 11th February 2023 Match Reports
Clonmel Town 2 – 1 Bansha Celtic
Clonmel Town’s youths put a big dent in the title hope of league leaders Bansha Celtic when they took all three points in a keenly contested game at Ferryhouse last Saturday. The home side had the better of the early exchanges with a Monsur Bambiata header going inches wide as early as the fourth minute. Cian McGrath was then put through by an excellent Harry Ryan Tobin pass only for Josh O’Dwyer to make an excellent tackle to deny the striker getting a shot off. The hosts finally looked to have broken the deadlock in the twenty third minute, when Joey Browne unleashed an unstoppable shot from all of twenty five yards out, that flew past Bansha net minder, only to see the ball cannon off the underside of the bar and be scrambled to safety. But three minutes later Town finally got their deserved goal when Ronan Walsh finished off a great move to shoot powerfully past Tyler Barry in the away goal. Despite being under the cosh up to that point, the visitors almost made an instant reply, when a Daniel O’Dwyer header just went the wrong side of the post. The rst of the half turned out to be topsy turvy with both sides having chances, but there were no more additions to the scoreline. The hosts started the second half on the offensive once again, and Alex Lawless hit the post within two minutes of the restart. His disappointment at this miss evaporated minutes later, when he added his sides second goal after his deflected shot found the corner of the net. Adam Hennessy should have pulled one back for the away side when a super ball from Bill Quirke split the Town defence but with only John O’Connell to beat, Hennessy put his effort wide. Both sides were guilty of missing chances and when Danny O’Dwyer did finally score for the away side, it was in the final minute and it came too late to have any real effect on the final outcome of the game.
Two Mile Borris 2 – 1 Cullen Lattin
Two Mile Borris took advantage of the slip up by Bansha Celtic to move back to the top of the Division One table, with a hard fought win over Cullen in Newhill on Saturday afternoon. Still smarting after a close defeat last week, they knew a win was vital to remain in the race for what is becoming a very exciting season in youths football in the TSDL. For the opening twenty five minutes, the away side had the upper hand and had a couple of good chances to score, but the home side weathered the early storm and eventually took a foothold in the game, dominating the final fifteen minutes, without finding the net. They started the second period on the front foot and pinned the away side back time and again in the early portion of the half. The breakthrough eventually came from an unlikely source when a corner dropped to the feet of centre back John Lacy, who stroked the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give his side the advantage. They kept the pressure on and with twenty five minutes left scored a second, when Lacy again came up for a corner, and headed to the net. Things were looking good at this stage, until the visitors Caoimhin Doody scored a screamer of a volley with ten minutes left to set up a nervy ending. But the home side regrouped and held out to put themselves back on top of the division as the teams start the run in at season end.
TSDL Youths Round up.
There were two more games in the Youths league on Saturday, both having implications at the top end of the First and Second Division. Clonmel Celtic travelled to Thurles on Saturday to take on a Peake Villa team that had to win the tie to have any chance of getting involved in the title race, while the Clonmel side needed the points themselves to stay ahead of them. And it was Celtics day, as they came away from the Tower Grounds with all three points after a comprehensive four goals to nil victory. In the Second Division joint league leaders Cashel Town travelled to Cahir to move clear at the top of the table, and they did so after a three goals to nil win that puts them in touching distance of winning a first league title at Youths grade in a number of years.