b>Munster Junior Cup 3rd Round 13th November 2022 Match Reports
Peake Villa 2 – 1 St Michael’s
In the most anticipated game of the weekend, there was at the end of this game a feeling that it could signal either another false dawn or more likely a changing of the guard in Tipperary football, when Peake Villa survived a late onslaught by St Michael’s to advance to the open draw phase of this years Munster Cup competition. The two teams have had some titanic battles in recent years, but the Tipperary town side always seemed to find a way to advance. That is, until Sunday last, when Thurles’ finest showed serious grit along with skill to finally put them to the sword. Conditions were poor from the off and the wind and rain did not let up for the whole game, but Villa still started well, and had the best of the early exchanges. Captain Fantastic Pippy Carroll came closest midway through the half but his shot was saved well, while Mick Ryan and Keith Cahill were doing well in midfield and were winning good ball. The visitors suffered a blow midway through the first half, when their keeper got injured and had to be replaced. The first big call of the half came ten minutes from the break, when the home side felt they should have been awarded a penalty but it was waved away, and at half time, neither team had managed to break the deadlock. The second half started to open up more and the home side finally hit the front in the fifty sixth minute when Keith Cahill crossed a great ball and Carroll jumped highest to head to the bottom corner of the net. The game opened up more afterwards and there were half chances for both sides but it was Villa who doubled their lead when Darragh Byrne made a great run down the flanks and into the box where he was taking down and the referee pointed at the spot. Pippy Carroll stepped up and scored to make it two, with only two minutes left in normal time, and it looked like the win would be accomplished without too much further ado. But in the first minute of time added on, the Saints were awarded a penalty of their own, and although the initial effort was saved by Willie Tierney, Irish amateur International Jimmy Carr was quickest to react and put the rebound away. This set up a frantic finish and Tierney was brave shortly after when coming out to a through ball and got injured, also needing to be replaced as Shane Mc Guire took his place between the posts. It almost seemed like injury time would never end, lasting for all of ten minutes, but the home side held out to scenes of delight from their management and supporters at the end condemning their illustrious opponents to being out of a competition they hold the record numbers of wins in, even before they get out of the local league area.
Two Mile Borris 6 – 2 Bansha Celtic
Two Mile Borris are enjoying a very good season this year, and continued their good form by knocking fellow Premier League side Bansha Celtic out of this years Munster Junior Cup, with an excellent performance on a very poor day weather wise in Newhill Park. The game started in very wet conditions, but the home side adapted better and opened the scoring in the tenth minute when Loran O Toole rose highest to head a corner kick to the net. Playing with confidence now, the home side doubled their lead eight minutes later when Jamie Carey picked up a ball at the edge of the Celtic area, and smacked a low drive beyond the reach of the visiting keeper. But Bansha were creating chances of their own at this stage and pulled a goal back minutes later when Kevin Power found the net from a well taken volley from the edge of the area. But minutes afterwards the Celtic cause became a more difficult one, when they were reduced to ten men, and Borris compounded this by adding a third goal ten minutes before the break through Jamie Lee. Looking in control now, Borris got caught from a quick break out of the Bansha defence which saw Darren Mc Grath get on the end of some good play to re-establish the home sides two goal lead at the break. With conditions worsening in the second half, and Celtic struggling without their full compliment of players, the home side took control and dominated the half from start to finish. They added a fourth goal when Carey got his second on the hour mark, and made any idea of a comeback redundant five minutes later when Michael Foley got his sides fifth with a bullet header to the net. Four minutes from time Jamie Carey completed his hat trick and added a sixth, to take Borris into the open draw where they won’t be wanted by any team in the next round.
Vee Rovers 1 – 2 Peake Villa B
Peake Villas seconds joined their first team in the Open draw for this years Munster Junior Cup when they pulled off an upset in beating Premier League strugglers Vee Rovers in a very wet and windy Clogheen on Sunday afternoon. The weather made it particularly difficult for both sides to get into any kind of rhythm and there were very few real chances created by either for most of the first period of the game. It looked like they were about to go to the break scoreless until a late Villa attack saw the home side concede a penalty that was despatched to the net to give the Thurles side a single goal half time lead. Twenty minutes into the second half, the same player was at the end of the best move of the game and he finished coolly from twelve yards out to make it two for Villa and look like they were going to advance comfortably. But only five minutes later, Rovers pulled a goal back when Dylan Walsh fired home a twenty yard drive to reduce his sides deficit to the minimum again. After that the hosts dominated and fired everything they had at the Villa, but as has been the problem so often this season, they were not able to turn chances into goals and the away side took the win in the end.
TSDL Tipperary Cup 1st Round Draw 2022-2023
Tipperary Cup, 1st Round, 13th November 2022 Match Reports
Cahir Park B 0 – 2 Galbally United
On a game played on Saturday night on the Astro pitch in Cahir, Galbally United continued their good recent form easing past Cahir Park’s seconds into the next round of this seasons Tipperary Cup. It was the away team that controlled the game from the start against a home team that found it hard to settle, and it seemed no surprise when the visitors took the lead in the fifth minute when Owen O Sullivan headed home at the back post from a corner. After that Galbally continued to dominate and had a number of half chances in the opening half hour, without converting. The home team finally started to get a grip on the game as they tried to force a way back on level terms but were unable to before the break. When the second half started, the away side once again took control and twenty minutes in, they doubled their lead when Owen O Sullivan got his second, finishing well after a good run at the home defence. This for the home team was a bad blow as it came when they were having their best spell in the game, and took the wind out of their sails, allowing Galbally to finish out the rest of the game with little scares to advance.
Cahir Park 2 – 0 Rosegreen Rangers
Cahir’s first team are going through a run of good form at the moment and welcomed Second Division Rosegreen to the Park on Sunday morning in the first round of the Tipperary cup. The away team had enjoyed some good results themselves in recent weeks and started the better in the game putting the home defence under some early pressure. But once the home team settled, they started to make chances and opened the scoring midway through the half when Will Dunne finished smartly from twelve yards out after a good through ball from Tom Keating. They dominated proceedings after that forcing the visitors onto the back foot, but neither team was able to make any other real chances and the half finished without any more goals. The second period began with the hosts back in control playing some very good football which led to a number of half chances which they were unfortunately unable to convert. Rosegreen to their credit refused to go away and dug deep to try to force an equaliser, and with ten mins remaining almost did only for a great save by Brian Sweeney diving low to his right to concede a corner. But inside the final five minutes, all hopes of getting back into the game were demolished when the home side got a second, after being awarded a penalty kick, which was despatched by Willie Dunne to secure a passage into the second round.
Tipperary Town 1 – 2 Cashel Town B
This result could count as an upset as the current Division One leaders fell to a Cashel Town team languishing at the bottom of the Second Division. Moved to Cashel prior to kick off, the game started in blustery conditions didn’t have a lot to offer in terms of clear chances, until just before half time when a Kevin Browne corner was buried in the net by Niall Fitzgerald to put the First Division leaders a goal up at the break. When the second period kicked off, conditions rapidly deteriorated and both sides found it hard to play football. Midway through the half, a long ball into the Tipp Town area, travelled all of fifty yards and ended up in the net, much to the surprise but delight of Ross Bonnar to draw the teams level. Cashel were well up for it now but their visitors broke and missed a gilt edged chance after Dylan Cummins set up Vinny Godfrey and Stevie Quinn but neither could finish. Just when it looked like extra time was beckoning, Cashel who to their credit had adapted to the conditions better, sent in a low corner only for a Tipperary substitute to slice it into his own net, to claim the place in the hat for the next round of the Cup.
Clonmel Celtic 6 – 0 Clerihan
Despite their recent indifferent league form Clonmel Celtic still proved too strong for Clerihan as they cruised to a six goal win over the Division Two side in the first round of this years Tipperary Cup. The home side started well and took the lead in the sixth minute, when Darren Sweeney converted a Niall Prendergast cross. It was two, six minutes later with Paul Kennedy setting up Davy Garrett who applied a powerful finish to leave the Clonmel side in complete control. Jack Purcell then added a third in the nineteenth minute, with a half volley from the edge of the box, and there was no let up for Clerihan as Celtic added a fourth just before the half hour mark when Davy Garrett rounded the keeper and finished coolly. Six minutes before the break Mark Heffernan kept his cool in front of goal to make it five and with the job done Celtic eased up in the second half, though Garrett did complete his hat trick fifteen minutes from time, finding the top corner to leave the final score six to nil at the end.
Bansha Celtic B 0 – 8 Clonmel Town
This was always going to be a tough day for the Third Division team, and although they matched their more illustrious opponents early on, they soon made some mistakes that they might have gotten away with in the lower division, but that were clinically punished by a Town side that has high ambitions of silverware this season. Once the Clonmel juggernaut got going, they fired in four goals in a nine minute spell through Kyle Delaney, Rhys O Regan and an Ashley Lasslett brace, to blow the hosts away. O Regan then hit another brace, to complete his hat trick before the break, which saw the Premier League side go in, six goals to the good. Two more goals in the second period, from Lasslett and an Alan O Donnell penalty gave Town the win, and their place in the next round.
Moyglass United 3 – 2 Killenaule Rovers
These two teams met in the league last weekend, with Killenaule coming out on top, but this time the home side made amends by moving through to the next round of the Cup with a win by the odd goal in five against their neighbours. The home side started well and opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Jack Healy scored direct from the corner. The game was pretty even from then on with chances at a premium, until the hosts doubled their lead five minutes before the break when Oisín Lyons’ corner saw Stevie Byrnes and Eoin Shaw combine to score and send their side to the break two goals to the good. When Darragh Hurley made it three five minutes into the second period, scoring from a Craig Nolan cross, the hosts looked home and hosed. But to their credit, Killenaule battled away and got two late goals, both from free kicks, both from Dillion Walsh, to make it a nervy ending. However, Moyglass held on to savour a little bit of revenge, and move into the next round.
Wilderness Rovers 3 – 0 Tipperary Town B
Wilderness Rovers were always favourites to beat Third Division side Tipperary Town and did so in the end with a three goal win on a wet and windy morning in Clonmel on Sunday. The Premier League team were in charge of the game from early on, and opened the scoring in the eighteenth minute when Jayden Cagney found Kevin Mc Grath and he made no mistake from close in. An individual goal by Danny Hogan in the twenty seventh minute doubled the advantage and after that Rovers controlled the game giving their opponents very few chances to get back into the game. The second half was a tame affair with no real goalmouth action until Hogan turned provider in the final minute to set up Graham Kelly to add a third and ensure his sides victory.
Donohill and District 1 – 3 Suirside
Division Two league leaders Suirside came from behind to beat Third Division side Donohill on Sunday last, to continue their recent good form. The home side started well and dominated the first half, when they had the benefit of the elements at their back. They did open the scoring in the fifteenth minute, with a classy goal, when Dinny Crosse chipped the ball over the advancing Suirside keeper. Unfortunately for Donohill they didn’t make the domination count much after that, squandering a number of chances to extend their lead before the break. And that came back to haunt them in the second period, as Suirside began to find their range and on the hour mark Gavin Sheeran levelled the game with a cool finish. After that it was end to end football with both sides missing chances, before the home side imploded in the final minutes, first allowing Sheeran to cut through their defence and get a second, before Simon Farrell added a third off a breakaway which ensured that Suirside would advance to the next stage of the cup.
TSDL Youths 12th November 2022 Match Reports
Munster Youths Cup, 3rd Round
Clonmel Town 2 -1 Clonmel Celtic
Clonmel Town pulled off a shock victory to knock near neighbours and current league leaders Clonmel Celtic out of this year’s Munster Youth Cup. When the sides met earlier in the league, Celtic ran out comfortable six goal winners but they came up against a far more aggressive and organised Town side last Saturday in Ferryhouse. The first real chance of the game fell to the hosts Joey Browne but his effort from close range was well saved by Oisin O’ Donohue. Alex Greene then saw a brilliant header go narrowly over the bar as the first half ended scoreless. But both sides continued to go looking for the opener and it came just before the hour mark when the home side were awarded a free kick just outside the Celtic area, and Ronan Walsh left the keeper rooted to the spot with a kick that stunned even those watching the game. Ten minutes later he provided an assist for Cian McGrath, who got on the end of Walsh’s pass with a subtle touch to give the hosts an unexpected but deserved two goal lead. However, those celebrations were short lived when Jack Aylward got on the end of a Julian Kerton pass to finish brilliantly past John O’Connell and reduce the deficit to a minimum once again. But the visitors attempt to get back on level terms was soon struck a blow when they were reduced to ten players. They chased an equaliser, but Alex Lawless came agonisingly close to adding a third for Town when his powerful shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced out to safety. In the end the home side held out, much to the delight of their management and supporters.
TSDL Youths First Division
Two Mile Borris 3 – 2 Bansha Celtic
The home side started the stronger of the two teams and Jake Cullen Jordan caused the Bansha defence all sorts of problems early on, before finally getting the goal his play deserved when a well-placed shot from inside the box found the bottom corner in the twentieth minute. But this seemed to be a catalyst for the visitors and they got back on level terms after they equalised just past the half hour mark with a header from Evan Kennedy. The game flowed over and back after that with the home side creating the better chances and they retook the lead when a cross into the area eluded the Bansha defence before finding the foot of Tom Ryan who made no mistake with a lovely finish. But again Celtic came flying back and levelled in added time with the last kick of the first half when another cross found the head of Evan Kennedy for his second headed goal. Bansha started the second half on the front foot and might have taken the lead except for excellent defending from the hosts and an excellent display by their goalkeeper. The game swung up and down the pitch as both sides searched for the precious lead goal, and eventually it was the home side that prevailed. With twenty minutes left to play Jack Delaney was put through on goal and made no mistake with an clinical finish. Borris had to play the last fifteen minutes with ten men after a defender received a second yellow card, but they defended for their lives for the remaining minutes and kept out a determined Bansha attack to seal all three points to move to the top of the league table.
TSDL Youths Second Division
Cashel Town 3 – 0 Moyglass United
Cashel Towns Youths maintained their 100% record in the league with a comfortable victory over a much improved Moyglass United side at home on Saturday afternoon. The home side had the perfect start when they opened the scoring in the first minute through a Lee O’ Riordan strike, but after that the visitors settled and made it very difficult for the league leaders to build on that good opening. Both sides shared a number of half chances after that, but eventually the game went to the break without any other scores being registered. The hosts started the second period livelier again and doubled their lead ten minutes in, thanks to another clinical finish by O’ Riordan scored again. The points were secured five minutes later when the ace striker completed his hat trick, and after that the home side played out the final half hour in relative comfort, offering the visitors very little opportunity to get a foothold in the game.