Munster Junior Cup, 17th September 2023 Match Reports
Munster Junior Cup, 1st Round
Cahir Park 5 – 3 Two Mile Borris
The only all Premier League clash in the Munster Junior Cup first round saw Cahir Park come from behind to record a good win over Two Mile Borris at home on Sunday afternoon last. The visitors started much the brighter and dominated from the start, creating the first big chance of the game, in the fifth minute, but they fired wide form inside the box. The hosts slowly got going, and were unlucky themselves in the twelfth minute when Craig Guiry had a header saved from close in. But Borris continued to be dangerous, and finally opened the scoring ten minutes before the break, when they forced a penalty kick that was despatched to the net by Martin Darmody. But the home team’s response was instant, and within a minute they were level thanks to a Stephen Quinn cheeky chip over the stranded Borris keeper. That looked like being it before the break, but in time added on, Michael Rafter put Borris back in front finishing from close range, after he had sprung the home sides offside trap. But the home side came out in the second period, in different mood and took just eleven minutes to get back on level terms, when Willie Dunn finished a great attacking move. In the sixty-eight minute, Stephen Quinn found the net from a free kick to put the Park, three goals to two in front, and they made the game safe fifteen minutes from time, when Willie Dunne looped a header over the advancing keeper. Borris didn’t give up however, and on seventy-nine minutes, got some hope when Rafter got a second to make it a one goal game again. But as they pushed for a later leveller they conceded a free kick just outside their own area, and Kyle Delaney finally put the game to bed when his beautifully struck set piece found the top corner to the delight of the home fans.
Munster Junior Cup 2nd Round
Cashel Town 3 – 0 Tipperary Town
Cashel Town welcomed Premier League side Tipperary Town to Palmershill on Sunday morning, and easily dispatched them to move smoothly into the third round of this years Munster Junior Cup. The home side got a great start when they scored in the first minute, Kyle Ryan converting after some excellent approach work by Eoin Byrne. After that the game settled down and became a bit of a midfield battle with neither side really able to fashion anything of note. The closest either came was when the home side were unlucky not to add to their tally, just before the half time break. They began to take charge from the start of the second period, and were rewarded with a second goal, just after the hour mark. Again, Kyle Ryan was on target, when he fired in an unstoppable effort from twelve yards after a scramble in the area. The visitors struggled to get back into the game, but were afforded a gilt edged opportunity ten minutes from time, when they were awarded a penalty kick. They were unable to convert however, and the home side made sure of the result with a third goal in the final minute, Eoin Byrne heading home a pin point Donie Reade cross.
Vee Rovers 0 – 9 Peake Villa
A very depleted Vee Rovers side welcomed league champions Peake Villa to Clogheen in the Munster Junior Cup, and were on the end of a very heavy defeat thanks to an unrelenting performance from the Thurles side. The visitors were on the front foot from the beginning and took just six minutes to breach the home defence, when Ronan Mc Guire finished an excellent move. After that, the home side put in a commendable defensive performance, for the next half hour, but eventually Villa got on top, and added three more goals before the break, with Mc Guire adding a second, along with Dale Loughnane and an own goal. The second half was one way traffic, with the visitors in ruthless mood and they added five more, with Dylan Coady, Kieran Hennessy, Mick Ryan and Sean Wade getting on the scoresheet.
Clonmel Celtic 7 – 2 Galbally United
Celtic progressed to next round of Munster Junior Cup with big victory over First Division side Galbally United. But it was a lacklustre first half performance from the home side, and the visitors went to the break a goal in front when they scored a breakaway goal that was well finished by the constantly threatening James O Sullivan midway through the half. The hosts came out of the traps much stronger in the second half and were level inside three minutes thanks to a tidy finish by Darren Sweeney. They took the lead in the fifty sixth minute, when Jason Hahessy got on the end of a Paddy Ormonde cross and headed home. Four minutes later, Rory O Dowd scored a beauty from twenty yards straight into the top corner in a very strong performance from the young star. And three minutes later, it was Sweeney with his second, this time getting on the end of a Seanie Hawkins cross to head past the very impressive keeper. Sweeney completed the hat trick with a predatory finish after Hawkins pulled back from the endline in the sixty seventh minute, and he made it four twenty minutes from time, a lovely team move involving the excellent Julian Kerton, Seanie Hawkins and Philly Drohan, leaving the visitors shell shocked. Drohan himself got in on the act on the eightieth minute to make it seven goals to one, before Galbally who’s attitude and effort all game was excellent, got a second minutes from the end, through another James O Sullivan strike, to leave the final scoreline at seven goals to two.
Clonmel Town 0 – 3 Bansha Celtic
Clonmel Towns season took another hammer blow when they were on the end of another heavy defeat that ends their interest in this year’s Munster Junior Cup. Town were hoping to bounce back after last week’s disappointing loss to St. Michael’s but unfortunately were dealt a major blow when they were reduced to ten men early in the game. This gave Bansha some momentum, and they grew in confidence dominating much of the first half play, before opening the scoring with a goal ten minutes before the break. One nil up at half time, they were able to sit back in the early part of the second period and allow the hosts to come at them, while looking for opportunities to hit on the counter attack. Then the away side gave up the one man advantage by having a player of their own sent to the line, midway through the half. A Clonmel Town onslaught was expected, but it never materialised with Bansha looking the more dangerous every time they broke with the ball. They were rewarded for their tactical excellence twenty minutes from time, when a mix-up in the home defence saw the visitors double their lead. Town looked very deflated and with ten minutes left on the clock a ball over the defence was excellently put away to seal a comfortable and deserving three goal win for the away side.
TSDL First Division 17th September 2023 Match Reports
Peake Villa 4 – 0 Clonmel Town
After last week’s defeat, Villa’s second team were hoping to bounce back on Sunday at the Tower Grounds, and they did so in style, with a big win over rivals Clonmel Town. They started brightly, and within four minutes took the lead when Luciano Carelli played in Michael Oola, who made no mistake to put the hosts a goal up. They continued in this vein, playing some good passing football with a lot of possession, and were rewarded with a second in the thirty second minute, when a Mark Lennon free kick was headed in by Danny Treacy to make it two to nil. After that, they fashioned a number of chances to extend that lead, but were guilty of some poor finishing and were unable to add to their advantage before the break. But they continued to control the game in the second half, and got the third ten minutes in, when Danny Treacy found Kevin Croke, who scored to the bottom corner. A good run from Jack Kelly out of defence found Alex Moloney, and they played a one two, before Kelly found Aaron Graham, who made it four with a fine finish to wrap up the scoring fifteen minutes from time.
Cullen Lattin 0 – 0 Old Bridge
Cullen welcomed an experienced Old Bridge side, to Aisling Park on Sunday, and the teams shared the spoils after an entertaining, but ultimately goalless game. The home side had the best chance of the first period when a Brendan O Sullivan shot was saved well and Tommy O Mahoney failed to convert the rebound minutes after the half hour mark, and O Mahoney did well just before half time when he went down right and squared the ball from the end line but the Clonmel defence managed to scramble and clear their lines. The main threat for the Bridge came from Alex Greene whose pace was a always a danger, and though the home side dominated possession for most of the second period, they failed to break down the Bridge defence, and the game ended in a draw.
TSDL Second Division 17th September 2023 Match Reports
Rosegreen Rangers 2 – 1 Dualla
The home side came out the right side of what was a scrappy enough game at times to record their first win of the season at the third time of asking. The fare was good and honest, but both sides struggled to really put together any effective passages of play in the first half, which ended scoreless. The home side started a bit better in the second period, and were unlucky not to take the lead just before the hour mark, when they saw a great effort hot the crossbar and bounce away to safety. But it looked like a goal was coming, and it finally arrived twenty minutes from time, when Pakie Farrell volleyed home from the edge of the eighteen-yard box, to the delight of the home supporters. That lead only lasted six minutes however. Dualla pushed forward and were awarded a free kick just outside the home area. Up stepped Padraic Ryan, and he smashed it home to level things up again. But Rosegreen were to have the last laugh in the end. The game looked like petering out for a draw, when Anto Hoare picked up a loose ball just inside the Dualla half. He took on a line of defenders and managed to find some free space, from where he fired home to the bottom corner to secure all three points for the home side.
Cashel Town 0 – 1 Powerstown
A dull game to match the weather conditions in which it was played at Palmershill, saw Cashel Town’s seconds go down by a single goal to a Powerstown team looking to get over a defeat last weekend. In the end, the destination of the points were settled in the sixty third minute, when Jamie Dunne whipped in a free kick that flew straight into the net deceiving th incredulous home. Cashel weren’t completely without their chances, and won a penalty kick a few minutes later, but they failed to make it count when the kick was sent wide of the target. After that, they did have plenty of possession but created very little to worry the visitors, and Powerstown took all three points at the finish.
TSDL Third Division 17th September 2023 Match Reports
Ballingarry Albion 3 – 2 Bansha Celtic
The home side got off to a good start knocking the ball around well and getting on the front foot early, and opened the scoring in the tenth minute, when a quick give and go between Ian Ivors and Ricky Cashin allowed Adam O Connell to set up Patrick Ivors to finish past the visiting keeper. This looked like setting Albion on their way, but they were rocked back on their heels, when the away side fired back and got two quick fire goals, the first a deflected effort after a Celtic free was cleared but volleyed back in, and then as a result of good attacking play by the visiting team. The home side didn’t panic however, and continued to force chances, before finally getting an equaliser minutes before the break, when a corner wasn’t cleared, and the ball fell to Jack Hindley on the edge of the box, and he looped a volley into the top corner. The second half was a tighter affair with both sides creating chances, but for most of the time, the defences were on top and kept the respective attacks at bay. With the game in the melting pot, the next score was always likely to prove crucial and it fell to the home side when Adam O Connell found himself clear of the Bansha defence, and he made no mistake from ten yards out. The game flowed from end to end for the final quarter of an hour, but Albion’s defence were in no mood to give anything away and they held firm to ensure their side would take the spoils.
Donohill and District 4 – 4 Killenaule Rovers
Donohill and Killenaule played out an eight goal thriller on Sunday afternoon that left the watching supporters more than satisfied with their days fare, on a dirty and dull Sunday afternoon. The hosts started brightly and opened the scoring when Sean Stokes scored from a corner in the fifteenth minute. They dominated the majority of the first half but were guilty of being profligate, until they finally doubled their tally with a second goal five minutes before the break, with an excellent strike by Joe Shanahan. But while they were still celebrating, the visitors poached a goal back, when John Madden nipped in behind the home defence and slid a ball home, to give the visitors hope for the second half. The home side were still capable of playing great football however, and re-established their two goal cushion just after the hour mark, when Ned Lowry headed home. They looked like they were going to cruise to an easy win, when Shanahan made it four after some good work from Dinny Crosse fifteen minutes from the end. But in the final eight minutes, they inexplicably imploded, conceding three goals to leave themselves shell shocked at the end. First a Michael Bolger free kick eluded the home keeper, and a minute later Connor Sinnott scored from a corner to make it four goals to three. Cue a chaotic final few minutes, and on the stroke of full time, Ciaran O Connor stabbed the ball home to give the visitors and unlikely but deserved point.
Tipperary Town 2 – 6 SC & K United
The visitors to the Arra Road didn’t take long to open the scoring with a goal of real quality from Mark Heffernan after two minutes, when the striker spotted the keeper off he’s line and with pin point accuracy found the net from thirty yards out. The home side settled after this and found a bit possession and an equaliser after good work from Mark Browne found Brian Roche who squared to Tudor Ignat for a neat volley to level the game ten minutes in. But just as they thought they would get to the break on level terms, the away side struck again when another tidy finish from Heffernan gave them a lead as they headed for the jaffa cakes. Heffernan who was in unstoppable form grabbed he’s hat-trick straight after the break, and wasn’t finished there, adding his and his teams fourth goal just after the hour mark. In total control now, Ben Smith grabbed the visitors fifth eleven minutes from time, before the hosts grabbed their second through Jamie Ryan who found the bottom corner after some very smart build up play. But the visitors weren’t to be denied the final significant moment, and added their sixth on the day through Nathan Dolan to cap off a convincing win.
Cahir Park 1 – 4 Clonmel Celtic
Both these teams went into this tie with 100% records after their opening games, so something had to give, and in the end, it was the home side, as Celtic overran and outplayed them for much of the game, before coming away with a comprehensive win. But it was the home side that started better and took a deserved lead on seventeen minutes, when Alex Botezaru fired home from all of twenty-five yards out. Celtic didn’t fold however and had a couple of half chances before they were awarded a penalty ten minutes before the break, and Jason Barnes stroked home the equaliser. This set the visitors on their way, and they dominated the rest of the half, finally adding a second just before the break when a Wayne Lasslett free kick found its way to the net. The home side were still hanging in during the second period, but fell further behind both in score and manpower in the sixty fifth minute. They were reduced to ten men, and to compound the problem, conceded a goal to Jack Aylward who scored the resulting free kick. The same player made the game safe for his side five minutes later, when he found the net with a long range shot, and from then to the end, Celtic kept the game under control.
TSDL Youths Report 17th September 2023 Match Reports
FAI U17 Preliminary Round
Clonmel Town 3 – 0 SC & K United
Clonmel Town U17s kicked off their National Cup campaign with a three goal victory over Slievenamon Celtic on Saturday afternoon. The home side started well and opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Jack Fahey struck a low shot from the edge of the area to the net. They doubled their lead six minutes later when Harry Tobin scored directly from a free kick, to put themselves in control of the game. The visitors rallied and almost got a goal back, but Peter Carroll in the Town goal was quick off his line to smother the chance. Ten minutes into the second half Monsur Emiabata was upended in the box following a through ball from Kevin Kenny, and the resulting penalty was dispatched by Cian LeBlanc to give his side a three-goal cushion. Slievenamon Celtic never gave up and some good defending and goalkeeping ensured that Town saw out the game and will now travel to Bridge Utd from Kilkenny in the next round.
Youths Round up
There were just two other games in the Youths section of the TSDL on Saturday. In a second FAI U17 preliminary game, Two Mile Borris welcomed Bansha Celtic to Newhill Park, and were too strong for a young Bansha side. Their reward for winning however, will be a much more daunting task to Kilkenny king pins Evergreen, but the Borris side won’t fear anyone. In Division Two of the Youths League, Galbally United welcomed Cullen Lattin, and also had a comprehensive win, putting four goals past their visitors without reply.