Clonmel Credit Union Tipperary Cup 3rd Round, 18th February 2024 Match Reports
Galbally United 3 – 5 Two Mile Borris
There were eight goals and lots of excitement in this ding dong battle of a cup tie on Sunday afternoon. The game was moved from Galbally, and the sticky ground made good football difficult, but lessened in no more of a spectacle and the two sides fought for every ball. They may have given up home advantage, but Galbally struck first when they opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute, when after some good play down the right wing, a ball was crossed onto the head of Ciaran Sheehan and he made no mistake from six yards out. But the lead lasted just five minutes, and Jamie Lee had Borris level with a well taken shot from the edge of the area. Lee was instrumental again five minutes later, this time providing an assist to send Daniel Rafter away and he put his side in front with a cool finish from ten yards out. It looked like this would see the teams out to the break, but the final three minutes of the half, witnessed chaos and three more goals. First Galbally were awarded a penalty kick three minutes from half time, and Jordan Dineen made no mistake in levelling the game. But while they were still in celebration mode, Borris went upfield, won a corner, and Anto Walker fired them back in front. Rocked back by this, United were caught for the second time in a minute, when Daniel Rafter was played in on goal, and the wily striker showed all his experience to score again and give Borris a two goal lead as they headed in for the break. The goals slowed down in the second period, but the game remained frantic, and Galbally pulled it back to a single goal game in the sixty fifth minute when Jordan Dineen pounced on a poor back pass to get his second and his sides third of the game. This lead to the First Division side throwing everything at their Premier League opponents, but two minutes from time they left themselves open to a classic counter attack, and Ciaran Purcell made sure of the victory when he added a fifth for Borris.
St Nicholas 2 – 4 Clonmel Celtic A
Clonmel Celtic’s first team prepared for their upcoming FAI Cup quarter final, by moving into the next round of the Tipperary Cup, after a good win in Solohead against St Nicholas by four goals to two. The game was dominated in the early stages by the visiting side, and they opened the scoring in the eleventh minute when a corner wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and Niall Prendergast had a free header at the back post, from which he made no mistake. But far from that opening the floodgates, the Second Division side dug in and even created some half chances themselves in a first half that ultimately saw no more goals scored. They had a brilliant chance to level the game five minutes into the second period which they spurned, and they got a lesson in the gap between Second Division and the Premier League, when the higher up side put the game beyond them shortly after with two goals in as many minutes. First Darren Sweeny found the net after some clever build up work, and then they were awarded a penalty kick which Ayo Williams blasted to the net. That said, the Saints never lay down and pulled a goal back in the sixty first minute when Brendan Collins finished off a cross from Jason Sutton from less than twelve yards out. The game opened up after this, with both sides making chances, but the crucial goal went to the visiting side, when Prendergast got his second of the day, to dispel any notions of a comeback by the home side. The hosts continued to push on, and got a second eleven minutes from time when Sutton finished off an assist by Collins, but it was too little too late, and the Clonmel side move forward.
Suirside 1 – 4 Clonmel Town
Clonmel Town continued their good run of form of late when they progressed to the next round of the Tipperary Cup with a comfortable five goals to one win against Second Division side Suirside in Grange at the weekend. The home side started well and held the Premier League side for the first quarter of the tie, but with the pressure intensifying Town opened the scoring in the twenty fourth minute, when Keith Cashman finished off a good flowing movement and gave the home keeper no chance from ten yards out. They quickly got a second when loose play in the middle of the field saw a ball turned over and Town flashed a pass into Jake French who saw his shot deflected to the net. Cashman made it three quick goals in the twenty ninth minute with a shot that flashed to the top of the next, to effectively end the game as a contest. The home team battled hard however, but in doing so left gaps at the back, and three minutes before the break the visitors added a fourth when Ben Browne scored from just outside the box. Suirside continued to acquit themselves well and finally pulled a goal back twenty minutes from time, when Paul Kennedy set up David Recontre to score from the edge of the area. But the final goal of the day went to the away side, who re-established their four goal lead when Browne got his second in the final minutes of the game.
Clonmel Celtic 6 – 0 Killenaule Rovers
Both these teams may currently play in Division Three of the TSDL Leagues, but there was a clear gulf in class in this Tipperary Cup tie, with a Mike Cooper hat trick laying the foundations for a big win by the home side. Three more goals added by Dylan Kiely, Cillian O’Brien and Davy Garrett, gave them the victory by six, and they now join their first team in the next round of the cup.
TSDL Premier League 18th February 2024 Match Reports
St Michael’s 9 – 0 Wilderness Rovers
St Michaels warmed up for next week’s Munster Junior Cup with Avenue United when they easily took the points in a one-sided contest at Cooke Park on Sunday Afternoon. Ashley Kelliher opened the scoring in the very first minute, after good approach work by Russell Quirke and Colin Bargary, and it got worse for the visitors when the Saint’s added a second four minutes later. A right-wing cross from Rhys O’Regan was misjudged by Jake O’Donnell and ended up in the net. O’ Regan made it three in the eighteenth minute, with a left foot shot from eighteen yards out, before Ashley Kelliher added a fourth shortly after he finished well from the edge of the box. Russell Quirke rounded off the first half scoring six minutes before the break, with a good finish after some intricate play in the middle of the pitch. It took the hosts just two minutes to make it six in the second half, when Kelliher scored again after following up a Joey Mulcahy effort. David Slattery made it seven in the fiftieth minute, when he scored a header from close range after Ashley Kelliher had retrieved a Donagh Hickey cross. Credit to Wilderness Rovers as they kept plugging away and never lacked for effort, but two more goals in the latter stages of the game by Ashley Kelliher and David Slattery completed the rout.
TSDL Second Division 18th February 2024 Match Reports
Moyglass United 2 – 3 Two Mile Borris
Borris’ seconds travelled to Moyglass for their final away game of the season, and assured themselves of promotion to the First Division with a good win in a five-goal thriller. The visitors started well, creating many chances but unable to convert until the fortieth minute when DJ Troy got in behind the home defence and scored from ten yards out. But they undid all that good work when almost immediately from the kick off Moyglass went on the attack and levelled from close range, with a strike by Adam Lyons. There were no more goal in that frantic first half, and ten minutes into the second period the home side got their noses in front when Niall Doocey fired home a superb lob from all of thirty yards out to the delight of the home support. This goal didn’t deter the league leaders however, and ten minutes from the end, they found an equaliser when Padraic Fogarty headed to the net from a Martin Darmody corner. This gave Borris a new lease of life and they went all out attacking, looking for the winner. Three minutes from time, a Louis Coughlan cross found Michael Anthony Mc Carthy in space, and he finished from close range to give his side all three points and a huge boost in their push to wrap up the title race as champions.
TSDL Youths Report 17th February 2024 Match Reports
Donohill and District 3 – 2 Ballingarry Albion
Donohill caused a big upset in the Division Three title race when they beat league leaders Ballingarry Albion by the odd goal in five at home on Sunday. The visitors were first out of the traps when they opened the scoring in the tenth minute, when Jack Pollard rose highest to head home. But Donohill didn’t panic and started playing some lovely football, resulting in Dinny Crosse winning a penalty kick that was converted by Ned Lowry on the half hour mark. It looked like the teams were going to the break level, but in the final minute of the half, Alan O Dwyer put the home side ahead with a tidy finish from close range. The away side upped their game in the early part of the second half, but hey had to wait until fifteen minutes from time to see some reward when Riain O Callaghan scored a brilliant goal to level the game for a second time. Both sides now went in chase of a winner, and eight minutes from time, the hosts delivered when a brilliant run from Darragh Kelly saw him brought down in the box, and for the second time in the game, Ned Lowry stepped up to score from spot, and secure all three points.
Burncourt Celtic 0 – 4 Cahir Park
This Division Three fixture was played under the lights at Cahir Park’s astro pitch, and got off to a brisk start with both sides looking to get on the ball and play. Cahir got a foothold early on with former Celtic player James “Pimmy” D’Arcy a big influence. In the eight minute, following a mix up in the Celtic defence, Rhys Byron pounced to finish to the net from ten yards out. With Burncourt still reeling from the early setback, the Park had the opportunity to double their advantage minutes later, when they were awarded a penalty, which Padraig Farrell converted. The game settled down after this with both sides enjoying spells of possession, but Cahir still looking the more likely to add to their advantage from open play. As halftime neared some loose play on the edge of box saw Burncourt cough up possession and Shane Oneill controlled the ball and fired an unstoppable shot from twenty yards out, to give Park a comfortable three goal lead at the break. They added a fourth seven minutes into the second period, when some nice inter play between Byron and Farrell saw the latter finish neatly from twelve yards out. The game petered out after this with both sides having some half chances, but unable to convert into goals.
TSDL Third Division 18th February 2024 Match Reports
FAI Youths Cup ¼ final
Cashel Town 1 – 2 Aisling Annacotty (AET 1 -1 FT)
Cashel Town’s youths suffered heartbreak for a second week in a row when they were knocked out of the FAI Youths Cup at the quarter final stage on Saturday by Limerick kingpins and competition favourites Pike Rovers. Once again, this fine group of young players gave a great account of themselves, but were just pipped by the finest of margins. The visitors came to Palmershill and started the brighter, but didn’t really create any chances of note in the first quarter of the game. The hosts finally started to get going and began pressing forward, but all their good work was undone in the twenty first minute when a speculative shot from distance, deceived the home keeper to put the visitors in front. This didn’t deter the home side and they stormed back in to the game, being unlucky not to equalise just after the half hour mark, when Cillian Fitzgerald was denied by a good save by the away keeper. Early in the second half, Cashel kept pressing forward but failed to create much with both defences on top. Fifteen minutes from time, the TSDL side finally got a gilt-edged chance to level the game, when they were awarded a penalty, and up stepped Blake Doyle Carroll, who coolly slotted the ball into the net. But just five minutes later, Pike were awarded a penalty of their own, and Shane Franklin made no mistake from twelve yards out. This left Cashel throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at their opponents to try to get back on level terms a second time, but the Limerick side defended superbly and took the spot available in the semi-finals at the end.
TSDL Youths Division Two
Two Mile Borris 2 – 2 Mullinahone
Borris were crowned Div 2 Youths champions on Saturday after a cracking game at home to Mullinahone, that produced four goal and finished in a draw. This was a fast moving and free flowing game from the start, with both sides having plenty of early chances. But it was the hosts that struck first in the twenty fifth minute, after great work from Conor Ryan saw him play in Cian Dwyer who made no mistake firing across the goalkeeper to the net. The visitors didn’t let this deter them, and went on the hunt for an equaliser which they got ten minutes later, with a quick counter catching the hosts cold. It looked as though the teams were going to go in level at half time but again, Conor Ryan broke free down the right and squared an inch perfect ball to the oncoming Dwyer, who buried his effort past the Mullinahone keeper to put Borris ahead at the break. The second half started again at a frantic pace with multiple gilt-edged chances missed by both sides. With twenty minutes to go Borris were made to rue their squandered chances the visitors charged forward, and tore through the home defensive line to get a second equaliser. Both sides went looking for a winner in the final minutes but there were to be no more goals and the point gained was enough to land Borris the league title.
TSDL Youths Division Two
Cullen Lattin 1 – 0 SC & K United
This was a tight and tensely contested game played on a soft pitch, before the home team Cullen emerged victorious with a narrow single goal victory. Both teams started well, and the midfield area was heavily contested before the hosts broke the deadlock in the twentieth minute with a well-taken goal by Jamie McGrath. A cross field pass found Jamie in space, and he drove at the centre of the visitor’s defence, before directing his shot ball past the out-stretched arms of the goalkeeper. Despite taking the lead, the home team struggled to capitalize on their momentum, squandering several promising opportunities to extend their advantage. The visiting side, buoyed by their resilient defence, fought tooth and nail to stay in the game, keeping the scoreline close. As the match wore on, both teams fiercely contested every ball. In the end, it was the home team’s early goal that proved to be the difference-maker, securing them a hard-fought victory in a tightly contested affair.