FAI Junior Cup, 19th November 2023 Match Reports
FAI Junior Cup, 3rd Round
Clonmel Celtic 3 – 2 Cashel Town
Clonmel Celtic advanced to the open round of the FAI Junior Cup on Sunday morning with a win over Cashel Town by the odd goal in five. This was always going to be a tricky encounter against a side who have made a good start to the season and even the hosts must have been scratching their heads a little when they found themselves three up at the break. The away side had the first chance and should have been a goal up after only five minutes when Kevin Keating thought he was rolling the ball into an empty net after rounding the keeper but Peter O’Dowd somehow got back to clear off the line. The visitors remained the more likely to open the scoring and came close again on eight minutes with Lee O’Riordan’s shot just clearing the bar. But the hosts slowly clawed their way back into the tie and gave notice of their intent when Paddy Ormond’s cross deceived the keeper to hit the inside of the post before been scrambled clear in the eighteenth minute. The visitors then shot themselves in the foot conceding a penalty on twenty two minutes which Graham Kelly confidently dispatched to the net. This began a good spell for the hosts with Jack Purcell and Philly Drohan both coming close with long range efforts. They finally doubled their lead on just after the half hour mark when a Graham Kelly header fell to Darren Sweeney and he turned to fire a low shot to the corner. The visitors almost hit back immediately but were denied by a stunning save from Fabian Kerton. Celtic made it three just before the break when a Philly Drohan free kick crept inside the far post. Cashel started the second half on the offensive but Celtic nearly put the game to bed ten minutes in when Graham Kelly’s shot hit the post. The away side were rather lucky with the lifeline they were given minutes later when a defensive clearance cannoned off Darragh Browne and into the net. The hosts had emptied the bench at this stage which you would normally imagine would be safe to do with a three goal lead, but they lost their way a bit and a second Cashel goal twelve minutes from the end when Kyle Ryan converted from the spot blew the tie open. With the momentum on their side everyone expected a grandstand finish from Cashel but it never really materialized as Celtic held on comfortably enough to advance to Round 5.
Munster Junior Cup, 19th November 2023 Match Reports
Munster Junior Cup, 3rd Round
Peake Villa 4 – 1 Cahir Park
Villa entertained fellow Premier League side Cahir Park up at the Tower Grounds on Sunday afternoon in what was a blustery evening, with the prize of a place in the open round draw of this year’s Munster Junior Cup on offer. The hosts set out their stall in the early minutes coming close on two occasions with Ronan McGuire just heading over and Pippy Carroll strike going just wide of the post. They took the lead in just the sixth minute when a Keith Cahill corner was headed in by Mick Ryan, and that lead was doubled in the nineteenth minute when good play out on the left from Pippy Carroll found Eoin O Dwyer who laid it off to Michael Quinlan whose shot took a deflection before going over the keeper’s head to make it two. The goal of the game came in the thirty third minute when Darragh Byrne found Ronan McGuire who turned well and played in Carroll, who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner. They could have extended their lead three minutes later when Sean Wade done well at the back post and from a very tight angle his effort came back off the crossbar. The second half was just five minutes old, when the visitors pulled a goal back through Craig Guiry whose shot gave the home keeper no chance. The tails up now, the Park had a great chance just before the hour mark, but their striker’s header went straight into Willie Tierney’s hands. Any chance of a comeback however was snuffed out just on the hour mark, when Villa were awarded a penalty after a handball in the box. Pippy Carroll stepped up and put it away to make it four, and ensure they advanced to the last 32.
TSDL Premier League 19th November 2023 Match Reports
St Michael’s 5 – 0 Tipperary Town
Saints warmed up for next week’s FAI Junior Cup match in Tramore by taking the points in a sometimes dogged encounter in this derby game that was moved to Cooke Park. The opening fifteen minutes were largely uneventful, with Ed O’Dwyer having one effort just wide and another gathered by Town’s custodian Mikey O’Dwyer. Karl Lowry put a ball across the box in the eighteenth minute, but there was no one there to finish to the net, in the away sides first riposte. The home sides final ball might have been just off up to that point, but they took the lead minutes later when Rhys Byron’s left foot effort found the corner of the net. Cian Fadden was unlucky on twenty eight minutes, with a backward glancing headed from a Danny O’Brien corner that was cleared off the line with Saints players claiming it had made its way over. They finally got the much wanted second just after the half hour mark, when Rhys Byron the last touch on a Danny O’Brien effort towards goal. This was how it went to the break. They had a few early efforts in the second period, but the visitors were dogged and it took until twelve minutes before time, before they got the third goal that put the tie beyond all doubt. The goal itself was a spectacular one, with Danny O’Brien scoring with an overhead finish from an Ashley Kelliher cross from the byline. Paul Breen hit a great cross from the left wing that went invitingly across the area before Ashley Kelliher made it four in the eighty fourth minute from a Danny O’Brien assist following good approach play by Ed O’Dwyer from the left flank. The best wine was saved till last when in the final minute Paul Breen produced a spectacular diving header from a Joey Mulcahy free kick to make it five.
TSDL First Division 19th November 2023 Match Reports
Old Bridge 2 – 3 Cullen Lattin
This was a great win on the road for Cullen as they got the better of Old Bridge in Ferryhouse on Sunday last. It was a close game, and I’m sure the home side are very aggrieved with themselves for not securing at least a draw, but that’s how football goes sometimes. The game was only three minutes old when a Michael Elligot pass found Tony O ‘Neill on the edge of the box, and he fired a beautiful angled shot to the bottom of the net to put the visitors in front. The home side pushed forward after this, looking to regain parity and created a lot of chances but unfortunately for them they failed to convert. That all changed in the thirty second minute when the Bridge were awarded a penalty, and although Darren Hueston stopped Connie Power’s initial effort, Jake Mulcahy followed up and finished to the net. Sixty seconds later, a Simon O’Donnell corner was brilliantly headed to the net by Michael O’Sullivan to put the home side ahead. The visitors were still well in the game and were getting the better of the midfield battle and got rewarded three minutes before the break when a Danny O’Dwyer cross was headed clear, but it fell to Tristan Stokes who volleyed to the top right hand corner of the net from twenty five yards out, a truly spectacular effort, to level the game at half time. The Bridge started brightly in the second period, and Michael O’Sullivan just failed to head the ball home from a great Shane Foley cross. The away side delivered the crucial blow in the fifty third minute when a long clearance found Tony O’Neill in space, and he fired to the bottom of the net for what turned out to be the winning goal. The hosts went on the offensive and laid siege to the opposition goal but ended up frustrated despite numerous set pieces and goalmouth scrambles. In the end, the spoils went back to West Tipperary, keeping them well in this year’s promotion hunt.
St Michael’s 1 – 1 Galbally United
Saints salvaged a point here late on in a game where both sides had chances to win, before the spoils were shared. Early exchanges were even enough with both sides trying to create chances and the visitors took the lead on twenty four minutes, when Robbie McGrath was deemed to have fouled Jordan Dineen, who picked himself up to make it one to nil from the penalty spot. This was the beginning of a good spell by the away side, and they were unlucky not to add to their tally before the break, but some excellent work by Robbie Mc Grath in the home goal kept them at bay. The second half say the home side come more into the game, and Antonio Rea had a few chances that almost levelled the game, before he finally found the net sixteen minutes from time, converting a Callum Lonergan assist. Declan Dineen had two chances late on to win it for Galbally but Robbie McGrath did well on each occasion to keep him out, and preserve a point for his team.
TSDL Second Division 19th November 2023 Match Reports
Cashel Town 0 – 4 Two Mile Borris
Borris’ second made the short trip to Cashel on Sunday and needed a dominant second half performance to take the points and consolidate their position at the top of Division Two. The game was played in poor conditions and this made the first half a fairly drab affair with a lot of play finishing with no real outcome. The visitors had the better of what chances did arise, but never really threatened the home keeper. A different Borris emerged in the second period, with DJ Troy rattling the cross bar almost immediately from the kick off. Soon after, their pressure finally yielded a result, when Jack Delaney finished off a great through ball from Troy. Troy finally got the goal his play deserved ten minutes in, and when Jake Jordan took advantage of a Jamie Meaney pass to make it three with twenty minutes left, the destination of the points was secure. There was still time for one more when Tristan Kelly reacted quickest to a cleared corner finishing well in the final minutes, to give his side a comprehensive win in the end.
Dualla 4 – 1 St Nicholas
This game was lively and physical from the kick-off, with the visitors starting well with a strong breeze in their favour. They dominated most of the play in the first half, but with the home defence in a thrifty mood, they were unable to make the possession count and the teams went to the break scoreless. With the wind at their backs now, the home side took control and started to pile on the pressure with players pushing forward at every chance. But despite this, they were rocked back when they found themselves a goal down after the visitors were awarded a free kick at the edge of the area in the fifty fifth minute, and Jack Downey found the bottom right corner, to the delight of the travelling supporters. But Dualla kept their composure, and within five minutes were level, when the away side failed to clear from a corner and the ever-reliable Lar Devane slotted home from close range. With the conditions still causing problems for both teams, the home side took the lead in the sixty seventh minute after Tossy Ryan pounced on an opportunity and finished neatly, scooping the ball over the outrushing keeper. The game started moving completely in the home team’s direction and with fifteen minutes left, Stevie Coppinger received a ball twenty yards out and volleyed home to give his side some breathing space. They added a fourth when John Ryan found himself free inside the box and beat the keeper from twelve yards out, to put the shine on a much-needed win for the home team.
Powerstown 2 – 0 Moyglass United
These two teams produced some mighty battles in the Third Division last season, and this has carried on after the both were promoted in the Second this time around. Early on in this tie, it was the visitors who were exerting the most pressure, with an onslaught of long throws early on causing the home side trouble. But they managed to settle and get their own game going, and opened the scoring in the twenty first minute when Brian Mc Keown was brought down in the Moyglass area, and the ever-dependable Gino Lonergan made no mistake converting the resulting penalty. The away side responded well and almost got level five minutes before the break, only to see the home keeper Kieran Quirke forced into a point blank save to keep his side in front. Seven minutes into the second half, Powerstown doubled their advantage. This time it was Cathal Mc Keown. A cross into the box from Conor McGrath found Brian Mc Keown at the back post, and his header back across the area, was put into the net by his brother Cathal. With light between the teams now, the home side started to pile on the pressure. Conor Mc Graths first time effort from a ball in behind out was pushed around the post by the keeper, and Aaron Kiely’s effort two minutes from time forced another good save. In the end though, there were to be no more goals and the hosts took the valuable three points.
TSDL Third Division 19th November 2023 Match Reports
Cahir Park 4 – 0 Tipperary Town
The home team were slow to settle with the visitors having the best of the early exchanges, but once the Park settled down, they took control and a deserved lead in the twenty fifth minute, when David Cliford finished to an empty net. After that they always looked most likely to score again before the break, but the visitors keeper kept the scoreline to just one with some smart saves. The second half was all one-way traffic with the home side in full control and Clifford made it two just before the hour mark. Twenty minutes from time, Padraig Farrell added a third with a close-range header. And Clifford finally got his hat trick with almost the last kick of the game to round out the scoring.
Clonmel Celtic 1 – 3 Donohill and District
This was a tough game for the home side today at a windswept Ferryhouse, where they were over powered by a much more physical Donohill side, to record their second loss of the campaign. The visitors were up for this from the beginning and took a lead in the fourth minute, through a tidy finish by Alan Wallace. Playing into a stiff breeze the home side were unable to get their usual passing game going, and went further behind five minutes before the break when Dinny Crosse added a second for the away side. But the home side did manage a glimmer of hope before the break when they were awarded a free kick just outside the area, which Dylan Kiely converted to make it two to one at half time. Then in a five minute period in the second half around the hour mark, the whole thing unravelled for them, when they were awarded a penalty kick but missed, only to see Cian Mooney add a third for the visitors minutes later, setting them up to take all three points.
TSDL Youths Report 19th November 2023 Match Reports
FAI Youths Cup, 3rd Round
Cashel Town 5 – 1 Charleville
A dominant second half performance by high flying Cashel Town Youths propelled them into the last 16 of this year’s FAI Youths Cup, when they overcame Cork side Charleville at Palmershill on Saturday afternoon. The home side started well, and went one up after ten minutes through a Callum Butler Buckley strike. But they weren’t getting things all their own way in the half, and the visitors levelled ten minutes later, when they scored directly from a free kick. After that the hosts began to take control of the game, but were unable to add to their tally before the half time break. They came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and were back in front within five minutes, when Cillian Fitzgerald finished well from a sweeping move. The same player made it three on the hour mark when he headed in from a great corner to put daylight between the teams. In control now, the home side added two more goals in the final fifteen minutes with Fitzgerald secured his hat trick with a poachers finish and Butler Buckley scoring a brilliant goal after a well worked team move. The result delighted the Cashel crowd, and they now await the draw to see who they will face in the next round.
FAI Youths Cup, 3rd Round
Portlaoise 3 – 8 Two Mile Borris
Borris travelled to Portlaoise on Saturday afternoon, to take on the leaders of the Kildare league and came away with a great win that made it two for two for the TSDL. The game was effectively over ten minutes before the break, when the Tipperary side found themselves six goals up after a stunning period of play. Alex Coppinger continued his extraordinary goal scoring exploits with a first half hat trick, and he was followed by a brace from Tristan Troy and a Jake Cullen Jordan effort. They were still disappointed however, to concede two goals in the final ten minutes of the half, but went to the break in a good position. The second half was a much more even affair and the home side showed what a good team they are by playing some good football and deservedly scored their third fifteen minutes in. But Borris opened up again to make sure the hosts would not get back into the tie, and killed the game off with a quarter of an hour to play when Troy completed his hat trick and the icing on the cake from Tom Ryan to take the Newhill side to the last 16.
Youths League Div 2
Clonmel Town 5 – 3 Mullinahone
Town started well and were one up after only two minutes when a cross from Joyel Joby was slotted home by Isacc DeSilva. Mullinahone settled after this and were level five minutes later following a mix up in the home defence. After this, the visitors began to dominate possession in midfield and had a couple of half chances before deservedly going in front ten minutes before the break. The home side made a number of changes at half time and started the second half brightly. Minutes in a Paul Maher free kick rattled the crossbar and the same player forced a good save from the keeper a minute later with a long range effort. Continuous pressure from Town finally paid off when Kevin Kenny picked the ball up at the edge of the penalty and fired home the equaliser twelve minutes into the second period. On top now the hosts retook the lead two minutes later following a Jack Burns strike from the edge of the box. Isacc Da Silva made it four to two in the sixty sixth minute with a goal direct from a corner kick, before Conor Makim scored the goal of the game after seventy minutes with a spectacular twenty-five-yard free kick to put Town further ahead. To their credit, Mullinahone never gave up and pulled one back with ten minutes remaining. They were awarded a penalty with four minutes left but Peter Carroll in the Town goal pulled off a great save to keep his side two up.
Youths League Div 2
Cullen Lattin 3 – 8 Two Mile Borris
This was a match played in great spirit and high energy between two very eager teams. It was an open game of lots of chances where the visitors were far more efficient in taking there’s and the home team a bit wasteful at times. The visitors took the lead after ten minutes through Lorcan Burke, but Cullen responded well and equalised through Jamie McGrath. The home side upped the tempo and finished the half the stronger and were unlucky not to go in ahead at half time, but conceded a penalty in stoppage time of the first half which the visitors converted through Lorcan Burke, to leave Borris in front by two goals to one. It was hard to envisage the final score at half time but the away side added further goals from Lorcan Burke, a brace by Eric Garcia, Cian O Dwyer, Ben Moroney and Eamon Ryan. Jamie McGrath completed his hat trick for Cullen with two further goals, one being a brilliant finish from the half way line in lobbing the keeper. An eventful game with two hat tricks and some quality finishes.