TSDL Premier League 20th August 2023
Wilderness Rovers 0 – 7 St Michael’s
It was a strange feeling for many connected with the Saint’s to run out for a new season, not as reigning Premier League champions, but they put down a marker in Clonmel on Sunday to the rest of the division in saying they will be fighting tooth and nail this year to get that accolade back. For the hosts however, it was a disjointed performance that they know they will have to improve on, and quickly, if it’s not going to become a long hard season for the Clonmel based side. In reality, it was a stroll in the park for the visitors, having the bulk of possession and putting the game to bed as a contest by mid-way through the opening half. After some early half chances, they finally took the lead on eighteen minutes when Shane Ryan converted a Jimmy Carr cross. The same combination was on hand three minutes later when Carr’s pass found Shane Ryan in behind the defence and he doubled his sides lead. David Slattery made it three just after the half hour when his shot that found the net off the inside of the post, and two minutes later he made it four when he picked up the ball in a good position, beat the home defence and crashed the ball to the net. Well in control at the break, the Saints only needed seven minutes of the second period to make it five, with Ryan completing his hat trick with a spectacular finish from a Colin Bargary pass. After that the game fell into a lull and both sides used their respective benches, as they try to get minutes into as many legs as possible at the beginning of the season. Three minutes from time the visitors added a sixth when substitute Antonio Rea was on hand to head home an Ashley Kelliher cross, and evergreen Jimmy Carr completed the scoring when he converted a penalty in the final minute to make it seven to nil on the day.
Clonmel Town 3 – 0 Two Mile Borris
In a repeat of last season’s opening day fixture, it was Clonmel Town who once again came away with the three points, thanks to a flattering 3-0 win against as normal determined Two Mile Borris side. The away started the better of the two sides, with Jamie Lee proving very hard to handle out on the right wing, and Daniel Rafter spurned a great chance after just four minutes which would have given the visitors a deserved lead. Both he and Jack Hackett were continuing to make chances, but eventually Town settled down and in the twenty seventh minute Dylan Guiry put them in front when he was left unmarked at the back post to head home a Conor o Sullivan cross. Two minutes later the visitors had a strong claim for a penalty waved away, and just three minutes before the break, Jack O Donnell saw his shot from the edge of the box go inches over the bar after a great pull back from Sam O Dwyer. The first half ended with Evan Comerford pulling off an excellent save to deny Daniel Rafter from close range, as the home side went in with a scarcely deserved advantage. Borris continued to make the running in the early parts of the second period, and again thought they had managed to level the game only to see a shot from Jack Hackett hit the outside of the post in the fifty fifth minute and be scrambled away to safety. As so often happens though, when you don’t make the most of your chances, you get punished, and twelve minutes from time, Jake French Davis provided a great flick on for Dylan Guiry to get his second goal of the game and put Town in control. The game was put to bed when in the final minute when Darragh Cronin provided a neat finish after some brilliant work again from the excellent Jake French Davis.
Peake Villa 3 – 0 Tipperary Town
Peake Villa kicked off their title defence in style with a good win over newly promoted Tipperary Town at the Tower Grounds in Thurles on Sunday afternoon. It was a glorious day for a game that was helped by the condition of the pitch, which was in immaculate order, and Villa were raring to go with a lot of good possession in the first half. To the visitors credit, they were well organised at the back and defended well, before Kieren Hennessy nearly broke the deadlock in the twelfth minute when Dale Loughnane played him in only to be denied by a fantastic save from the Tipp keeper Eric Higgins. The deadlock however was broken in the twenty first minute when a Keith Cahill corner was headed into the bottom corner by Sean Wade. The home side didn’t have to wait long for a second and they doubled their lead when Loughnane played in Kieren Hennessy, who put the ball under the keepers body five minutes later. Just before half time, Town had their best chance of the game when their full back Aidan Duggan hit the upright with a great effort, but the follow up was scrambled away to safety. The second half started much the same as the first half with Villa applying all the pressure. On the hour mark, there was a nasty clash of heads which saw both players having to go off, and within minutes the home side took advantage of the temporary confusion when Keith Cahill scored with a fine finish to the corner. The game fizzled out after this with both sides making a number of changes, but Villa will be more than happy with their days work and a good start to their title defence.
Clonmel Celtic 3 – 0 Bansha Celtic
The first game will not define your season but it’s always nice to get off to a winning start, and so Clonmel Celtic can be well pleased with their efforts as they kicked off the campaign with a three goal win against a good Bansha Celtic side. The result may have been a little harsh on the visitors who had some good spells in this game though Celtic were deserving winners. There was not much in it in the early stages with both sides sounding each other out. One of the home debutants, Keenan Kerton, had the first effort on target but his shot was easily saved by Shane Egan. At the other end Bansha had their first attempt when Daire Egan shot wide in the tenth minute. Philip Drohan was looking lively on the left for the hosts and he came close on twelve minutes with a free kick that was just wide. Sean Browne gave some early indications of what an important signing he will be for Celtic before unfortunately limping off on five minutes before the break, but what an introduction it was for his replacement Darren Sweeney, who was on hand to take advantage of a miscommunication in the Bansha rearguard and curl home to the far corner to give his side the lead almost immediately after entering the fray. Stunned a little by this, the visitors started the second half strongly and Fabian Kerton had to make an excellent save getting down to push a free kick around the post four minutes in. Celtic however, doubled their lead in the fifty third minute, and once again there was a little good fortune with the goal. Philip Drohan released Rory O’Dowd down the right and the goalkeeper let his cross creep over the line. It was a blow for the visitors and meant they had a mountain to climb to get back into the game. They did come close to halving the deficit with a cracking long range effort from Daire Egan that crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced away to safety, but the home side made the game safe fifteen minutes from time, and there was nothing fortunate about this goal. Philly Drohan released Seanie Hawkins down the right and his cross was expertly guided home by Darren Sweeney to make it three.