Munster Junior Cup 5th round 19th February 2023 Match Reports
Springfield Ramblers 0 – 3 Peake Villa
This game might have seemed curious to the casual observer who thought that Springfield had already dispatched Peake Villa from the Munster Junior Cup in the previous round, but that was the Thurles sides second team. On Sunday, the “big brothers” arrived back in Cobh, and handed down a revenge dish to cruise into the quarter finals of this years competition. The TSDL side started well and went close in the eleventh minute when Darragh Byrne hit the post. But netminder Willie Tierney was called into action six minutes later, when he made a good save, underlining the danger that any complacency about the tie Villa might have had, would very quickly be punished by this very capable Cork outfit. There wasn’t much between the teams and the best chance before half time fell to Villa’s Keith Cahill, who came close, but wasn’t able to turn the ball into the net. The Tipperary side came out in the second half and showed some real purpose and were finally rewarded in the sixty third minute when a Mikey Wade corner was headed to the back of the net by Dale Loughnane to give them a deserved lead. On top now, they pressed home their dominance and added a second in the seventy third minute when Mikey Wade scored to make it two nil. They added a cherry on top of what was an all round excellent performance when Jack Ryan Casey capped a fine performance to score and make the final result three goals to nil.
TSDL Premier League reports 19th February 2023 Match Reports
Bansha Celtic 0 – 1 St Michael’s
St Michael’s continued their push for another Premier League title with a single goal win in their local derby battle with a Bansha side struggling for points to try to move away from the dreaded relegation zone. The home side started the game well and were well set up in a game that was nip and tuck for the first quarter of an hour. But eventually the visitors began to dominate exchanges in the middle of the field and got what proved to be the winning goal in the twenty fifth minute. The ball fell to the always lively Russell Quirke who evaded two tackles before curling the ball into the top corner from fifteen yards out. This spurred the home side into action and ten minutes before the break were unlucky not to be level when Eoin Halpin cut in from the right only for him to hit straight at Adrian Walsh in the visitor’s goal. Both sides had some half chances before the break but both keepers were equal to them. The second half started the same as the first ended with plenty of good football played on a heavy Celtic Park. Ten minutes in, the visitors almost extended their lead only to for David slattery to be denied by the post. Darren McGrath then had a great chance to level the game but couldn’t get a clean shot away. Fifteen minutes from time, Saint’s Adam McGrath was unlucky to see his free kick come back off the crossbar, in what was the last real chance in a very entertaining game with plenty chances.
Two Mile Borris 3 – 0 Cashel Town
This was an important mid table game with the visitors having the opportunity to go ahead of the hosts in the table if they managed to pull off a victory. However the home side were in no mood to roll over and picked up the three points that all but assures they wont get sucked into a relegation battle over the coming weeks. The home side started better and had two good chances to open the scoring in the first quarter of an hour, first through a Jamie Lee shot that forced a good save from the visiting keeper and then a Jack Hackett shot that flew narrowly wide. But it looked like a goal was coming and it arrived when Jack Cleary got in behind the Cashel defence in the twentieth minute and he made no mistake from close in to fire his side into a deserved lead. After that the rest of the first half finished evenly enough with both teams having chances but neither really making the respective keepers work. Once the second period began the hosts began to dominate again and extended their lead just after the hour mark when an intelligent Jamie Carey ball found Jack Hackett and he deftly chipped a ball over the stranded keeper in the Cashel nets. Ten minutes from time Hackett got a goal his own performance deserved when he got on the end of an Urban Nolan pass and finished from close in. Throughout most of the second period, while Cashel played well they were reduced to chances from set pieces and will now be nervously looking over their shoulders as they try to secure enough points that will make them safe by season end.
Vee Rovers 0 – 5 Clonmel Town
Clonmel Town maintained their title push and practically condemned Vee Rovers to the First Division when they produced a scintillating first half performance that included a Rhys O Regan hat trick in Clogheen on Sunday. The home side knew they needed something from the game and started well, camping at the edge of the visitors area in the opening five minutes, but were unable to trouble the Town keeper. And they were then punished in the seventh minute when the Clonmel side broke out and swept the ball up field before delivering a cross into the Rovers area that was deflected into his own net by a home defender. This was the kind of bad luck that has struck the Clogheen side all year, and before they had recovered from the concession they were hit by two quickfire goals from man of the match Rhys O Regan. The first a delicate lob over the keeper from the edge of the area, and the second a poachers goal when he prodded home from six yards out, when the home side were unable to clear a corner kick. This left the visitors in control for the rest of the half, and in the final minute they put the game to bed completely when O Regan added his third and his sides fourth, this time heading to the net when all alone in the area. The second half seen the visitors take their foot off the pedal and concede a lot of possession and territory to a battling Vee side, but as has been their Achilles heel all season, they were unable to turn chances into goals. Town added a fifth ten minutes from time, just to rub salt into the wounds, and keep their own title challenge purring nicely ahead of some big ties in the weeks to come.
TSDL First Division report 19th February 2023 Match Reports
Old Bridge 0 – 1 Cahir Park
Cahir Park secured a place in a playoff for the First Division Title with a narrow victory over Old Bridge in Clonmel on Sunday afternoon, after a tense game with neither side playing to their full potential. While both sets of players can be complimented on their commitment and effort there was a lack of quality on show, so it was fitting that it was a moment of real excellence which produced the only goal. After a very sketchy first half in terms of chances, in the final minute a corner found its way to Barry Cooney on the edge of the area and he hit an unstoppable shot to the back of the net, to the delight of the away crowd. The Bridge had had the better of things up to that stage with Luke O ‘Donnell going close, shortly before the opening goal. Kian Quinn made a good save in the early stages of the second period as Cahir attempted to stretch their lead, but the home side upped the ante again and dominated much of the middle section of the game, creating chances for Sean Martin, Jake Mulcahy, Shane Foley and Darren Guiry. At this stage, the visitors seemed content with what they had and apart from a few long range shots they kept it tight, making sure they would keep a hold on the prized play off position. The Bridge finished strongly, creating more chances, but that goal never came and Mark Jordan’s final whistle brought great delight to the many Cahir Park followers present. The Park had a job to do and they were effective in their pursuit of it, while Bridge will be frustrated but their inability to score cost them again, as it had done so often during the season.
Clonmel Town 1 – 2 Peake Villa
Peake Villa travelled to Ferryhouse to take on Town’s reserves in an unusually early kick-off with both teams playing for positions in the league. With both squads depleted this game was set up for an all-action contest, and in the seventeenth minute the home side hit the front when a quick kickout from Shane O Connor cleared the visitors defensive line, and the onrushing Harry O Connor was left in plenty of space to put the hosts a goal to the good. To be fair on Peake it was totally against the run of play as they were playing the better football, which they continued to do after, but could not find that equaliser before the break. The second half was a continuation from were the first half left off with the Thurles side dominating but they had to wait until fifteen minutes ffrom time to get some reward when Danny Treacy was to get on the end of a long ball and slot the ball past the stranded Town keeper. Well in the ascendancy now, they got a second seven minutes from time when Scott Brennan got on the end of a cross to put his side two goals to one up. This sparked the home side into a bit of life but it was Peake who missed glorious chances to put the game to bed. With the clock gone well into injury time Paul Shanahan saw his header go agonisingly wide but to be honest it would have been harsh on Villa if they had left without all three points.
TSDL Second Division report 19th February 2023 Match Reports
Cullen Lattin 1 – 2 Dualla
Cullen Lattin welcomed Dualla to Aisling Park on Sunday, in a top of the table clash, that the visitors knew they had to get something from if they were to have a real chance of picking up this season’s Second Division title, and they delivered in style after a very good game of football. The hosts had the better of the early chances with Danny O Dwyer causing trouble down the right, and Micheàl Elligott almost sent Thomas O Mahoney away but his squared ball was fired high and wide. Once they had settled, Dualla had a succession of frees kicks that were well delivered into the hosts area, but by and large they were dealt with easily enough. But the first real talking point of the game came midway through the first period when the home side were reduced to ten players after they lost a player to a second yellow card offence. Despite this they continued to create the better chances and Elligott caused havoc almost any time he got the ball and ran at the visitors defence. The half however remained goalless and it took just ten minutes of the second period for the away side to break the deadlock when Gavin Ryan shot from out wide, and saw his effort sail beyond the reach of the keeper into the top corner of the net. Within five minutes the home side thought they had fashioned an equaliser, when Darragh O Brien played in Timmie Heffernan, but he couldn’t force the ball past the alert Dualla netminder. The home side sensed that an equaliser was coming, and it arrived midway through the half, when Heffernan was fouled just outside the penalty area, and up stepped Ben Carey to fire the ball into the top corner and tie the game. But it would only stay level for less than ten minutes, with Dualla striking on the break, and finding Gavin Ryan on the edge of the area, from where he lashed home his and his sides second goal to put the league leaders back in front. A late chance by Elligott was the closest the home side to getting back on terms a second time, but his effort came off the crossbar and was cleared away to safety. The result now sets up a grandstand finish to the Divisional title, with three teams still in with very realistic chances of ending the season at the top of the pile.
Galbally United 2 – 0 Suirside
Galbally United stayed right in the hunt for the Second Division title but ended the hopes of early frontrunners Suirside of even getting involved in a promotion battle with a comfortable two goal win in Galbally on Sunday last. The game was a tight affair with neither side really threatening in the first quarter, before Paul Kennedy went close in the twentieth minute. The home sides best chance came five minutes before the break, when Owen O Sullivan was unlucky to shoot just wide after some great set up play by Cathal O Mahoney, rampaging down the wing. The game was scoreless at the break, and the early part of the second period followed the same pattern as the first, until the home side were awarded a penalty kick just on the hour mark, which Jordan Dineen made no mistake with to put his side in front. The game really opened up after this, with chances at both ends, but Galbally assured themselves of the points, when Dineen scored again ten minutes from time.
Rosegreen Rangers 2 – 3 Clerihan
Clerihan travelled the short distance to Rosegreen on Sunday knowing nothing less than three points would be enough to stop them sliding back down to the Third Division after promotion last season, and they came from behind twice to record a victory at the death to ensure their battle will carry on for at least another round of games. The home side started well and opened the scoring in the twentieth minute when Daithi Bargary took on a defender, stepped inside and cracked a shot to the bottom corner from inside the eighteen yard area. But they only held the lead for ten minutes, before conceding a free kick at the edge of the area, which was fired past the stranded home keeper. The home side were having the better of the chances in open play, but were unable to make any of them count and went to the break all square. Rosegreen started the second half as they finished the first, creating the better chances, and retook the lead just before the hour mark when Ian Shelly crossed a delicious ball from the left that was headed back across the area, and Gavin Ryan headed home from less than six yards out. But they let themselves down at the back less than five minutes later, getting caught square and allowing Clerihan to level the game for a second time. After that the game looked destined to finish in a draw, but with five minutes left, the visitors managed to open up the home defence once again, and score the vital goal that keeps the relegation wolves from the door for one more week at least.
TSDL Third Division 19th February 2023 Match Reports
Burncourt Celtic 2 – 4 Powerstown
Burncourt welcomed pacesetters Powerstown to Ballyhurrow on Sunday last, hoping to slow what looks like their relentless march towards the Third Division title. The game started scrappily enough but as it wore on, the visitors started to make some chances and in the thirty fourth minute, they got a reward for their pressure when a miscued clearance by ended up in the home net, which gave Powerstown a single goal lead at the break. Four minutes into the second period they doubled that lead when Jack Barlow latched onto a ball over the top of the home defence and slotted home. Just after the hour mark, following a defensive mix up the visitors looked to have made the points safe when they added a third through a smart finish by Brian McKeown. But the home side continued to push for something from the game themselves and they got it when Dylan Ryan got on the end of a good through ball to bring the score back to three goals to one, in the sixty eight minute. But Powerstown showed how they lead the division by responding again quickly and adding a fourth through Cian Crowe who finished with a smart drive from just inside the box. Celtic kept plugging away and got a second goal after Pa Ryan was fouled by the Powerstown defender, and Dave Baker stepped and cooly slotted the penalty to complete the scoring.
Tipperary Town 1 – 1 Cahir Park
Tipperary Town welcomed Cahir to the Abbey on what was a perfect day for football, on Sunday morning in the Third Division. The game started well with both sides committed to passing the ball, and after early chance’s for both sides it would be the home team that struck first. In the twenty second minute a well worked throw in saw the hosts move the ball into the visitors area, and it was expertly steered into the net by Cathal Ryan who reacted quickest. The Park had a good spell for the remainder of the half and were value for a goal when a coming together led to a penalty just before half time. The penalty was dispatched with the minimum of fuss by Dean Fitzwater, and that took the teams to half time at one all. The second half started with the home side on the front foot with attacks leading to shots on goal but they just couldn’t find the second. Midway through the second half it was Cahir’s turn to boss the game a bit and just like the home side they too couldn’t find the net with Mickey O Dwyer doing well in goal. Chances came and went but both keepers stood firm and a share of the spoils seemed a fair ending.
Donohill and District 1 – 0 Two Mile Borris
Donohill and District stayed in the promotion hunt, but put a huge hole in Two Mile Borris’ chances of winning the Third Division when they defeated them by a single goal after agood game of football on Sunday last. Both teams tried from the start to play enjoyable football and got the ball moving as often as they could, but were still finding it hard to create clear cut chances in a tight first half. Neither goalkeeper was tested in the first half, and the second half continued in much the same fashion. That was until twenty minutes from time, when as the teams tired, Donohill’s Dinny Crosse was taking down in the area, and Jerry O Neill stepped up to take the resultant penalty. But his effort came back off the crossbar and was scrambled away to safety. That could have knocked the stuffing out of the home side but they kept pressing and with ten minutes left, Crosse scored from a free kick that was enough to ensure his side would take the three points, despite a flurry of late pressure from the visitors.
Kilsheelan United 8 – 2 Killenaule Rovers
Eight goals from eight different players must be some kind of a record in TSDL football, but that is what Kilsheelan achieved in a very good win over local rivals Killenaule on Sunday last. Despite the win, the home side started poorly and found themselves a goal behind after just three minutes, before Mark Heffernan headed home from a Ruairi Doyle cross in the tenth minute, to level the scoring. Kilsheelan took control after that and took the lead on the half-hour mark when Cathal de Faoite netted from close range, before John O’Dwyer and Cian Roche found the back of the Killenaule net to give the home side a comfortable lead at the break. Only minutes into the second-half, the visitors were reduced to ten men, making their cause even more difficult and Kilsheelan continued their control of the game, when on the hour-mark they netted their fifth through Nathan Dolan who fired home a free-kick from twenty five yards out into the bottom corner. Minutes later it was six, when Ruairi Doyle progressed into the Killenaule half before firing home from distance to net his first of the season. The hosts scored twice in the final ten minutes, with two substitutes Lee Ryan and Conor Neville both getting on the scoresheet, before Killenaule scored a consolation in the final few minutes, as United rounded off a fantastic performance with an eight goal to two win.
TSDL Youths report 19th February 2023 Match Reports
TSDL Youths Division 1
Clonmel Celtic 1 – 0 Bansha Celtic
Clonmel Celtic moved back to the top of the TSDL Youths Premier League with a hard fought single goal win against Bansha Celtic on Saturday afternoon. The home side rode their luck at times and were pinned back in their own half for much of the second half but they held on to secure three important points. It was by no means a vintage performance from Celtic as they struggled to hold on to the ball and put together any real meaningful passages of play. Indeed, it was a scrappy encounter lacking in any real quality, but as they say at the business end of the season it’s all about points and not performances. Even though they played into the wind in the first half it was the visitors who looked more dangerous and could have gone ahead on a couple of occasions but for some poor finishing. Celtic were struggling to create any real chances before they hit the front four minutes before the break, when Jack Lawlor powered home an in -winging Paddy Ormond corner. The wind strengthened in the second half and the visitors took control, putting the home rear-guard under severe pressure. But realising the importance of the three points the hosts dug in and battled away, though they had Oisin O’Donoghue to thank for a brilliant save fifteen minutes from time. The keeper was coolness personified under increasing pressure with his ball handling excellent in difficult conditions, and he and his team were relieved when the final whistle blew. A third successive win and clean sheet puts them in a strong position with just four games remaining.
Cullen Lattin 1 – 1 Slievenamon Celtic
Cullen hosted Slievenamon on Saturday in very testing conditions with strong wind and rain blowing for the whole game. This stopped any chance of good football being played and after a dreadful first half with no real chances either way it ended up level at nil all at half time. The hosts had to raise the tempo in the second half and backed by a strong wind they started to take control. After a succession of shots and corners they finally broke the deadlock ten minutes in, with Dylan Mc Grath heading home another excellent Tom Ryan Bob Corner. Shot after shot rained in for the next thirty minutes with the visiting keeper needed to make at least two top class saves to keep his side in the game. And his efforts were rewarded five minutes from time when on a rare break upfield, a low cross into the box from Ben Power, fell to Darragh Landers, whose attempted shot was well blocked before falling kindly to James Harte, who made no mistake from well inside the area. This was enough to gain his side a share of the spoils in a game that finished one all.