Munster League Champions Cup, ¼ final 01st of October 2022
Munster League Champions Cup, ¼ final
St Michael’s 1 – 0 Pike Rovers
Saints produced an excellent performance here to defeat last year’s Fai Junior Cup finalists Pike Rovers before a sizeable attendance at Cooke Park in the first clash between the two clubs since the 2019 Munster Junior Cup final, on Saturday afternoon in Tipperary Town. Both sides will have big ambitions on numerous fronts this season, and played out an edgy first quarter of an hour, with the home side having a number of half chances, notably by Joey Mulcahy and Jimmy Carr. But the Limerick side was up to the challenge, and were dangerous themselves, with Colm Walsh O Loughlin and Eoin Hanrahan causing all sorts of problems to a home defence marshalled by the evergreen Paul Breen and new kid on the block DJ Cremins. Tempers flared a little midway through the half after some rough tackling on the mercurial Jimmy Carr, but after that the game settled into a bit of a dour midfield slog with neither side willing to commit too much forward and expose themselves to being caught on the counter attack. With that the game reached half time scoreless, with both sets of supporters hoping for some more goalmouth action in the second half. Pike started the second period on top and were unlucky not to have opened the scoring in the very first minute, when Kevin Barry smashed a shot into the side netting. A sublime pass from Colin Daly four minutes later, released Walsh O’ Loughlin, but his effort also found itself going narrowly the wrong side of the post. But ten minutes later, when the Pike striker had to leave the field with an injury, it left the visitors attack blunted and slowly but sure the home side started to play their way back on top in the tie. Both sides began using their benches as darkness and rain descended on Cooke Park, and the absorbing encounter gripped every supporter in attendance. Saints though, finally got the breakthrough in the seventy first minute, when Joey Mulcahy and Jimmy Carr combined well, to get the ball to John O’Brien, who scored from a tight angle when many observers thought the ball had gone wide or hit the side netting. Pike took the game to the home side from then onwards, and pinned the Tipperary side back for the final quarter of an hour, but a side with the amount of big game experience that St Michael’s have accrued over the years simply soaked up the pressure and played down the clock, before taking the victory to the delight of their staff and supporters alike.
TSDL Premier League 2nd October 2022 Match Reports
Peake Villa 9 – 0 Vee Rovers
It was a goal fest up at the Tower Grounds Sunday afternoon, for the second week in a row, with Villa once again on song in front of goal and showing the sort of form they hope will carry them to a league title come season end. Captain Pippy Carroll opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute after they had fluffed their lines on a few occasions prior to that, and Carroll only had to wait another minute before he doubled his and his sides tally from the penalty spot. In complete control now, they added a third in the eighteenth minute, when Dylan Coady finished off some nice build up play. By the time Ronan Mc Guire added the fourth in the twenty sixth minute, it was obvious that this was going to be a long day for Rovers, who conceded a fifth two minutes before the break, with Carroll completing a first half hat trick. With the points in the bag the home side, could have been guilty of taking it easy in the second half but they did not. Ten minutes in, Carroll hit the post and his shot came back to Michael Quinlan who slotted home to make it six. Ronan McGuire got his second of the day in the sixty sixth minute to make it seven, and two goals in the final five minutes from Jack Ryan Casey and Robbie Stapleton rounded off a devastating performance by the Thurles side.
Wilderness Rovers 3 – 3 Clonmel Town
This game was always going to be a battle in terms of aggression, tempo and fitness, and it didn’t disappoint, as these two teams played out a second high scoring derby this season. The league leaders took the initiative from the beginning and opened the scoring when they were awarded a penalty in the eight minute that was fired home by Alan O Donnell. This gave the visitors a spring in their step and they dominated the rest of the first half, adding two more goals in the thirty fourth and thirty ninth minute, through efforts by Ashley Laslett and Craig Guiry. But just as they looked like going in at the break with that advantage, the home side grabbed a lifeline through a goal scored by Graham Kelly, who finished off a neat pass from Ashely Keane. This gave the home side the impetus to start the second period in a much stronger fashion, and they quickly put their more illustrious opponents on the back foot. It was a game of high intensity and massive tackles all over, but the visitors seemed to have weathered the storm. That was until the final five minutes of the game the hosts pulled back a second goal, with Keane this time netting the goal after being set up by Sean Browne. This set up a grandstand finish, and after a spell of constant bombardment from the Wildies, Town conceded a third, when Cian Cullinane found Jack Landy in space, to smash the ball home and bring the game back level. The game was to finish this way and it was the least the home side deserved, while also putting a huge dent in Town’s title ambitions.
Cashel Town 3 – 2 Two Mile Borris
Cashel Town finally got their season up and running with their first points in a cracking game of football played in perfect weather conditions at Palmershill in Cashel on Sunday afternoon. This was an end to end game from the beginning, with the home side finally opening the scoring in the twenty second minute when Kyle Ryan crossed from the left and Kevin Keating supplied a neat finish. After that however it was the visitors that began to dominate proceedings and were unlucky not to draw level when they hit the woodwork on a number of occasions. Cashel remained dangerous on the break throughout this time, and doubled their lead when Keating again evaded the visiting defence to find himself one on one with the Borris keeper, before tucking the ball away to the bottom corner of the net. The hosts held this lead to the break, but again in the early part of the second period, Borris were in the ascendency and finally pulled a goal back in the fifty fifth minute when Anto Walker tapped in at the far post from a lightning break down the right wing. Cashel replied quickly and restored their two goal lead on the hour mark with Keating turned provider this time, lifting a cross onto the head of Jack Fitzpatrick who made no mistake from five yards out. But Borris came back again fifteen minutes from the end, when Walker got his second after volleying a free kick into the area, giving the Town keeper no chance. The final minutes saw the visitors try to secure a point, but the home side held resolutely to their task to take all three points in the finish.
Clonmel Celtic 2 – 1 Bansha Celtic
Clonmel Celtic continued their good start to the season with a hard fought two goals to one win against Bansha Celtic at a sunny bypass on Sunday morning. The home side started reasonably well having most of the possession, but the visitors defended in numbers and made it hard to work a way through. The first real chance the hosts had fell to a Paul Kennedy header which was superbly saved. Within two minutes the away side threatened to take advantage of a defensive error but Tony Egan couldn’t keep his shot on target. Celtic finally hit the front just before the half hour mark, with a well worked goal. Simon Ahearne who was energetic in middle all afternoon played an excellent ball to the far post where Seanie Hawkins knocked the ball back into the path of Darren Sweeney whose first time effort found the back of the net. But the visitors hit straight back and were level two minutes later when a home defender turned the ball into his own net after pressure from a well delivered Bansha free. The goal gave the visitors confidence and they came more into the game as the end of the first half neared, but neither side added to the scoreline before the break. The second half was more of an even affair, with plenty of effort from both sides but the quality of the game dipped. That said, the home side regained the lead just after the hour mark, when Paul Kennedy took advantage of a defensive mix up to walk the ball into an empty net, to the delight of the home supporters. The West Tipperary side fought hard for second equaliser but Celtic saw the game out and collected three important points, to put them in a comfortable position to maybe consider themselves dark horses from a Premier League title they haven’t won in seven years.
TSDL First Division 2nd October 2022 Match Reports
Tipperary Town 3 – 2 Old Bridge
The home team came flying out of the blocks in the early game at Arra Rd and were a goal up within ten minutes when Dylan Cummins raced down the wing and squared for Caleb Hickey who made no mistake from eight yards out. After that the hosts had a number of chances to add to the lead through Vinny Godfrey and Caleb Hickey but some wayward finishing kept the lead to a minimum. However, Vinny Godfrey did eventually add a second minutes before the break, when a he closed down the visiting keeper as he attempted to make a clearance, and the ball deflected into an empty net. No more goals in the opening period, the second half started again with the home side on top. But a break away in the fifty fifth minute by the Bridge caught the home defence napping and Darren Guiry was on hand to score from close range. Suddenly all the play was with the visitors, and they sent ball after ball into the home box. Fifteen minutes from time, they got the goal their pressure deserved when a long throw evaded everyone and Stephen Guiry got a deft touch to bring the game level. But Town regrouped and five minutes from time, a great delivery from Shane Ryan was steered across the box, and Godfrey was again on hand to make no mistake from less than five yard. The visitors did have one last chance to level the game, but a spectacular save from Eric Higgins in the home goal assured his side of the points.
Peake Villa 2 – 2 Clonmel Town
The spoils were shared up in Thurles in this league tie with all the goals coming in a pulsating first half. The visitors opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute when they benefitted from an own goal, but the hosts were back level minutes later when Danny Treacy finished off a flowing movement up the pitch with a well taken goal. Ten minutes from the break, Town got their lead back but the home side continued to stay well in the game when they levelled matters for the second time only four minutes later courtesy of a fine goal by Scott Brennan. Two all at the break, the pace dipped in the second period with both defenses tightening up considerably. Danny Treacy of Villa, had a great chance from a Niall Dunne corner but somehow it was blocked on the line, and Town did have the ball in the hosts net late on, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. All in all a draw was probably the fairest result.
TSDL Second Division 2nd October 2022 Match Reports
Suirside 2 – 2 Cullen Lattin
This top of the table Division Two clash lived up to expectations with the home side having to dig out an equaliser at the death to earn a share of the spoils after an intriguing affair. The visitors started quickest and in the sixth minute called the home keeper into action to deny Michael Mc Elligott from close range. This was a wake up call for the home side and they almost took the lead minutes later when John Darmody hit a spectacular twenty five yard volley off the underside of the crossbar before it was scrambled away to safety. The game continued at a frenetic pace, and midway through the half Mikey Stokes produced a moment of magic to lob the home keeper and put Lattin a goal up. Suirside thought they had found an equaliser five minutes later, but again were denied by the woodwork when John O Donnell thought he had found the net. In the end of the half, the visitors went to the break just a single goal in front, but those watching the game looked forward to even more action in the second period. And again it was the away side who got off to the better start, and within two minutes Michael Mc Elligott drove through the home defence and doubled his sides advantage. Suirside are made of stern stuff nevertheless, and continued to push and probe for openings as they played themselves back into the game. The finally got some reward just before the hour mark when Luke O Brien flashed a ball across the box and Gavin Sheehen tapped home from inside the six yard box. The game became one of cat and mouse after this, with the hosts chasing to get an equaliser and Cullen consistently looking for opportunities to catch them out on the break. But despite both having chances, the game looked to be ticking away until the final minute brought a dramatic finish. Two minutes into time added on, the home side were offered one more chance when they were awarded a free kick outside the area and Jason Coffey smashed it home from all of twenty five yards out to gain his team a precious point.
St Nicholas 2 – 1 Rosegreen Rangers
The game started with both sides having a number of half chances early on, without much success, until the home side thought they had opened the scoring in the twentieth minute when Brendan Collins went on a mazy run through the visitors defence only to see his shot deflected over the bar. Eight minutes later however, Collins was not to be denied a second time when he got on the end of an Aiden Riordan corner kick to put his side in front with a shot from close range. Rosegreen pushed hard in the following minutes to try to get back on level terms but had two efforts blocked by desperate last ditch defending by the home side. That left the score at one goal to nil for the hosts, and the second half followed a similar pattern to the first with both sides finding penetration difficult. Halfway through the half the home side were given a gilt-edged opportunity to extend their lead, when they were awarded a penalty kick, but the Rosegreen keeper made a fantastic double save, from the first attempt and the rebound to keep his sides deficit at a minimum. This seemed to inspire his teams attackers and fourteen minutes from the end, they finally got an equalising goal after some excellent build up play through the middle of the pitch, saw Pakie Farrell in space to slot past the stranded home keeper. The real difference in the game was the introduction late on of Saint’s substitute Aaron Ryan Shiner, who was involved in a number of good attacking forays, before eluding the Rangers defence in the final minute of the game, and crossing for James Scanlon to tap in the game’s winner.
Galbally United 0 – 0 Cashel Town
Despite there being no goals in this game, there was plenty of action with the home side unlucky on a number of occasions not to open the scoring, especially through Jordan Dineen, who was a thorn in the visitors defence throughout the game. Cashel had their chances too in a frantic first half, but once the game settled down in the second period, Gallbally were probably the slightly better side, without ever really looking good enough to decisively win the game. In the end, both teams will be as much happy as unhappy with the draw and a share of the spoils.
Clerihan 0 – 4 Dualla
Clerihan started this game brightly moving Dualla around the pitch, and were unlucky not to have opened the scoring in the eight minute with a free kick from just outside penalty area only went narrowly. They then had the ball in net in the twentieth minute, through Jonas Kerr only for it to be ruled offside in the build-up. This let off seemed to wake the visitors up, and on the half hour mark, they took the lead when Brian Sheehy found himself free at back post from a corner, and he tapped the ball to the net. The hosts were unlucky not to get back on level terms five minutes later from a Brian Landers free kick, but the shot struck the bar and was scrambled away to safety. And that miss was compounded four minutes from the break, when Paraic Ryan brilliantly finished off some good build up play, to send the visitors to the break two goals in front. The second period was again a reasonably even affair in everything bar the scoreline, as Dualla were much more clinical, and put the game beyond their hosts fifteen minutes from time when Tossy Ryan broke from midfield to make it three goals to nil. The same player added his second, and his sides fourth from the penalty spot six minutes from the end to put a gloss on the scoreline and really put Dualla into the hunt for both title and promotion honours this season.
TSDL Third Division 2nd October 2022 Match Reports
Kilsheelan United 1 – 1 Burncourt Celtic
Both these teams had difficult starts to the Division Three season, but seem to have steadied the ship, and played out an entertaining draw in Kilsheelan on Sunday afternoon. The home side started better and after a couple of early corners, forced the breakthrough in the seventh minute when Nathan Dolans perfect cross was volleyed to the net by John O’Dwyer to record his third league goal of the season. The hosts continued to apply the pressure and mid-way through the first-half we should have doubled their lead, only to see striker Jack O’Donoghue fire his effort just over the bar. There were no more goals in the lively half, and as the second progressed the visitors began to fashion more chances, finally getting a leveller with just twenty minutes left, when Martin Burke finished of a neat passage of play, with a cheeky back heel. Both sides had chances between here and the finish but neither could convert and the spoils were shared.
Moyglass United 1 – 2 Two Mile Borris
After an excellent start to the season, which saw the hosts start the day at the top of the Division Three table, Moyglass faltered for a second week in a row when they fell to a narrow defeat on Sunday against Two Mile Borris’ second side. The visitors opened the scoring here in the twenty eight minute when Cathal Mc Elgun scored a well worked goal, but the home side were level four minutes from the break when goalkeeper David McCormack played a long ball down the field for Eddie O Brien, who finished with a neat effort. The game went to the break level, and the second period was an even affair, even if the hosts had the clearer chances, only to be regularly thwarted by the Borris keeper who was in fine form. It looked like the game was going to finish level, but right at the death the visitors took advantage of some hesitancy and scored a last minute goal to steal all three points.
Division Three round up
There were two more games in Division Three with one being a West Tipperary derby between Tipperary Town’s second side and rural neighbours Donohill and District. The paths of the two teams year seem to be going in opposite directions with the town side faltering after a lightening start to the season, and Donohill on the rise after some poor early results. And the game went to form on Sunday, with Donohill passing by their neighbours on the league table, thanks to a four goal to two win on the Arra Road. In Cahir, the home side faced bottom on the table Bansha Celtic and fell behind to a Adam Hennessy goal early in the game. But after the break the Park rallied and got two goals of their own through Jack Duggan and Evan O Regan to claim the win and the three points.
TSDL Youths 2nd October
FAI Youth Cup 1st Round & Youths Round up
FAI Youth Cup 1st Round Bridge United 0 – 3 Peake Villa
Peake Villas youths travelled to Goresbridge in Kilkenny on Sunday for a noon kick off in good conditions for football. The TSDL side started well and opened the scoring in the fourth minute when good play from Mikey Lawlor down the wing found Paul Noonan in space who fired home. There were chances at either end for both sides during the half but it was the visitors who went in at the break one up. They doubled their lead just after the hour mark when a Paul Noonan corner was met by the head of Kieran Purcell to make it two, and Noonan capped a fine performance when Michael Anthony McCarthy played him in and he got his second of the day, to advance in the competition.
Youths Round up
Cashel Town hosted the other FAI Youths game of the weekend when they welcomed local rivals Cullen Lattin to Palmershill on Saturday afternoon. The game saw all the goals come in the first forty five minutes, with two goals from Cullens Paddy Downey giving them a half time lead against the single goal that Lee O Riordan scored for the home side. The second half was a dour affair with neither side gaining dominance for any sustained period, and in the end Cullen managed to do enough to hold onto the win.
In the Division Two section of the Youths league, Cahir Park entertained Shanbally United with the visitors being much the better side throughout. Shanbally took the lead early in the game through goals by Ryan Breedy and Ben Carey, and added three more in the second period through Cathal English, Cian O Reilly and a second from Breedy to run out comfortable winners in the end.
