TSDL Premier League 22nd October 2023 Match Reports
Clonmel Celtic 0 – 1 Peake Villa
Clonmel Celtic produced one of their best displays of the season but unfortunately had nothing to show for their efforts as a Stephen Carroll header fifteen minutes divided the sides after a keenly contested game at Celtic Park on Sunday. The champions almost made the perfect start to the game with Fabian Kerton getting down well to push away a Michael Ryan effort in the second minute, but the hosts quickly settled into a very effective counter attacking game. This resulted in Villa not getting the time to create any meaningful openings, frustrating them for long periods of the game. When the home side did get a chance to break, Sean Hawkins in particular looked dangerous and he brought out a couple of very good saves from Willie Tierney in the away goal. Celtic still looked comfortable containing Villa though Michael Ryan and Dale Loughnane came close for the visitors just before the break. After a huge effort in the first half, it was obvious bodies began to tire but the hosts were still more than holding their own. As Celtic tired Villa were having more of the ball in the Celtic half and were finding more openings. Stephen Carroll glanced a header wide from a corner on just before the hour mark. It was a fine defensive display from Celtic but they will be disappointed with the goal, and what proved the winner, that they conceded sixteen minutes from time. Carroll given too much room to head a Michael Quinlan cross to the net to undo the home sides good work to that point. A tired Celtic tried to rally but it was more in desperation than producing anything constructive as Villa held on without too much trouble for a hard-fought win.
Cahir Park 0 – 4 St Michael’s
The Saint’s pretty much turned the lead into a two horse race once again with this win over a Cahir side that have been producing some excellent results of late. Both sides came to play football and the first twenty minutes of the game were very even with the two teams creating half chances that they were unable to convert. The visitors finally took the upper hand in the twenty sixth minute however, when they managed to get behind the home defence and Rhys O Regan sent a peach of a cross onto the head of Ashley Kelliher who made no mistake from less than six yards out. Cahir responded well but then shot themselves in the foot conceding two goals in three minutes just before the break. The first was scored by Cian Fadden who added the most delicate of touches to a Rhys O Regan free kick to guide the ball past Aaron Wall in the home goal, and shortly afterwards O Regan got a goal of his own, when he fired a piledriver to the net from outside the area, so send the Saints to the break, three goals to the good.
TSDL First Division 22nd October 2023 Match Reports
St Michael’s 1 – 6 Peake Villa
Despite having many good passages of play the home side were ultimately outdone here by defensive errors, as the visitor ran out clear winners at the Complex on Sunday. Peake took the lead in the fifth minute, when the Saint’s defence failed to clear the ball and Conor Murphy played in Adam Garrett who finished to the net. Robbie McGrath then made two superb saves, firstly from Conor Murphy when he tipped the ball over the bar and secondly from the resultant corner kick when he saved a header from Jack Croke. Conor Murphy was causing Saints problems on the wing as were dead balls from left full Mark Lennon, with Mc Grath having to make another save from Garrett just before the half hour mark. After the Thurles sides early dominance, the hosts began to find their feet and had a few half chances before they were rocked back in the thirty third minute seeing Garrett made it two after more indecision at the back from the home side. But just before the break, Antonio Rea pulled a goal back to send the sides in with only the bare minimum between them. The points were ultimately decided seven minutes into the second period, when Villa were awarded a penalty and Danny Treacy made it three from the spot. The hosts used their bench and tried hard but ultimately gave too many passes away and slack marking saw three goals for the visitors in over the last quarter of the match. Liam Mc Cormack made it four, before Adam Garrett finished off his hat trick seventeen minutes from the end. The cherry on the top was a goal nine minutes from time by Adam McCormack.
Galbally United 1 – 2 Old Bridge
Old Bridge bounced back from a heavy defeat last time out, to take the points in this game, that was decided by the odd goal in three in a good game of ball last Sunday. The game was pretty even in the opening quarter, but the home side eventually took the lead in the twentieth minute when a Cathal O Mahoney shot was half blocked and looped over the head of the stranded Old Bridge keeper. But that lead only lasted eight minutes before the game was back level again when and Emmet Ryan free kick from twenty yards out was palmed onto the crossbar by the home keeper, and Dylan Guiry was first to anticipate heading home from two yards out. Both teams had further chances in the half but went to the break level at one all. The decisive goal of the game came ten minutes into the second period when the home defence was caught cold by a shot across the box, only to see Shane Foley ghost in at the back post to tap home from close in. The visitors sat back after this soaking up whatever pressure that the hosts could put on them, and the closest Galbally got to levelling was a Jordan Dineen effort ten minutes from time that went narrowly wide. At the final whistle, the points headed back to Clonmel where they will be greatly appreciated.
TSDL Second Division 22nd October 2023 Match Reports
Two Mile Borris 6 – 1 Cashel Town
Borris’ seconds had a comprehensive win over Cashel Town at Newhill on Sunday morning, but had to come from behind to do so. On a sunny morning in perfect conditions for football, the visitors got off to a flying start taking the lead in the first minute, through a Gerry Horgan strike. That was as good as it got for them however, and within five minutes they were behind thanks for a brace of goals for the hosts from DJ Troy. By the quarter hour mark the home side had got their third goal when Richard Mc Carthy’s pressing persistence paid off and he robbed a defender before coolly firing to the net. On the half hour mark, Troy completed the “perfect” hat trick with a fine finish to send Borris to the break four goals to one in front. The second half started fairly slow until Troy capped a brilliant performance with his fourth of the day to put the result beyond any doubt. And they added the coup de grace late on with another a brilliant team goal finished calmly to the net to leave the full-time score at six goals to one.
Powerstown 2 – 2 St Nicholas
Powerstown and St Nicholas shared the points on Sunday after an entertaining game that produced four goals. The visitors were sharpest out of the blocks and took the lead in the second minute when Paddy Fitzgerald found the net, and almost doubled that moments later but for a wonderful save by Kieran Quirke in the home goal. But they eventually played themselves into the game and began to control possession, finally beating Philip Doherty in the Saints goal in the twenty seventh minute, when Aaron Kiely powered home from the edge of the box. But they were rocked back just minutes later, when a rare Saints attack saw them sweep downfield from a corner kick and Jack Downey kept his composure to place the ball behind the home keepers reach and into the net. This was the final goal in a good first half to watch, with the away side going in a goal to the good. Powerstown came back out and dominated possession for the majority of the second half. But they struggled to create any clear chances until nine minutes from time Cathal McKeown finally got their equaliser. A ball in behind from Gino Lonergan was fired home from the middle of the box. The hosts came close in the end to grabbing a winner but the visitors held strong with the game finishing all square.
Moyglass 3 – 1 Dualla
This was a game played in perfect conditions after a really wet week, and the home side started strongly having some good efforts from Stephen Houlihan and Niall Doocey early on. Dualla eventually settled and the game evened out, but it was the home side that opened the scoring minutes before the break when Craig Nolan got behind the visitors back line and head to the bottom of the net. The away side started the second half on the front foot and fashioned some chances of their own, but it was the hosts that made it two goals to nil on the hour mark when Mike Hickey whipped in a free kick from the left and left the keeper flapping but unable to keep it out. Moyglass made the points safe eight minutes from time when they added a third goal, courtesy of Jamie Walsh finishing well from just inside the box. The visitors did get a consolation goal in time added on from Tossy Ryan, but it made no difference to the outcome and the home side took all three points.
TSDL Third Division 22nd October 2023 Match Reports
Burncourt Celtic 3 – 1 Bansha Celtic
Burncourt Celtic picked up their first win of the season with a good win at home on Sunday morning against Bansha Celtic. They started the brighter and fourteen minutes in they opened the scoring with a well struck Sean Cagney free kick. After this the hosts pushed on and controlled the game, adding a second through Eddie Kendrick in the twenty sixth minute, when he finished from eight yards out. In fairness to the visitors, they played their way back into the game, and pulled a goal back seven minutes from the break when Danny Ryan scored from close range, to make it two goals to one at half time. The second half was more even affair with both sides having their chances, before the hosts got the important third goal five minutes after the hour mark through Eoghan Heffernan, who fired home from twenty yards to put daylight between the sides. Bansha pushed on in the closing stages but couldn’t add to the scoring with the points going to the home side.
Killenaule Rovers 0 – 4 Clonmel Celtic
A hat trick from Dylan Kiely helped Clonmel Celtic B maintain their 100% start in Division 4 when they travelled to Killenaule on Sunday morning. Always in control from the early part of the game, the visitors struggled to break down a resolute home defence and had to wait until midway through the half for Kiely to find enough space to fire home the opener. That was the only goal in the first period, and in the second half, Celtic upped the tempo with Kiely adding two more, before Michael Cooper rounded out the afternoon with a clever effort from close in.
Ballingarry Albion 3 – 1 Cahir Park
The home side had a good win in this game to maintain their 100% record in this seasons Fourth Division, and making themselves look very much like the team to catch, even this early in the season. The were in charge from the start, but still had to wait until the twenty seventh minute before opening the scoring, and when it came it did from the unlikeliest of sources. The home keeper David Cashin was quick in mind and feet when his side were awarded a free kick just outside his own area, and he thumped it the length of the pitch over the unsuspecting and stranded visiting keeper to get his side off the mark. But the Park answered back almost immediately with a great individual effort on thirty three minutes when David Clifford picked up a ball on the right wing and turned inside to unleash a bullet strike from all of twenty yards to level the game once more. That lasted for all of five minutes before the home side retook the lead. Some great work on the wing by Thomas Donovan and Jonothan Ivors turned Cahir over in their half and Ivor’s cross found Eoin Burke who was on hand to dispatch from close range. The away side came out for the second half full of energy and to their credit were on top for the first ten minutes but were unable to fashion a decent scoring chance. Albion finally settled again, and got the vital third goal in the sixty sixth minute, when Eoghan Pollard dispossessed the visiting keeper and rolled the ball to Ian Ivors to score from close range.
Donohill and District 5 – 4 Tipperary Town
Donohill hosted Tipperary Town on Sunday and came out the right side of a nine goal thriller in the end, that had both sets of supporters on tenterhooks right to the end of the game. The visitors started the quicker and ran the home side ragged for the first twenty five minutes or so, with Mark Roche bagging himself a hat trick. It looked all over for the home side on the half hour mark when a Ryan Maher goal made it four, but then from nowhere the home side seemed to emerge and hit back with a vengeance. Ten minutes before the break, Dinny Crosse pulled a goal back, and five minutes later Alan Wallace fired to the net to half the deficit. Crosse got a huge goal in the final minute of the first half, to send his side to half time just a goal behind after looking dead and buried fifteen minutes earlier. Five minutes into the second period, the game was level when Seanie Ryan found space on the right, cut in and bent a beautiful goal past a helpless visiting keeper. The teams went at it hammer and tongs in a very open game for the rest of the half, and six minutes from time, the home side completed the unlikeliest of comebacks when Ned Lowry found the net from the penalty spot to give his side all three points.
TSDL Youths Division 22nd October 2023 Match Reports
Clonmel Town 2 – 3 Cashel Town
Cashel Town continued their recent good run of form in Youths football when they travelled to Clonmel and knocked the hone side out of this seasons FAI Youths Cup on Saturday. The visitors started the game much brighter, moving the ball around the pitch with neat passing, forcing the hosts to chase shadows for much of the opening part of the game. In the ninth minute Cashel finally hot the front when Ciaran Byrne rose highest to head home a pin point free kick. They continued to dominate possession but the home side were starting to make chances of their own and Alex Lawless and Monsur Emibata both tested the visiting keeper. Emibiata finally looked like he’d created a cast iron opportunity to get a leveller when he won a penalty kick, but the Cashel keeper who was in inspired form got down well to save. To rub salt in the wounds of that miss, the away side immediately attacked downfield, won a corner kick and Blake Doyle-Carroll’s head made no mistake to put his side two up, a lead they took to the break. The home side came out in the second half much hungrier, and took control of the game, pulling a goal back ten minutes in when Alex Lawless forced the Cashel net minder into a mistake and slotted home from close in. Shortly afterwards, Emibiata who was causing problems all game taken down again for a second penalty, and this time Lawless made no mistake from the spot to level the game. With the tie now in the melting pot, both sides had chances to win in normal time, but were unable to convert, sending the game to an extra twenty minutes. Extra time saw them slug it out but in the dying seconds when the penalty shootout was looking likely, the visitors fashioned one last chance from a free kick and a glancing header by Niall Hallissey was enough to seal the win at that late stage of the game. It was a heart ache for the hosts who fought hard and played some good football but it just wasn’t to be.
Two Mile Borris 11 – 0 Blackcastle
This was an eagerly awaited clash between two teams from the top end of the South Tipperary and North Tipperary Leagues, but it turned into a rout when the TSDL side completely demolished their Northern counterparts. Lacking a bit of ruthlessness in previous games, the home side had this game put to bed within the first fifteen minutes, taking a five goal lead in that short space of time, where everything they hit seemed to end up in the back of the net. Borris scored three more before halftime continued the scoring through almost immediately after the restart until they had easily progressed.
TSDL Youths Division 2
Clonmel Town 2 – 2 SC & K United
Town started well and should have been one up after five minutes when Joyel Joby found himself unmarked at the back post, but his first-time effort was just wide. The visitors settled well after this and went in front after ten minutes following a long-range effort, before doubling their advantage after a half an hour following a great strike from Gus Nolan. It was left to a brilliant display in the Town goal by Peter Carroll to keep his side in the game with a fantastic double save just before half time. The second half saw the momentum swing back to the hosts and they pulled a goal back through Dylan McCormack on the hour mark. They were winning more possession now and had a couple of half chances that went abegging. But with fifteen minutes left they were awarded a free kick, and Cian Le Blanc hit a great strike from all of twenty five yards. The visiting keeper saved but couldn’t hold on to the ball and the rebound was squeezed over the line by Dylan McCormack to draw Town level. This was how the game ended which was a fair result on the day for both sides.
Cullen Lattin 1 – 3 Mullinahone
This was a close contest between two evenly matched sides played in great spirit and high energy. The visitors took the lead after ten minutes through Liam Doyle, and with the home side slow to respond they found themselves two down after twenty five when Pierce Vaughan got in behind the Cullen defence to find the net. The hosts upped the tempo and finished the half the stronger and even missing a penalty, leaving them two behind at the break. But they continued on the front foot from the beginning of the second period and won another penalty which was coolly despatched by Jamie Mc Grath to reduce the deficit to the minimum. Both sides pressed on in a very open game but it was the visitors that got the decisive next goal when Adam Doyle struck from inside the area, to give his side some breathing space with quarter of an hour left to play. The home side had chances but could not put the ball in the net, watching the points head away with the victors.