FAI Junior Cup, 1st Round, 25th September 2022 Match Reports
Clonmel Town 6 – 1 Galbally United
The first round of this year’s long road to the FAI Junior Cup began in Clonmel on Sunday morning, when the current league leaders faced a potential banana skin in a Galbally side that has had some good cup runs in recent years. But form and class shone out, with the home side progressing easily enough after a comprehensive win. Town were dominant from the off and opened the scoring in the eighteenth minute when Alan O Donnell was taken down in the box for a penalty, before standing up and converting the resultant spot kick. Three minutes later, Jack O Donnell went on a run from deep inside his own half, before unleashing a shot that gave the visiting keeper no chance, doubling his sides lead. But Galbally didn’t fold and pulled a goal of their own back just before the half hour mark, when they were awarded a free kick just outside the home sides penalty area, and Jordan Dineen sent a cracker to the net to make the score two goals to one. But only six minutes later the hosts restored their two-goal cushion when Craig Guiry found the net after an excellent assist by Alan O Donnell. The crucial goal arrived almost on the stroke of half time when a Jack O Donnell corner was met by Stephen Kelly who powered a shot past the stranded Galbally keeper to leave it four goals to one at the break, and set the home side up for a comfortable second half. Within five minutes of the restart the rampant Alan O Donnell was once again fouled inside the penalty area and once again he would step up to put his side five goals to one in front. The game was well over as a contest when Kyle Delaney got the goal he fully deserved on the hour mark with a sublime effort from just outside the box. It was in danger of been a massacre for Galbally but to their credit they held firm and had one or two chances of their own before the end but couldn’t capitalise. Town will be satisfied with their performance that sees them safely through to the next round.
Clonmel Celtic 4 – 1 Vee Rovers
In the only all Premier League tie of the first round of this year’s FAI Junior Cup, Clonmel Celtic eventually overcame a dogged Vee Rovers challenge, before pulling away to four goals to one win that sees them in the hat for the next round of the competition. The visitors have had a tough start to the season and were searching for their first win, and made it difficult for their in-form hosts throughout a very competitive first half. Celtic struggled to create any clear-cut openings with a couple of Paul Kennedy efforts easily saved by the visiting keeper. A slick move on the half hour mark got Celtic in behind the Rovers rear-guard, but once again the keeper denied Darren Sweeney with a fine save. The first half finished scoreless, but the home team upped the ante, and finally got their noses in front two minutes before the hour mark when Rory O’Dowd converted a penalty after he was tripped in the box. They doubled their advantage five minutes later when Darren Sweeney took advantage of a defensive mix up to score from close range, giving themselves a little breathing space in the tie. But the visitors continued to battle, and after some confusion in the home defence, Zach Keating pulled a goal back, to really put the game back in the melting pot. Eight minutes from time however, Celtic made the game safe, when a delicious ball from Paul Kennedy found Darren Sweeney down the left, who crossed to Seanie Hawkins, and he produced a very neat finish against the flailing Rovers backline. Four minutes from time, the in-form Hawkins put the cherry on top when he added his second with a delicate chip over the advancing keeper to see Celtic home.
Cashel Town 3 – 1 Mullinahone
Still awaiting their first league win of the season, Cashel Town advanced to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup, with a hard fought win against a dogged Mullinahone side at Palmershill on Sunday afternoon. The home side took the lead on seventeen minutes through Jack Fitzpatrick, who finished from close range after a corner was flicked on from the front post. The rest of the half was played out in mainly a dour midfield battle with neither side creating a lot of chances. The second half started similarly, but the visitors finally drew level in the sixty third minute when they were awarded a penalty kick that was converted by Alex Maher. But the hosts shook off this setback and regained the lead five minutes later with a brilliant finish from Kyle Ryan from the edge of the box. They made the game safe seven minutes from time when David O’Dwyer converted from close range after a great cross from Shane Tarrant, lifting the spirits of the club for the time being at least.
Clerihan 2 – 3 Killenaule Rovers (AET)
Killenaule Rovers have enjoyed their best start to a league season in years in the Third Division and brought this form with them on Sunday when they upset another in form team in Clerihan in the first round of this years Junior Cup. The game started brightly for both sides but the hosts had the better of what chances were on offer, and took the lead in the twenty first minutes when a short corner from Sean Maher found Daniel Quigley free to fire to back of the net from all of thirty yards. It was no more than Clerihan deserved, but the visitors rallied and gave up no more opportunities and went to the break only behind by a single goal. They made their task harder however five minutes into the second period when they were reduced to ten men but if anything, they began to play better and equalised only minutes later after capitalising on a mistake in the home team’s defence. Clerihan seemed to struggle with finding what to do with the extra man, and were stunned again on the hour mark when the visitors struck a second goal and took the lead. But the hosts eventually steadied the ship and equalised with a brilliant goal by Dylan Bates in the seventy second minute. Shortly after the home side had two more excellent chances but Cathal O’Mahoney hit the crossbar and Sean Maher fired narrowly wide from inside the area after springing the visitors offside trap. There were no more goals before the end, and Maher had the ball in the net, early in extra time, only to be adjudged offside. With eight minutes to go in time added on, the visitors got the crucial third goal and despite a late onslaught of the Killenaule area by the hosts, they held on to claim the win and advance to the next stage of the competition.
Cullen Lattin 2 – 1 Old Bridge
Cullen welcomed Old Bridge to Aisling Park, for the first round of the Junior Cup on Sunday, but spent most of the first half of the game pinned back and relying on Darren Hueston in the home goal to stay in the game before it really even got going. The Bridge controlled the possession but were very lax in creating chances, and the game went to the break level at nil all. But the visitors finally made their pressure tell, and forced an own goal from the hosts seven minutes into the second period, when they created confusion at a corner kick. This prompted the hosts to make some formation changes, and these changed the course of the tie. They began to control more of the ball, and eighteen minutes from time, another set piece goal was scored when the hosts Thomas O Mahoney was on hand to stab home a corner kick. Ten minutes from the end, Micheal Mc Elligott got the all important winning goal, when Tony O Neill did well down the left and his low cross was cleverly stepped over by Mikey Stokes for Elligott to smash it home.
BT Harps 1 – 2 Cahir Park
TSDL side Cahir Park travelled North to play BT Harps on Sunday afternoon, and came from behind to book their place in the second round of this years Junior Cup. The South Tipperary team started the better, and dominated the first quarter of the game, but they were caught with a counter attack in the twenty sixth minute and fell behind to a well taken individual goal. The next ten mins were even, with both sides having chances, but the visitors eventually regained control and got a deserved equaliser a minute before the break when Stephen Duggan finished well from twelve yards out. The second half continued with the visitors doing all the controlling and they finally went ahead just after the hour mark, when Andy Fitzpatrick curled home a free kick from well outside the area. The home team began to chase the game and put the South Tipp side under considerable pressure, drawing two excellent saves from Eoghan Doyle in the Cahir goal, before closing out the game and taking the victory.
Lough Derg 0 – 3 Rosegreen Rangers
Probably the longest trip of all the South Tipperary sides was that of Rosegreen Rangers’ on Sunday afternoon, but it was worth it when they came away with a well earned win against North Tipperary side Lough Derg. The did however, have to first put up with a bit of an onslaught from the home side, who cannoned a ball off the crossbar as early as the first minute of the game. But once the Rangers had settled into the game they took control and went in front in the twentieth minute thanks to a fantastic strike by TJ Ryan from all of twenty five yards out. Ten minutes before the break, they doubled the advantage from a Ryan header, and thought they had made it three just before the when they had the ball in the net, only to see the effort ruled offside. The second half was a tamer affair with Rosegreen happy to concede possession and territory to the home side, but always maintaining the capacity to break out and attack when they chose to do so. They finally put the result beyond doubt ten minutes from the end when they added a third goal through Dan Currivan, getting a good win that shortened the road home considerably.
Birdhill FC 0 – 8 Wilderness Rovers
Coming off their first league win last weekend, and with strength and depth finally added into the squad, Wilderness Rovers easily accounted for NTDL side Birdhill on Sunday afternoon in the Junior Cup. The South Tipperary side controlled the game from start to finish, constantly attacking and moving the ball throughout. A Sean Browne hat trick was the standout contribution, along with a brace from Graham Kelly, and Jayden Cagney, Conor Anderson and an own goal making up the scores.
Sallypark 4 – 3 Bansha Celtic
The away team started quickly and threatened the Sallypark goal on numerous occasions in the first few mins without any end product, but eventually broke the deadlock through Kevin Power after ten minutes. But the home side eventually settled down and got level almost immediately after a defensive mix up. This seemed to rock the South Tipperary side and they went behind in the twentieth minute when the home side scored from a set piece. But Celtic came back again as the game went too and fro, levelling after Daire Egan found the net from twenty five yards out on the half hour mark. This wasn’t the end of the scoring in a rip roaring first half, and the visitors retook the lead minutes from the break when Niall Daly headed home from ten yards out. The second half was barely two minutes old when Bansha were reduced to ten men, and the home side drew level from the resulting penalty. The game was reduced to long balls up and down the field after this and Bansha were denied what looked like a clear penalty when a home defender seemed to have handled the ball on the goal line but their efforts were waved away. The real kick however for Bansha after making the long trip, was seeing Sallypark hit a winner two minutes from time, when it looked like the game was heading for extra time, giving the TSDL side no time to get back and force the matter any further.
St Michael’s 2 – 0 Two Mile Borris
Saints got the better of a dour cup tie against an energetic and determined Borris side who bought a lot to this Fai Junior Cup tie at Cooke Park, but ultimately came up short against a side for who winning the competition is seen at the beginning of each season as a genuine possibility. But just three minutes in the visitors could have been ahead when Loran O’Toole got on the end of a corner from the right but his header the power to trouble the home keeper. The home side slowly played themselves into the game, and began to create chances, with David Slattery and Rhys Byron being especially prominent in attack. But they too lacked the composure in front of goal to take advantage of their sides good build up play, and the game went to the break level at nil all. Borris again troubled the hosts in the early minutes of the second period, but like in the first half, as the game settled down, the home side slowly took control, and they eventually opened the scoring in the sixty sixth minute when Russell Quirke was upended in the penalty area, and David Slattery fired home from the resultant spot kick. This forced Borris to commit more to attacking in the hope of getting back level, and Danny Rafter almost levelled in the seventy third minute, but couldn’t connect with a cross into the area. A Loran O Toole header minutes later also went narrowly past the post. The home side needed an assurance goal and it came eleven minutes from time when Russell Quirke freed Ashley Kelliher on the right and instead of shooting, he squared the ball inside for David Slattery who fired past the stranded Borris keeper from just inside the box. This took the wind out of the visitors sails, and the home side coasted through the final minutes to assure themselves of their place in the next round of the competition.
TSDL Third Division 25th September 2022 Match Reports
Donohill and District 2 – 1 Kilsheelan United
Donohill put some tough results in recent weeks behind them when they claimed a victory against in form Kilsheelan United at home on Sunday afternoon last. In a tough game with neither side giving anything away easily, the visitors opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute through a fine finish by Nathan Dolan. After that United were the better side but were unable to add to their tally, and paid for their profligacy in front of goal, when the home side levelled matters ten minutes before the break, courtesy of a strike by Michael Buckley after some good work between him and Chris Malone. Level at break, it was the hosts who took control in the second period and twenty minutes from time finally took the lead when Jerry O Neill converted a cross from Seanie Ryan. Kilsheelan lost their discipline after this and were reduced to nine men, making it much easier for the home side to play out the final minutes without scares and claim the valuable three points.
Tipperary Town 0 – 3 Moyglass United
The home side started this game quite well and were slightly on top when an injury to star player Mark Roche changed the game. With Roche receiving treatment off the field the away side struck through Jamie Morrissey in the twenty second minute minute to make it one nil, with a well worked and well taken goal, and they never looked back from there. It was even enough for the rest of the first half with the home side playing some decent football but failing to create anything of real note. Moyglass who were making much more of things in front of goal and struck again through Shane Morrissey close to half time to make it two goals to nil at the break. Town made a number of changes at the break and again started the half well with Jordan Cummins causing problems down the left, but too often being let down by their inability to convert chances to scores. The visitors assured themselves of the three points when Shane Morrisey bagged his second and made it three goals to nil twenty minutes from time.
TSDL Youths 25th September Match Reports
Two Mile Borris 0 – 3 Clonmel Celtic
Both teams came into this game with full points from their first three games and they played a very even first half with few chances to score for either team. The defences were well on top, with neither team wanting to commit too much, making it a tactical battle for the watching crowd at Newhill Park. They went into the break at nil all, and this continued through the first quarter of an hour of the second period. As legs began to tire however, space began to open up and the visitors took the lead on the hour mark when Daithi Hogan shot from the edge of the box to find the bottom right hand corner of the net with the home keeper stranded. The hosts tried to regroup and pushed forward in search of an equaliser but were caught brilliantly on the break ten minutes later, when Senan Butler made no mistake with a cool finish to the empty net. Celtic wrapped up all three points when Ciaran Fitzpatrick was quickest to react when a ball was parried by the home keeper to tap home with five minutes left in the game.
Slievenamon Celtic 1 – 4 Clonmel Town
After their very bright title winning campaign last year, Slievenamon Celtic are finding it a little more difficult this time around, and went down to another defeat at the weekend, this time to Clonmel Town in what is proving a very difficult. They started off sluggishly and Town took a foothold in the game early on when Milo McNamara with a quite beautiful finish with his left foot gave his side the lead. Although the hosts were finding their way out from the back with some nice football it never materialised into any clear-cut chances, and the visitors always had the potential to carve the home side up when they attacked. The second half began much better for the home side and Eoin Barry was unlucky not to level the game, seeing his effort palmed onto the post and cleared away to safety. But the visitors eventually made pressure pay and doubled their lead soon after when they seized upon a loose pass from the back and Darragh Walsh scored from an acute angle. Two became three and four in short order, with a Billy Tierney header from a corner and Darragh Cronin benefiting from poor marking, to put the game completely out of the reach of the home side. Celtic did have the final say when a nice ball up the line from Daniel Condon found Cian Phelan who calmly finished into the bottom corner, for a consolation goal, but it was never anything more than that.
Munster Youths Cup, First Round 24th of September 2022 Match Report
Cullen Lattin 2 – 3 Peake Villa
Peake Villa put poor early season youths form behind them on Sunday to claim a victory over Cullen in the first round of the Munster Youths cup. As in all of the home sides games this season it didn’t look like they would be the losing side at half time, going into the break a goal up after Dylan Mc Grath converted a penalty that he had won himself. Things got better for the home side on the hour mark when Mc Grath doubled their lead with a rocket into the bottom corner of the net. But somehow in the last twenty minutes, the wheels came off for the hosts with Villa scoring three goals in a frantic fifteen minute spell that shook the Cullen side to the core. The first two of those goals came from Daniel Rossiter, with Kieran Purcell scoring the all-important winner. Although Cullen tried to respond, the Thurles side defended well and hung on to their victory to progress to the next round.
Youths Round up
In the other two youths games at the weekend, Bansha Celtic welcomed Cashel Town to Bansha in the first round of the Munster Youths cup. The two teams played out a very entertaining game with just a single goal in five separating the sides in the end, with Celtic coming out the victors, being on the right side of a three goal to two win. In Second Division Youth League action, Shanbally United look very strong, and re-iterated that again on Saturday when they travelled to Mullinahone and claimed an easy victory by seven goals to two.
