TSDL Premier League – Sunday August 26, 2024
Clonmel Town 8-0 Bansha Celtic
Clonmel Town began their league campaign with a very straightforward victory over an understrength Bansha Celtic in Clonmel on Sunday.
Goals from Michael O’Sullivan, Jake French Davis (2), Lekan Oki, Jamie Carey, Ian Clery, Cillian Kelly and Juan Carlos Arguedas GriJalba ensured all three points for the new management team of Conor O’Neill and John MacLean.
It was tough going for Bansha right from the off and they were soon behind when Michael O’Sullivan rose highest in the box to head the home side in front.
A brace from Jake French Davis made it three within the first 15 minutes before turning provider, his left footed cross perfectly placed for Lekan Oki to head home from close range.
Keenan Kerton, Ian Clery and Davis were combining well, and their movement was causing huge problems for Bansha who were struggling to remain competitive. One free-flowing move resulted in Kerton being fouled on the edge of the box and the experienced Clery made no mistake from the resulting free-kick, rivalling to the roof of the net to fire Town five in front.
There was still time for a sixth before the half-time break, this time it was Jamie Carey who benefitted from another passing move, Kerton, Oki and Carey combining before the latter curled a delicious shot past the Bansha keeper.
To their credit, Bansha kept going and didn’t let their manager down. Try as they might however, they couldn’t muster a clear chance of note to trouble Town debutant Michael Walsh in goal.
The home side made several changes in the second half but continued to control possession. Cillian Kelly, another debutant, scored his first goal in the old gold jersey to make it seven before Juan Carlos Arguedas GriJalba finished the scoring with a fabulous strike.
Overall it was a great start for Town but they’ll know that there will be much tougher games to come including next Saturday night when they travel to Tipp Town to face old rivals St Michael’s in Cooke Park.
Clonmel Celtic 2-2 Two Mile Borris
In an entertaining open game Clonmel Celtic will feel this was one that got away. Missing a number of first team players for the opening game, Celtic took a little while to settle into the game and the first real chance fell to Two Mile Borris on the 6-minute mark – a free kick from the left hand side by Jamie Lee found the head of Lewis Cocklen who rose above the Celtic defence only to see his header clip the top of the crossbar. This spurred Celtic into action and a shot from Darren Sweeney following good play by Rory O’Dowd flashed just wide on the 14th minute mark. Sean Hawkins came close to giving Celtic the lead shortly after, but the Borris keeper Jack Dolan was equal to his effort and pushed it wide of the post. From the resulting corner Kevin Hawkins saw his header go narrowly wide.
A short while later the Borris defence were called into action again when Louis Kearney did well to block a shot from Darren Sweeney following a good through ball from Kyle Cuddy. While Celtic were creating the better opportunities Two Mile Borris were not without a threat and good play on the right wing on 35 minutes saw Tony Galvin released and his cross was met by Tommy Maguire only to see his header off target. Celtic were forced into a substitution just before half time with Ayo Williams replaced by Niall Prendergast due to injury, the final chance of the half fell to the away side when they were awarded a free kick from 20 yards, but the Celtic wall did its job and the sides went in at half time level.
Celtic got off to the perfect start early in the second half when Jack Purcell was fouled just outside the penalty area, the resulting free kick from Darren Sweeney was too much for the Borris keeper who pushed his save into the path of Kyle Cuddy who was quickest to react to score his first goal for Clonmel Celtic on 48 minutes. Celtic were through again two minutes later when a good diagonal pass from Niall Prendergast on the right-hand side found Darren Sweeney who controlled it well but saw his left footed shot flash wide of the post.
Throughout the game Borris proved a threat from set pieces and their equaliser came from a corner on 54 minutes when Stuart Hanrahan rose above Peter Boland in the Celtic goal to head in. Celtic appealed for a foul on the keeper, but referee John McGuire waved away the protests to award the goal. The game didn’t stay level for long however, Celtic were a warded a free kick on the left wing and quick thinking by Rory O’Dowd caught the Borris defence flat-footed, playing the ball square to Seanie Hawkins who struck a perfect shot low and hard to the bottom left-hand corner. Celtic made three substitutions in quick succession with Barry Kiely replacing Cillian Hogan, David Morrissey replacing Darren Sweeney and Jack Alyward replacing the injured Sean Hawkins.
It took a while for Celtic to re-adjust to the changes and Borris had a number of chances, the best of which fell to Tom Ryan when Peter Boland had to be quick off his line to block his shot on goal. Jack Alyward proved effective running at the Borris defence and his cross from the left-hand side on 75 minutes forced Jamie Lee facing is own goal to concede a corner with a header over his own crossbar. The resulting corner fell to Peter O’Dowd whose well struck shot flew narrowly wide of the left-hand post. With the game heading into the closing stages Borris pushed for the equaliser and were unlucky when Tom Ryan saw his shot well saved by Peter Boland. However, their efforts were rewarded on the 88-minute mark when they were awarded a free kick on the right-hand side just inside the Celtic half. A high floated ball to the back post was headed back across the goal, Celtic failed to clear it and Jason Kelly was first to react to give Two Mile Borris a share of the spoils on the day.
Cahir Park 1-2 Peake Villa
Cahir Park kicked off the new season with a home fixture against title contenders Peake Villa but were soon on the backfoot, with the experienced away side taking control of possession in the early stages against a young Park team, popping the ball around at pace.
Cahir weathered the early storm and with their first attack of note took the lead on 10 minutes when Sameul Laaksonen scored from a tight angle.
Peake villa continued to dominate and caused Cahir trouble from corners. On 25 minutes they got a deserved equaliser when Dylan Coady finished from close range after Dale Loughnane’s shot was parried away by the home keeper.
Cahir held their own for rest of the half as the visitors continued to push them back.
The second half started with Peake Villa again on top and they took a deserved lead on the hour mark when Keith Cahill found the net from 25 yards with a curling left footed shot.
Cahir dug in for the rest of the game limiting the chances that Peake created. An incredible goal line clearance from Chris Higgins on 75 minutes kept the score at 2-1.
Try as they might Cahir couldn’t find a way to get the equaliser as Peake saw out the game to pick their first three points of the new season.
Cashel Town 1- 1 St. Michaels
Cashel returned to the Premier Division with possibly the toughest fixture possible. This was made even more difficult when they conceded with only two minutes on the clock when they failed to clear a corner, and Jimmy Carr picked up the loose ball and smashed it past the Cashel keeper. Cashel, to their credit, didn’t let this deter them and got back into the game on 20 minutes when Seanie Fitzpatrick blasted in a free kick from 25 yards. Cashel then lost their Keeper Gearoid Slattery to injury, which resulted in Eoin Byrnes having to take over in goal. St. Michaels had the better of the second half but great performances from the stand in keeper, and the back line kept the game level and gave Cashel a very well-deserved point.