Tipperary Cup 1st Round 28th January 2024 Match Reports
Suirside 4 – 1 Wilderness Rovers
The Second Division side caused the shock of the first round of this year’s TSDL Blue Riband competition, when they came from behind to dump Premier League side Wilderness Rovers out of the cup. The higher league side started much the better and were unlucky not to go in front as early as the sixth minute when Jamie Dunne forced a brilliant save out of Mark Kelly between the Suirside goal posts. But the tentative home start continued and five minutes later, Dunne made amends for his miss when he headed home a pinpoint cross to put Rovers ahead. The hosts seemed to rally after this, and their first real sight of goal was in the twenty fifth minute when Eoin Walsh went close, and over the next five minutes they produced some more good efforts thanks to John Darmody and David Recontre. But it looked like the Wildies had weathered the storm until the final minute of the half, when captain fantastic Jason Coffey levelled the game with a brilliantly taken twenty five yard free kick. Carrying on the momentum from the end of the first half, into the second, Gavin Sheehan and Coffey executed a nice one two, before releasing veteran striker Paul Kennedy and he made no mistake in firing Suirside in front. But the Premier League side didn’t just fall away and the hosts were thankful of Kelly in goal once again twenty minutes from time, when he produced another excellent save to keep his side in front. The game was almost assured for the hosts twelve minutes from time, when they were awarded a penalty kick for handball which Coffey converted, and which saw the visitor’s reduced to ten men for the rest of the game. When Kennedy popped up with a second seven minutes from the end the final result was in no doubt, and Suirside won through to a second round game at home to Dualla next week.
Peake Villa 1 – 0 Powerstown
Villa were highly favoured in this game, but struggled to really impose themselves on a stubborn Powerstown side that made them fight for everything to claim a victory in this first round game of the Tipperary Cup. Villa were quickest out and created some early chances, before taking the lead in the eighteenth minute, when Kieran Hennessy found the net. But they lost a player to a red card just before the hour mark, and this seemed to really knock them out of their stride and they had to defend some stern Powerstown attacking before they saw out the first half. Powerstown continued to create most of the second half chances, but wily defending by the home side meant that their real sights of goal were limited and Villa saw out the game without picking up any injury worries ahead of their replayed FAI Junior Cup tie in Dublin next weekend.
TSDL Premier Division 28th January 2024 Match Reports
Two Mile Borris 2 – 3 Clonmel Celtic
This tie turned out to be the veritable game of two halves, with a strong win dominating the play for the duration of the game. In the end it was Celtic that came from behind to record the win, which leaves the home side in relegation trouble at the bottom end of the table. The wind favoured Borris in the first half and they had the better of the early play, opening the scoring in the fifteenth minute when Loran O Toole headed home a corner kick fired in by Jamie Lee. They continued to make the better chances and doubled their lead just after the half hour mark when Urban Nolan produced a good finish from just inside the area, after some excellent build up play. But probably the most significant goal of the first half came in the final minute, when with it looking like the hosts would take their two goal lead to the break, Celtic pulled a goal back when Philip Drohan evaded a number of defenders and shot to the net from twelve yards out to half the deficit. With the wind at their backs in the second period, the Clonmel side took control of the game and pinned Borris back for significant amounts of time. The home side defended well but the pressure finally told and Celtic won a penalty kick twenty minutes from time, which was converted by Drohan for his second of the game. The visitors continued to press after drawing level, and hit the front six minutes later when they opened up a tiring home back line and Jack Purcell got on the end of a move to put his side in front. After that the home side did try to find an equaliser, with Daniel Rafter coming close on a number of occasions, but in the end Celtic hung on and took the three points.
Clonmel Town 1 – 2 St Michael’s
Saints came from behind to take the points at the Complex on Sunday in a dour uncompromising encounter, in which the strong wind hindered the game as a spectacle with passes overhit and the ball out of play a lot. The away side were favoured going into the game and had the bulk of the early chances with Paul Breen, Shane Ryan and Rhys O’Regan on his return to Clonmel going close in the first twenty minutes. But they were rocked at the end of the first quarter when they coughed up possession in the middle of the park, and Ian Cleary did well to make space and fire a right foot shot beyond Adrian Walsh to give first blood to Town. O’Regan was just wide of goal shortly after from a Jimmy Carr pass, as they tried to get back level, but they were almost caught out again on the half hour, when Adrian Walsh was forced to make a good reflex save to tap over a half volley from Jack O’Donnell from the edge of the area. Seven minutes before the break came a significant turning point in the game when Town were reduced to ten men after a quick fire double yellow card, and although they kept their slender lead to the break, it always looked like the second half was going to feel a lot longer than usual for them. And so it proved, as within three minutes of the restart the game was level again after a Russell Quirke free kicked was parried into the path of Sean Guerins who forced the ball home for Saints. The visitors looked to push home the extra man advantage and Town’s only out ball was French Davis in attack who showed pace down the right, but constantly came up against the solid Saints backline. But Town were still in the game and fought valiantly for every ball as the time ticked away. The sickening blow for them finally came five minutes from time when Ashley Kelliher got on the end of a Russell Quirke corner to score from six yards out, much to the relief of the Saints players and travelling entourage. The three points secured, the visitors were happy to get back home to start preparing for some big cup games in the weeks ahead.
Tipperary Town 0 – 3 Cahir Park
Cahir Park continued to stay in touch at the top end of the Premier League table with a good win away to Tipperary Town on Sunday last. Both teams started well and some good football was played with chances at both ends. Vinny Godfrey came closest to opening the score for the hosts, before the visitors struck in the fifteenth minute, when Willie Dunne reacted quickest after the ball bounced around the six yard box, to poke home. They doubled their lead ten minutes later with Dunne again on target with a great header from close range after the home side had squandered a couple of good chances, leaving the Park two goals to the good at the break. The tie followed a similar pattern in the second period with both teams playing good football, but again it was the visitors that had a little more cutting edge when a great free kick from John O Brien gave the keeper no chance to put Cahir three up just after the hour mark. The game out of sight for the home team but they never gave up and the game was a lively contest for the remaining thirty minutes, before Cahir took the win.
TSDL First Division 28th January 2024 Match Reports
Galbally United 0 – 1 Cashel Town
League leaders Cashel Town continued their relentless push to get back to the top table of TSDL football by maintaining their seasons 100% record and recording their ninth win from nine of the road at Galbally. But the home side did make it hard for them, producing a really good defensive display that almost managed to snag them a point. It might even have had been more if Jamie Morrissey had converted when going close for the hosts in the twentieth minute. In reality though it was the visitors who always seemed to be likeliest to score and Eoin Byrnes really should have done better with a couple of chances before the sides went to the break scoreless. The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with Cashel dominating the game. They still had to wait until five minutes from time to make that pressure count when centre half Jack Fitzpatrick finished well after a corner wasn’t cleared, and the defender smashed home from close in.
Peake Villa 2 – 1 Old Bridge
Villa had the wind at their backs in the first half but were guilty of over passing and playing some long balls which caught out their strikers up front. They did create some chances with Liam McCormack coming close on a few occasions. But ultimately it was the visitors that took the lead just before the quarter hour mark when a free kick was not dealt with in the box, and this gave Ciaran Walsh an opportunity close in and he scored. The visitors should have doubled their lead just before the break and would have only for two fine saves by the home keeper David Purcell. Against the wind in the second half, Villa seemed to play a lot better but still struggled to create a clear enough chance to get back into the game. That was until thirteen minutes from time when they were rewarded for their consistent pressure when a great cross put in by Liam McCormack was headed to the back of the net by Adam Garrett to level the game. They pushed on looking for an equaliser and four minutes later Mc Cormack put the gloss on an excellent performance by getting a goal of his own to wrap up the victory.
Cullen Lattin 6 – 3 St Michael’s
There were nine goals in this West Tipperary thriller, that gave the watching supporters plenty to cheer about throughout the game. In just the first minute the visitors almost opened the scoring, but Cian O Dwyer’s cross was narrowly headed wide by Antonio Rea. This was a huge wake up call for the hosts and within twenty minutes they raced into a two-goal lead. First Fiachra O Grady drove home Darren McGrath’s pass in the seventh minute, and then Mickie O Brien headed in a well delivered Tony O Neill corner ten minutes later. On twenty nine minutes, Saints got back in the game when a Cian O Dwyer free kick found Danny O Brien at the back post and his finish was of the highest quality. Seven minutes later they were level, when Rea made up for his early miss after a mistake by a Cullen defender, he showed great composure and finished well to the bottom corner.
But the home side were not to be denied a half time lead and in the final minute of the half were awarded a penalty after Tony O Neill was taken down by the Saints keeper. Up stepped Darren Mc Grath to stroke the ball to the net. The second half was to be dominated by the home side and four minutes in, Fiachra O Grady put Cullen four goals to two up when he took advantage of a scramble in the box to steer his shot to the net. Micheál Elligott made it five when he got on the end of a Tony O Neill corner kick to tap home on fifty seven minutes, and O Neill added a sixth eighteen minutes from time when his left footed strike ended up in the bottom corner. Saints got a late consolation goal four minutes from time when Danny O Brien was fouled in the penalty area and the veteran striker got up to smash the penalty to the net, but it was never enough to make any difference to the final destination of the points.
TSDL Second Division 28th January 2024 Match Reports
Cashel Town 2 – 1 St Nicholas
Cashel’s seconds picked up three valuable points with a good win at home to St Nicholas, at Dixie Currivan Park on Sunday afternoon. The game itself was scrappy in the first period, without any clear cut chances, and with both teams guilty of poor final passes. The game was scoreless at the break, but three minutes into the second half the visitors went ahead with a header from a corner from Aidan Riordan, who was left unmarked at the back post. Cashel however didn’t lie down and were level ten minutes later when Jack Price finished from close range after a goalmouth scramble from a corner. Cashel were reduced to ten men just after the hour mark, but kept battling and were rewarded in the seventy second minute with an absolute cracker from Thomas O Riordan, who blasted a bullet like shot into the top corner from all of twenty five yards out. The hosts spent the last fifteen minutes pinned back as the Saints looked for a leveller, but they defended their lead well and ran out deserved winners in the end.
Dualla 3 – 1 Moyglass United
This was a tight affair from the off, with both teams trying to bets the other on the break by using their pace on the wings and upfront. As the game progressed the hosts took control and opened the scoring when John Ryan nipped in front of a defender and won a penalty. Tossy Ryan stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to put the hosts ahead. With their tails up now, the continued to dominate and added a second five minutes before the break when Tossy found himself one on one with the keeper and he slotted home with aplomb. In the early stages of the second period, the visitors started pushing forward which left them vulnerable at the back, and Dualla had a couple of chance but failed to capitalise on this. In the sixty third minute the visitors won a free thirty yards out, which after being fired into the area, bobbled around before being eventually poked to the net. Dualla responded to this, pushing forward and new kid on the block Colin Bourke making his senior debut, capped it by rounding a defender and keeper and slotting the ball home to ensure his side won the points with a three goal to one win.
TSDL Third Division 28th January 2024 Match Reports
SC & K United 3 – 0 Cahir Park
The home side picked up a crucial three points in this game against promotion rivals Cahir Park with a comprehensive win on Sunday morning. The strong wind made it tough for both sides and both took time settling into the game. The closest either side came to opening the scoring in the early exchanges was when Aaron Costin saw his in-swinging corner clip the Cahir Park crossbar, before being cleared to safety. Six minutes before the break however, the hosts finally found the breakthrough through Cianan O’Brien, when he found space in the visitors area goalmouth scramble to fire home from ten yards to give United the lead. The wind continued to cause problems in the second period, with the visitors now having it at their backs, but too often they were unable to make use of it, with many overhit passes that were either comfortably defended or ran out of play. The home side gave themselves some breathing space in the seventy second minute, when Evan Forristal found Mark Heffernan who calmly slotted into the bottom left corner from twelve yards to double his sides advantage. And they made it three in the final minutes when a Conor Grant kick out found Jamie Roche in behind the Cahir defence, and he slotted home to give his side the points.
Burncourt Celtic 0 – 2 Donohill and District
This game started off with Celtic on the front foot with Dylan Ryan having an early chance saved. On twenty-two minutes Robbie O Brien was very unlucky when he got on the end of a Cian O Reilly cross, but saw his effort flash agonisingly wide. The best chance from the visitors in the first period came eight minutes before the break but the home defence managed to scramble the ball clear, and the sides went to half time level at nil all. The second half turned into a scrappy affair with both sides struggling in the tough weather conditions, and but the opening score came just a few minutes in, when Joe Shannon popped up at the back post to strike home a fine finish from ten yards out. Both sides had chances after this, but as the home side pushed on looking for the equaliser, Donohill punished them on the break and Cian Mooney fired home a second ten minutes from time to secure his side the points.
Tipperary Town 2 – 3 Clonmel Celtic
In a game played in Clonmel, Celtic started brightly and were a goal up in the fifteenth minute when David Hindley reacted to a short kick out and lobbed the Town keeper from the edge of the area. They doubled the advantage ten minutes later when a long range effort from Dominic Mendel eluded the visiting keeper for a second time, and then made it three just before the break, when the ball broke in the box and was fired home by Jason Barnes. After the break the visiting side came out fighting and Fergal Mc Namara pulled a goal back midway through the half, when he shot home from close range. They made it a nail biting last ten minutes for their hosts when Adrian Swords tucked away a near finish to make it three goals to two. But Celtic buckled down and managed to see out the game and win the points, in a great spectacle for the watching supporters.
TSDL Youths 28th January 2024 Match Reports
Division 2 Youths
Two Mile Borris 6 – 1 Cullen Lattin
Borris had another good win on Saturday in the Youths Second Division league at home to Cullen Lattin. The home side made a quick start to proceedings and had the ball in the net inside the first minute after great pressing by the attack led to the ball falling to the feet of Cian Dwyer who calmy slotted home. Ten minutes later, Lorcan Bourke charged down the visitors centre half and, after some good work, steered the ball past the oncoming keeper. They away side finally found their feet and responded well, pulling a goal back when a free kick was steered into the box and was bundled home from close in. Minutes later they almost made it two all but for a point blank save from Shane Bourke in the Borris goal. Bourke had to be replaced when making that brave stop and Ben Moore was introduced as a sub, not wasting much time making an impact, scoring a great solo goal with his first involvement to put his side three goals to one ahead at the break. It was a very even start to the second half but it was the home side who got the important next goal when after a great save by the Cullen keeper the ball fell to Ben Moore who buried his second to give his side some real breathing space. They stepped up the tempo now, and twenty minutes from time Moore completed his hat trick scoring a brilliant curled effort. With fifteen minutes remaining Cian Dwyer won possession and drove at the Cullen defence, before sliding a great through ball to Moore again who dinked over the keeper for his fourth of the afternoon. Not a bad tally for a substitute and assuring his side of all three points on the day.
Mullinahone 0 – 0 Clonmel Town
The home side began the brighter playing some nice football in the opening exchanges, with Liam Doyle on the wing impressing early on, and having the first real chance of the game stopped by a late block from the visiting defence. Town finally started to find their feet after the first quarter but found it hard to create any clear cut chances. The first real chance of the game came from a long ball by the home sides keeper which Liam Doyle ran onto but poked just wide passed the onrushing keeper. The visitors had a ten minute period of dominance before the break, but weren’t able to make any count and the sides headed to half time scoreless. The second half was a much scrappier affair with both teams struggling at times to play ball and reverting to the long ball to try to gain any field position. This made for a busy day for both defences but both sets of back four were excellent in the air and any loose balls were easily cleared. By the end, both sides were frustrated, but both deserved the point they picked up in the end.