FAI Junior Cup 4th Round, 3rd December 2023 Match Reports
Clonmel Celtic 2 – 0 Killorglin
Celtic kept up their recent good cup form with a fairly comfortable two goal win against Killorglin. The Kerry outfit were missing a few players and were on the backfoot in the early stages as the hosts made a bright start to the game. Julian Kerton had Celtic’s first effort on four minutes but he was denied by a good save by Adam Carey. Sean Brown then flashed a shot wide as the TSDL went in search of an early goal. They didn’t have to wait too long with Sean Brown heading home Philly Drohan’s cross on fourteen minutes to give his side the lead they craved. They were two up eight minutes later when Keenan Kerton played in Julian Kerton and he kept his composure to slot home. Celtic were well in control at this stage with Cian O’Sullivan and Sean Brown both coming close to increasing the lead before the break. They lost some momentum at the break, and weren’t in control as much in the second half and a number of substitutions saw the game become a bit scrappy. Killorglin kept plugging away and came close late on but Fabian Kerton got down to push away a free kick and Graham Kelly did well late on to clear as the visitors came close to snatching a lifeline, but never quite made it.
Munster Shield 4th Round, 3rd December 2023 Match Reports
St John Bosco 1 – 1 Powerstown (Powerstown win 12 – 11 on penaties)
TSDL Second Division side Powerstown played their first competitive game ever outside the local league and kept the flag flying with a win over Cork side St John Bosco’s after a marathon penalty shootout on Saturday afternoon. But you wouldn’t have thought it was going to get that far when Conor McGrath put the visitors a goal up after just four minutes, taking advantage of a ball in behind the Cork defence, placing it calmly past the home keeper. After this the two teams were pretty even with the game being played in the main around the middle of the pitch. The home side’s best chance came from a long ball over the top midway through, and although the home strike beat the Powerstown keeper, the shot was cleared off the line by Nicholas Ryan. Cathal McKeown was unlucky not to put Powerstown further in front ten minutes before the break but his strike went narrowly wide. The second half was a more open affair. Visiting keeper Kieran Quirke made a point blank save from a corner, tipping the header over the bar on the hour mark, and moments later after a break up the field, Powerstown had a goal controversially ruled out. An Oisin Napier shot was parried by the Bosco’s keeper, and although Aaron Kiely put the ball in the net, he was adjudged to have fouled the keeper. The anger over this was compounded minutes later when the hosts got their leveller with sixty-five minutes on the clock. Their striker was judged to have been fouled inside the area and the referee pointed to the stop. The subsequent penalty was converted and the game stood at one all. Both sides had chances to win it in normally time but the 90 minutes were not enough to decide a result. Extra time was a cagey affair. The Tipperary side dominated the possession for the large part but found it tough to break the Cork side down. Neither side could find the break through and the game went to penalties. It took all of twenty-three penalties to decide the outcome of the shootout, 12-11 in favour of Powerstown. Powerstown goalkeeper Kieran Quirke made an excellent save, diving to his left to setup Oisin Napier to score the all-important penalty.
TSDL Premier League 3rd December 2023 Match Reports
Clonmel Town 0 – 2 Cahir Park
Cahir Park took all three points in this entertaining Premier League game played at the Dr Pat O’Callaghan Sports Complex, to widen the gap between themselves and their opponents and cement third place in the TSDL behind the big two above them. Despite starting well and dominating the early proceedings, the home side couldn’t find a way past an inspired Brian Sweeney in the Cahir goal, who produced a number of good saves to keep his side level. Cahir eventually got themselves into the game and hit the front when Niall Daly got on the end of a cross to power his diving header to the net, just after the half hour mark. It was pretty even from then until half time with the visitors holding on to their slender lead. The second half was almost identical to the first with Town dominant early on but any hopes of drawing level were extinguished when Willie Dunne found the net for Cahir from all of twenty yards in the seventieth minute. It was harsh on the home side, who were on top at that stage, but they couldn’t find a way past Sweeney who was excellent throughout, and the away side took all three points.
Bansha Celtic 2 – 5 St Michael’s
Bansha Celtic got no succour from their relegation travails when they went down here against local rivals St Michael’s in this West Tipperary derby. After a cagey first fifteen minutes for both sides, it was the visitors who drew first blood when they took the lead in the eighteenth minute, after a good save from the home keeper, was followed in by Russell Quirke scored on the rebound from close in. They doubled that advantage in the twenty fifth minute, when a smart through ball put Quirke clear and he slid it past the keeper to add to his and his sides tally. They had the perfect opportunity to add a third minutes later when they were awarded a penalty kick, but the home keeper made a great save. They finally did add that all important third goal just on the stroke of half time, when a quickly taken corner was headed home by Shane Ryan. Ten minutes into the second period, they got their fourth, when Rhys O Regan cut in from the right and buried it in the far corner. To Bansha’s credit, they continued to battle and pulled a goal back in the seventieth minute when William O Dwyer squeezed a shot into the far corner of the goal. Five minutes later they added another this time when a deflected shot from O Dwyer found the roof of the net. They went close to making it three only to be denied by a magnificent double save by the visiting keeper. But the Saints closed out the game after this, adding a fifth in the final minute when Joey Mulcahy curled a sublime effort into the top corner and assure his team of all three points.
Wilderness Rovers 1 – 7 Peake Villa
Top visited bottom in the Premier League on Sunday in Clonmel, and the league champions blew their hosts away with another brilliant display of attacking football and clinical finishing, to maintain their joint lead at the top of the Premier League table. Wilderness did quite well early on and dealt well with the champions attack, but once their defence was broken in the fifteenth minute by an Eoin O Dwyer tap in, it looked like being a long day for the Clonmel side. But just seven minutes later, the Wildies were back on level terms, when Cian O Connell blocked down a clearance and sidestepped the advancing keeper and slotted home to the delight of players and management. But their joy was short lived as it took just two minutes for the visitors to get back in front when O Dwyer was in the right place once again to finish a good attacking move. Three minutes later Villa got their third through Ronan Maguires slightly deflected shot, and although the hosts worked hard for the rest of the half, they went to the break two goals behind. The away side came out in the second half all guns blazing, and fantastic football scoring four more goals inside the first quarter of an hour. Three minutes in, O Dwyer completed his hat trick with a headed goal, before Kieran Hennessy added one on the fiftieth minute. On fifty seven O Dwyer got his fourth with a superb finish and on the hour mark, Ronan Mc Guire made it seven. The Wilderness kept battling away and got in behind a couple of times but the Thurles sides keeper dealt with it both chances pretty easily and they eased to a really good win.
Two Mile Borris 4 – 0 Tipperary Town
This game was closer than the scoreline suggests, but clinical finishing by the home side was the difference between the two teams as they recorded their first, and much needed win of the season. Borris started well and had a number of chances before Jamie Lee found Jamie Carey with a peach of a cross to open the scoring for the hosts. After that they had most of the ball without creating anything clear cut, and they were unable to add to their tally before the break. The second half was only five minutes old however when a corner was cleared to the edge of the visitors area, and Jamie Lee fired home from sixteen yards out. This gave Borris some breathing space and they added a third five minutes after the hour mark when man of the match Lee set up Daniel Rafter and he made no mistake from just inside the box. But right throughout the game, Borris’s young keeper Ben Allen was displaying a maturity in the goals beyond his years and dealt with anything the visiting side could throw at him. Ten minutes from time, the hosts sealed the win when Josh Connolly shot from the edge of the eighteen yard area and made it four without reply.
TSDL First Division 3rd December 2023 Match Reports
Cashel Town 2 – 0 Galbally United
Cashel Town maintained their winning start to the season and extended their lead at the top of the First Division table in the only game played in the division at the weekend. It was a hard fought win against Galbally but in the end they prevailed to ensure they will be in pole position both in the title and promotion races in the New Year. It was an early struggle for both sides, with much of the game being played around the centre of the park and no real chances of note created before the home side took the lead on twenty seven minutes from the penalty spot after Andy Fitzpatrick was taken down, and Kyle Ryan stepped up to bury the spot kick. Five minutes later the home side doubled their lead with a goal from Andy Fitzpatrick when quick break from Devon Ryan slipped Fitzpatrick through, and he finished well from eighteen yards out. The game fell into a dull pattern after this with the home side dropping off and defending their lead, but with the visitors not really showing any guile to break down the stubborn home defence, who ensured they took all three points at the end of the game.
TSDL Second Division 3rd December 2023 Match Reports
Dualla 0 – 6 Two Mile Borris
Borris’ seconds made the short trip to Dualla on a foggy Sunday morning and got off to a great start when DJ Troy finished coolly to the net in the sixth minute. Shortly after it was two nil to the visitors when a great cross from Michael Anthony Mc Carthy was met with as good a finish on the volley from Jack Delaney. And half way through the first period they added a third, after a great team move was finished brilliantly by Richie Mc Carthy to put themselves in complete control at the break. They started the second period as quickly as they had the first, and put the result beyond doubt another great team move was finished by Robert Jordan five minutes in. Twenty minutes from time, a corner by Jack Delaney was met by the head of Martin Darmody who finished to the top corner, and Robert Jordan capped a fine team performance when he got his second of the day and Borris’ sixth late on.
Moyglass United 3 – 3 St Nicholas
These sides played out a six-goal thriller on a freezing cold day in Moyglass on Sunday, with the entertainment provided warming the small but committed crowd that turned out to cheer the teams on. The game itself was a good sporting contest right from the start, with both teams playing open football, and it wasn’t long before the game produced its first goal when Aaron Ryan Shiner produced a neat finish to put the Saints in front. The away side were in the ascendency at this point and hammered home that advantage when they doubled the lead eight minutes later, after being awarded a penalty kick that Jason Sutton made no mistake with. Eventually though the home side began to come back into the game, and although they didn’t score before half time, they did dominate much of the possession and chances for the rest of the game up to half time. They carried that momentum into the second period after making a few changes at half time, and eventually made the pressure count by pulling a goal back in the fifty third minute when Jamie Morrissey deliciously curled a free kick to the net. They only needed four more minutes to get back on level terms when Keith Cleere showed a clean pair of heels and finished a shot to the bottom corner of the net. With the wind in their sails now, the hosts completely turned the game around and went ahead in the sixty fifth minute when Tony O Brien viciously whipped a free kick inside the right hand post of the Nicholas goal, giving the keeper no chance. After this they seemed to settle on their laurels, a fatal mistake after doing so much good work to get into the lead and they got caught right on the line when Jason Sutton swooped to save a point for his side, with a goal deep into time added on.
Suirside 3 – 1 Cashel Town
This was a massive six pointer in Grange between two teams who sit mid table currently in the Second Division but who still harbour outside hopes of putting a run together and getting themselves involved in a promotion race. The home side got off to the perfect start in this game, when they opened the scoring in just the second minute when some intricate play in the centre of the pitch teed up the onrushing John Darmody who gave the visiting keeper no chance of keeping the ball out of the net. They could have increased that lead shortly afterwards but Andy Hickey’s shot from a cleared corner just shaved the outside of the post and went wide. The hosts were completely dominant at this stage however, and in the seventeenth minute they did add to their tally when Gavin Sheehan found David Recontre with a through ball and he fired home from the edge of the area. Cashel though seemed to be awoken from their torpor after this, and pulled a goal back in the twenty seventh minute Tomas Riordan scored from a corner kick to half the deficit. He almost equalised minutes later with an outstanding shot, that was brilliantly saved by the home keeper Mark Kelly, who kept his side in front. Two one up at half time, the home side got back in control in the second period, and in the seventieth minute they all but assured themselves of the points when captain Jason Coffey found Darmody again, and he unleashed a rasper of a shot to open up a two goal advantage again. This was enough to ensure they would win the game and they’ll now hope to push on in the weeks and months ahead.
TSDL Third Division 3rd December 2023 Match Reports
Clonmel Celtic 0 – 1 Cahir Park
An injury time goal from David Clifford saw Cahir Park B take three important points against promotion rivals Clonmel Celtic B at Ferryhouse this morning. This was a lively end to end encounter between two sides still very much in the promotion hunt. There wasn’t much between the sides though the hosts probably had the better chances with Michael Cooper and Davy Garrett both going close in each half. Just as it looked as if the game was going to finish goal less Clifford was played through and he did well to hold off a defender before finding the net and giving the visitors three important points.
Bansha Celtic 2 – 5 Ballingarry Albion
The visitors got off to a flying start in this game, forcing two good saves from the Celtic keeper, before finally finding the net in the tenth minute when Marty Ivors played in Eoin Burke and he made no mistake. The same player then doubled the Albion seven minutes later when a loose kickout was pounced on by Adam O Connell and he played Burke in on goal, and his shot had too much on it for the keeper. They added a third in the twenty-eight minutes when an Ian Ivors free kick was cleverly worked to Michael Ivors who struck a fantastic shot into the Bansha net from just outside the box. The home side probably saw out the half the better team but still found themselves three down at the break. The start of the second half was a bit more even affair with the home side starting to string passes together a bit better. But in the fifty fourth minute an overhit pass by Michael Ivors was spilled by the keeper in front of Adam O Connell, and he walked around him and finished well from a difficult angle. The away side them had a goal chalked off for offside, before the hosts pulled one back in the sixty fourth minute with a long range effort. They very nearly added a second moments later when a loose pass out of the backline fell to their striker but Jack Pollard recovered to keep it out. Ballingarry had a few more half chances but couldn’t find the target until five minutes from time, when a loose ball was seized upon by Marty Ivors after good work by Bobby Chapman and Ivors finished well. The scoring wasn’t done just yet as the home side added one more from a free kick deep in time added on.
SC & K United 8 – 2 Tipperary Town
Kilsheelan’s Juniors continued their recent run of good form with a dominant display at home to Tipperary Town FC on Sunday morning. They got off to the perfect start when Cathal de Faoite was fouled inside the visitor’s penalty area within the first 15 seconds, and Nathan Dolan stepped up to fire home early on. By the time there was 5 minutes gone, it was three nil to the home side, after John O’Dwyer fired home a quick fire brace, first getting on the end of a Mark Heffernan through ball and then firing home from Cathal de Faoite’s cross. By the eighth minute, it was four, when Aaron Costin had an effort from distance saved, before Mark Heffernan was quickest to react and tap home. Things settled for the next quarter of an hour, before Nathan Dolan got his second when he got on the end of a de Faoite corner, and he completed a hat trick before the half hour mark, finding the top corner from 25 yards out to make it six. To their credit, the visitors continued to battle, and found one back just before half-time when a free-kick was laid off on the edge of the penalty area and the low-drilled effort found the bottom-right corner. The second period was a bit staider compared to the first half, and it took until the sixty fifth minute before another goal was scored, the home side getting a seventh when Mark Heffernan headed home a John O’Dwyer cross. Billy O’Connor got on the scoresheet ten minutes from time when he found the top-corner from close range after Heffernan’s pulls-back on the end-line. The visitors finished off the scoring when they capitalised on a defensive mistake in our back-line with five minutes remaining, but it made no significant impact on the final scoreline.
TSDL Youths Report 2nd December 2023 Match Reports
Munster Junior Cup 3rd Round
Clonmel Town 0 – 4 Cashel Town
Cashel Town have been in flying form in both local and national competition with this youth’s team this season, and that continued on Saturday when they progressed to the final sixteen of the Munster Youths Cup with a good win away to Clonmel Town. It was a close affair early on where both teams battled to gain control of the game, with the hosts enjoying the better share of possession and pressing their opposition for the first fifteen minutes, creating a few half chances but nothing of real threat to the visitor’s goal. Eventually the away side began to assert themselves and a poor clearance by the hosts resulted in a shot by Niall Hallissey from outside the box whistling into the bottom right corner of the net, to put Cashel a goal up in the twentieth minute. After the restart both teams continued to battle for control of the game with Cashel now more dominant. Right before half time whistle a chance broke to Artem Izhko, and he slammed home to double the visitor’s advantage. After the break Clonmel tried hard to get back into the game, but a quick breakaway ten minutes into the second half resulted in Callum Butler putting a third goal into the Clonmel net, giving the home side a mountain to climb. Cashel having the three-goal cushion continuously pushed for a fourth and added it fifteen minutes from time when Alex Richtor finished off some good build up play, to ensure his side ran out by four goal winners on the day.
TSDL Youths Division 2
Two Mile Borris 3 – 2 Galbally United
Borris had another good win on Saturday in the Second Division when they overcame Galbally United by the odd goal in five at a cold but dry Newhill Park. Starting quickly, the hosts took the lead in the fifteenth minute through Conor Ryan, who turned out to be a constant threat throughout the game. But Galbally weren’t rolling over and gave as good as they got for the remainder of the half, before levelling matters just before the break. Stung by this, the home side came back out all guns blazing in the second period and it was barely five minutes old, when they retook the lead with a terrific goal from Eric Garcia. They stayed pushing, and Ryan got his second with a thunderbolt to the top corner to put Borris two ahead just after the hour mark. Galbally to their credit, responded well and pulled one back with fifteen minutes to go to make it a very nervy finish for the home side, but they just about held on to take all three points.
Cullen Lattin 2 – 3 Clonmel Town
On a cool, crisp December day this game showed off everything good about youth football in Tipperary. From the start both sides showed their intent and this led to a very open game. It was the visitors who took the lead in the nineteenth minute from a poor clearance when Isaac De Silva netted from just inside the eighteen-yard box. This spurred Cullen into life and ten minutes later they scored an equaliser that would have graced any game anywhere when George Maher skipped past two midfielders and unleashing a piledriver to the top corner from all of twenty-five yards out. This was no more than the visitors deserved and now it was very much game on. Cullen were now in the ascendency and pushed hard for the lead goal with the visitors still dangerous on the counter attack. Two minutes before the break, the hosts were awarded a free on the edge of the Clonmel box, but rather than scoring, the away side broke downfield chasing a long clearance, and Jack Burns won the foot race before finishing to put the visitors two goals to one up at half time, a lead which slightly flattered them. The second half saw the home side come out of the blocks with clear intent and began to play a good passing football looking for gaps that might appear. The pressure paid off ten minutes in when John O Brien slipped a superb ball to Javier Serrano who curled a left footed daisy cutter inside the keepers right hand post and levelled the game. This was no more than Cullen deserved and now it looked like they would kick on and claim a winner. Despite hitting the crossbar and post and the Town keeper forced into making two good saves, as well as having a goal chalked off for offside, they just could not find that elusive lead goal. And three minutes from time, they paid for their profligacy, when Isaac de Silva somehow found himself alone in the penalty area and he forced home his shot despite Howard in the Cullen goal getting a hand to it. An unlikely winner but that is how football goes.