FAI Junior Cup quarter finals, 3rd March 2024 Match Reports
Clonmel Celtic 0 – 2 Cockhill Celtic
It was good while it lasted, but Clonmel Celtic’s run in this year’s FAI Junior Cup came to an end on Sunday when they went down by two goals to nil, against Donegal side Cockhill Celtic, the favourites to win this year’s competition. Though no doubt disappointed Celtic can’t have too many complaints about the outcome as on the day they were second best to a strong and well drilled side. It was a lively opening to a game that drew a fine attendance and the home side gave as good as they got in the early stages. Indeed, they had the first effort on goal when Philly Drohan did well on the left and his cross found Jack Purcell but his first-time effort was easily gathered by Hugh Doherty. The visitors came close on nineteen minutes when Luke Rudden got on the end of a cross, but his header was tipped over by Fabian Kerton in the home goal. It was end to end at this stage, though Celtic were finding it hard to create any clearcut chances against a resolute Cockhill rearguard. The visitors hit the front on thirty-one minutes, and once again it was a cross field ball that undone the home side. Rudden was on the end of it, and his header back across goal was tapped in by Jack Mullan. It was a vital breakthrough and Donegal side saw out the first half relatively comfortably. Celtic almost created a chance just on half time when Peter O’Dowd got on the end of Philly Drohan’s cross but his shot was well blocked.
The Clonmel side were still very much in this tie as the second half kicked off, but the game deteriorated into a scrappy affair bereft of any quality. Both sides battled hard but the game was littered with stoppages. Cockhill put the game to bed on sixty nine minutes when Luke Rudden got on the end of a centre and fired home to effectively seal the win for the Donegal outfit. Celtic made some changes in an effort to get back into the tie but the visitors snuffed out their challenge and saw out the game in relative comfort. Celtic will regret that they were unable to produce their best on such a big day but you would have to credit Cockhill for that as it was very much mission accomplished for them.
Gorey Rangers 1 – 1 Peake Villa (AET Gorey win 3 – 0 on penalties)
There was heartbreak for the second weekend in a row for Thurles side Peake Villa when they exited the FAI Junior Cup on penalties in Wexford on Sunday afternoon. The game itself was an ultra cagey affair, with both sides giving each other the height of respect in the early stages. But then the tie caught fire in the tenth minute, when the home side took the lead after some brilliant play down the right side, saw Adam Territt cut in and score. But while they were still celebrating, Villa hit straight back, and good build-up play between Keith Cahill and Pippy Carrol, saw Carroll find Ronan Mc Guire in space in the area, and he found the bottom corner to the delight of the travelling crowd. Unfortunately the game settled back down after that, with defences on top, and there were no more chances of note in the first half. The second period seen Villa press higher and they were nearly rewarded when Ronan McGuire had a great chance ten minutes in, but his effort was well saved by the Gorey Keeper. Gorey did get back into the game near the final whistle and came close only for a great defensive clearance by Dale Loughnane, but in the end it finished level at one all.
Extra Time could not separate the sides with the best effort for Villa falling to Micheal Quinlan right at the death with his effort just going wide of the post. Penalties are a lottery, and it wasn’t to be Villa’s day missing their first three, while the Wexford side were deadly from twelve yards, and this saw them through to the semi-final for the second year in a row on a three to nil scoreline.
Villa FC 2 – 0 St Michael’s
Saints lost out on Sunday to the 2022 winners Villa F.C who were worthy winners on the day but Saints will rue a good spell towards the end of the first half that didn’t yield any reward as the part of the game that may have cost them a chance of victory. It was nervy edgy start with both sides looking for a way to get the opening goal. Jimmy Carr, playing a captain’s role had an inspiring period in the period before half time winning numerous frees and putting in a series of good crosses that Saints really should have capitalised on. For the first half hour the Wexford side were reduced to hopeful long balls Aaron O’Connor but they came to nought all too often. The defining moment of the first half came eleven minutes before the break, when Villa won a free on the left and Saints goalkeeper Adrian Walsh misjudged his punch away, allowing Conor Kilgallon to head home a soft goal, which was massive in what was always going to be a tight game. Villa were quick off the blocks in the second half and took control of the game, pressing the TSDL side back for long periods. Crucially they were winning the vital second balls and on sixty-seven minutes, sunk a dagger in the hearts of the Saints when a good move saw Dylan Walsh finish to the net. This deflated the Tipperary side, but they tried hard to steady the ship. However, it all became a bit frantic and when that happens you rarely tend to get the luck you sometimes need. In the end time ran out on them, but they can be proud of their effort, not just today but over the last number of years, where they have always been a name to fear in this most brutal of competitions.
TSDL Premier League reports 3rd March 2024 Match Reports
Bansha Celtic 4 – 1 Clonmel Town
This game was switched to Clonmel as the Bansha pitch was unplayable, but Celtic brought their best form, when they dismantled a Town side that had returned to form in recent weeks. The home side did start better however, and had a header from a corner cleared off the line, in the opening minutes. But Bansha eventually worked their way back into the game, especially on the counter attack, and it was a quick breakaway from another Town corner, that allowed them break up field and find Adam Hennessy, and he made no mistake with a rasping finish to the roof of the net, midway through the half. That was how it stayed until half time, but they added a second three minutes into the second period, when Daniel O Dwyer again beat the home keeper with a rasping shot from the edge of the area. Stunned by this, the hosts had no response, and Bansha put the game to bed on the hour mark, when a header from a cross came back off the post, and Daniel O Dwyer was on hand to tap in the rebound for his second, and his sides third of the game. They were rampant at this stage and added a fourth fifteen minutes from time with a finish at the back post by Tony Egan. Town got a consolation goal five minutes from time when after the Bansha keeper made a great save, the ball rebounded to Juan Arguedas, and he finished off the rebound from six yards out. But it was too little too late and Celtic picked up the three precious points.
Two Mile Borris 0 – 2 Cahir Park
Cahir Park moved up to second place in the TSDL Premier League table with a win away in Newhill Park on Sunday afternoon. The game was evenly fought, despite the visitors being much more physical than the younger Borris side. Both sides had early chances, but the deadlock was finally broken in the twentieth minute when a John O Brien cross into the Borris area was met on the volley by Craig Guiry, whose excellent shot fizzed past the motionless home keeper. After that for the rest of the half, the better chances fell to the home side, with Daniel Rafter forcing a good save from the Park keeper on the hour mark, and a Loran O Toole header going narrowly wide just before the break. The second half followed much the same pattern as the latter half of the first, with Cahir happy to give up possession and look for opportunities to hit on the break. Daniel Rafter did have a chance to level the game twenty minutes from time, but his free flew inches the wrong side of the post. The game was finally decided five minutes from time, when Cahir were awarded a penalty kick, and Niall Dally despatched the ball to the net, to ensure they would take home all three points.
Paddy Purtill Cup, Quarter finals, 3rd March 2024 Match Reports
Cullen Lattin 2 – 0 Rosegreen Rangers
Cullen Lattin welcomed Rosegreen Rangers to Aisling Park on Sunday, in the first of the Paddy Purtill Cup quarter finals this year. The home side are flying in Division One at the moment, and carried that form into the game, dominating early possession, but finding it hard to fashion a clear chance against a resolute Rangers rearguard. Mark Riordan finally made the breakthrough in the twenty seventh minute, after Tony O Neill had done well on the left and cut in to find Riordan unmarked at the back post, and his powerful shot flew past helpless keeper. Nine minutes later, they made it two, when Fiachra O Grady headed a cross down to Thomas O Mahoney and he finished well. The visitors made things even harder for themselves before the break, when they were reduced to ten men, but the home side were not able to add any more goals. Cullen thought they would put the game to bed easily enough against a ten-man Rosegreen side in the second half, but that wasn’t the case and it was a very flat second half with both sides going through the motions on a very sticky pitch. The best chance of the half fell to Cullen’s Micheál Elligott, but the visiting keeper got a finger to his header to deny the Cullen striker with an excellent save. In the end, two were enough to see Cullen through to the semi-finals.
Cashel Town 3 – 1 Suirside
Division One league leaders Cashel Town had to come from behind to overcome Suirside in a tough game at Palmershill on Sunday afternoon. The visitors took the lead in just the second minute, when a looping shot from John Alan Lowes deceived the home keeper after a corner was cleared to the edge of the box. Knocked back by this, the home side slowly worked themselves back into the game, and finally equalised in the twenty-eight minute when Kyle Ryan fired home from six yards out. There were no more goals in the first half, and the second was a very tight affair, mostly played around the middle of the pitch, with neither side really creating a clear-cut chance. But Town have been showing a resilience this season that was missing last year, and stayed plugging away until the got the opportunity to take the lead, when Lee Riordan unleashed an unstoppable shot from all of twenty-five yards into the top corner of the net. This forced Suirside to push for an equaliser, but they were caught on the break in the final minutes, with Riordan slipping Shane Tarrant through to finish into an empty net, and assure his side a place in the semi-finals.
Vee Rovers 5 – 3 Moyglass United
These two teams played out an eight-goal thriller in Clogheen before the home side emerged victorious in a game that took a while to get going, but left the watching supporters more than satisfied by the end. The early part of the tie saw both sides vie to gain control of the middle of the pitch, but they struggled to create clear chances until eight minutes before the break when a Vee corner saw Mark Haide pop up in the area and head the home side in front. The celebrations had barely died down two minutes later when Rovers added a second through Shane Mc Grath, but they weren’t able to take that two goal lead to the break, as Moyglass were awarded a penalty kick in time added on, and Jamie Morrissey reduced the deficit. Carrying on the momentum from that late first half goal, Moyglass levelled the game in the fifty third minute with an excellent strike by Keith Cleere. However, on the hour mark, the good work done by the Moyglass front line, was undone by a defensive mix up that allowed Shane Mc Grath to roll the ball into an empty net and restore Rovers lead. They looked to be home and hosed sixteen minutes from time, when Anthony Crotty belted home a screamer of a shot from outside the area, but nine minutes from time, Moyglass pulled it back to a single goal deficit when Niall Doocey took advantage of a defensive mix up in the home backline to score his sides third. But they needed to find an equaliser, and in pushing forward left gaps at the back, which were finally exploited in time added on, when a breakaway attack allowed Dylan Kennedy to round the United keeper and give his side the insurance they needed to move into the semi finals.
Galbally United 3 – 2 St Nicholas
Galbally United made up the final four in this years Paddy Purtill Cup, when they despatched St Nicholas by the odd goal in five after an entertaining game on Sunday afternoon. Going well in the league, they carried that form into the game and took the lead in the twenty fifth minute with a goal by Pa Murphy, who fired a shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the area. They made it two nine minutes before the break with a goal from Bernard O Brien after some good build up play. But the Saints battled on, and pulled a goal back just before half time when Aaron Ryan Shiner was taken down, and Jason Sutton made no mistake with the spot kick. Two minutes into the second period the visitors got a leveller through Jack Downey, who finished off an excellent cross from a free kick by Declan O Riordan. But Galbally steadied the ship, and retook the lead fifteen minutes from time, when Peter Morrissey set up Jordan Dineen and he powered home. That wasn’t the last of the drama however, and in the final five minutes, both sides were awarded penalties, with both being saved, allowing the hosts to win through in the end.
TSDL Third Division reports 3rd March 2024 Match Reports
Cahir Park 1 – 1 Ballingarry Albion
Both sides needed a win here on Sunday as things are tightening at the top of the Third Division, but in the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils with the game finishing on a goal apiece. The first twenty minutes were pretty even before the hosts started to carve out the better chances. It was a surprise therefore, when Albion took the lead in the thirty fifth minute, but Dylan Walsh converted against the run of play to put his side ahead, a lead they kept to the break. The Park though put the screws on again in the second period, and finally got their reward when Kieran Condon converted an excellent volley from the edge of the area, so secure a share of the points.
Killenaule Rovers 0 – 3 Tipperary Town
This game was played in Tipperary town, and the home side got off to a strong start when Tony Byrnes in his first outing of the season jinked past two defenders before putting the ball through the keepers’ legs, to open the scoring in the seventh minute. Confidence grew in the Tipp camp with Tudor Ignot coming close on a few occasions. They finally did get that elusive second when Jamie Ryan came up from the back and pounced with a neat finish early in the second half. Killenaule worked hard and came close a few times but Timmy Esmonde was solid between the posts and had the air of a man who was not going to be beaten. The game was wrapped up late on when Ray Kelly was introduced as a sub in the second half, and caught a strike cleanly to fly past the keeper ten minutes from time.
Burncourt Celtic 0 – 1 SC & K United
Promotion chasers Kilsheelan United visited Ballyhurrow on Sunday morning, and came away with three precious points after an intriguing game in which both sides had chances to win. Conditions were tough but both sides settled into the game, though the visitors had the better of the early exchanges. On twenty-five minutes, the game had its first major effort on goal when Marc Cagney swept up a through ball but the Kilsheelan attacker collided with him and it was deemed a penalty. However, the taker missed the target much to the relief of the home crowd, and there were no more real efforts before the break, leaving the score nil all at half time. The second half was much of the same, a tough uncompromising midfield battle, with both sides trying to eke out chances that were proving hard to come by. It looked like it may end scoreless, until eight minutes from time, when a long throw by Ruairi Doyle deflected off a Celtic player and found its way into the net, to put the visitors in front. The home side tried to get back into the tie after this, but with a lead to protect, Kilsheelan closed out the game and took the three vital points in an exciting title race.
Cahir Park 1 – 1 Ballingarry Albion
Both sides needed a win here on Sunday as things are tightening at the top of the Third Division, but in the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils with the game finishing on a goal apiece. The first twenty minutes were pretty even before the hosts started to carve out the better chances. It was a surprise therefore, when Albion took the lead in the thirty fifth minute, but Dylan Walsh converted against the run of play to put his side ahead, a lead they kept to the break. The Park though put the screws on again in the second period, and finally got their reward when Kieran Condon converted an excellent volley from the edge of the area, so secure a share of the points.
Killenaule Rovers 0 – 3 Tipperary Town
This game was played in Tipperary town, and the home side got off to a strong start when Tony Byrnes in his first outing of the season jinked past two defenders before putting the ball through the keepers’ legs, to open the scoring in the seventh minute. Confidence grew in the Tipp camp with Tudor Ignot coming close on a few occasions. They finally did get that elusive second when Jamie Ryan came up from the back and pounced with a neat finish early in the second half. Killenaule worked hard and came close a few times but Timmy Esmonde was solid between the posts and had the air of a man who was not going to be beaten. The game was wrapped up late on when Ray Kelly was introduced as a sub in the second half, and caught a strike cleanly to fly past the keeper ten minutes from time.
Burncourt Celtic 0 – 1 SC & K United
Promotion chasers Kilsheelan United visited Ballyhurrow on Sunday morning, and came away with three precious points after an intriguing game in which both sides had chances to win. Conditions were tough but both sides settled into the game, though the visitors had the better of the early exchanges. On twenty-five minutes, the game had its first major effort on goal when Marc Cagney swept up a through ball but the Kilsheelan attacker collided with him and it was deemed a penalty. However, the taker missed the target much to the relief of the home crowd, and there were no more real efforts before the break, leaving the score nil all at half time. The second half was much of the same, a tough uncompromising midfield battle, with both sides trying to eke out chances that were proving hard to come by. It looked like it may end scoreless, until eight minutes from time, when a long throw by Ruairi Doyle deflected off a Celtic player and found its way into the net, to put the visitors in front. The home side tried to get back into the tie after this, but with a lead to protect, Kilsheelan closed out the game and took the three vital points in an exciting title race.