Munster Junior Cup 1/4 final 4th February 2024 Match Reports
St Michael’s 2 – 1 Clonmel Celtic
A late late goal from veteran striker David Slattery put St Michaels into the semi-final of the Munster Junior Cup at Cooke Park on Sunday at the expense of local rivals Clonmel Celtic, who added immensely to a wonderful game of football between the two TSDL side. The visitors had a strong second half and will feel aggrieved that they didn’t at least take the tie to extra time, but they also know that when you give the Saint’s an inch, they are more than happy to take a mile. The game fizzed right from the off and Aido Walsh had to be sharp off his line to smother the ball after Peter O’Dowd had played in centre forward Browne of the Clonmel side. At the other end the home side created three good chances in as many minutes around the quarter hour mark, but Paul Breen, Ed O’Dwyer or Jimmy Carr were unable to break the deadlock. After that the game settled into a tough midfield battle with both sides giving everything and it looked like they were going to go to the break scoreless until Rhys O’Regan picked up the ball on the right and his superb left foot shot sailed past Cooney five minutes before half time, to give Michaels the lead. Celtic changed some of their personnel at the break and this gave them an extra lift but once the home side had worked out the new tactics and formations, they took back control once again. But they found it impossible to get that second goal that would have given them some breathing space, and they were punished fifteen minutes from time when Cian O’ Sullivan saw his header cross the line from a Peter O’Dowd corner kick to level the game. The goal energised Celtic and O’Sullivan almost added a second five minutes later. Saints brought in David Slattery with five minutes left, and they were under the cosh. But, as stoppage time ran down, they broke upfield and a Carr cross into the area was turned away for a corner. Just as the game seemed to be heading for extra time Joey Mulcahy’s delivery dropped for Slattery, who managed to find the corner of the net and send the Saints bench and supporters into raptures, while the Clonmel contingent sunk into desolation. They had been mugged at the death after a powerful second half display, and all they could do was watch the hosts run down the clock and record another important if at some times improbable looking victory.
FAI Junior Cup 5th Round, 3rd February 2024 Match Reports
Crumlin United FC 1 – 2 Peake Villa
Peake Villa travelled to Dublin on Saturday to play out a rematch of a game that had to be called off due to bad weather in Thurles a fortnight ago, and they came away with a good win against a very strong Crumlin United side. The game was played on un unfamiliar astro turf surface and the Dublin side started better, but it didn’t take for Villa to settle into the game and their first real chance led to the opening goal. Good play by Keith Cahill down the left saw him put in a great cross that fell to Liam McCormack at the back post, and he made no mistake scoring with a half volley in the twelfth minute. The hosts were stunned but they weren’t going to go quietly, and created a few half chances during the half, but they found Shane McGuire in the Villa goal having an inspired performance. In the end the Tipperary side saw out the half and went in at the half-time break a goal ahead. The start to the second half was hectic, and just two minutes in, Crumlin were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box. Alan McGreal stepped up to take it, but it was excellently saved by Mc Guire who dived full length to his right to keep the ball out. The Dublin side were rocked by this and Villa went on the attack and doubled their lead a minute later when a shot from Dale Loughnane was parried by the keeper and Ronan Maguire was on hand to tap in. Two nil up now, the visiting side were happy to cede possession of the ball to the hosts while looking for chances to add to their tally on the break. But Crumlin finally got a breakthrough ten minutes from the end when Dean Sutcliffe made it two goals to one. The closing minutes of the game were tense, with the hosts pushing to get an equaliser, but they found veterans Alan Leahy and Evan McCormack in fine form at the back for Villa, marshalling their defence, and they saw it out to join St Michael’s and Clonmel Celtic in the final 16 of the competition.
TSDL Premier League 4th February 2024 Match Reports
Wilderness Rovers 1 – 4 Clonmel Town
This was a tough derby game, with very little real bite, as Town roll on in mid table while the home side seem firmly rooted to the bottom and in real danger of going down at the end of the season. A double from Ben Browne in the twenty fifth and fifty fifth minutes, along with a double from Darragh Cronin just before the break, and in time added on, made sure that Town were always in control and always going to take the points in this game. Wilderness did have the ball in the Town net from the penalty spot, but it was never enough to make any real difference to the final result.
Clonmel Credit Union Tipperary Cup, 4th February 2024 Match Reports
Two Mile Borris B 1 – 3 Bansha Celtic
Borris’s seconds knew they were going to be up against it when they drew Premier Division side Bansha Celtic in the second round of this years Tipperary Cup, and although they gave a good account of themselves, the superior fitness and ability of the higher division side won out in the end. The visitors started quicker and had a number of early chances before they finally opened the scoring in the twelfth minute when Adam Hennessy finished to the net after some slick passing through the middle of the park. But not long after the home side were level when they won a corner and Martin Darmody’s cross was met with an excellent header from Louis Coughlan who rippled the onion bag. After that the sides went toe to toe, and created chances but they went in level at half time at one apiece. The hosts started the second period in lively fashion, but failed to convert the chances that came their way. This was crucial as by the hour mark the away side started to turn the screw and added a second goal with a header from Shane Egan. They took control after this and put the tie to bed ten minutes from the end when Tony Egan scored from a free kick, and then they controlled the final moments without too much bother.
Clonmel Celtic 3 – 1 Donohill and District
This was a battle in the cup between two sides close together in the middle of Division Three and ultimately it was the more clinical finishing of the home side that settled the affair. The opening score came in the thirteenth minute when a ball broke to Celtic’s Cillian O Brien in the visitor’s box and he finished well to put his side in front. They doubled their lead seven minutes later when Ben Norris crossed low in the box for Jamie Hindley to finish from close range, and took control of the rest of the first period, albeit without adding to their tally. At the start of the second half the hosts almost added to the two goal lead when Hindley broke through and hit the post. But they did get their third on the hour mark when Dominic Mendel was taken down in the box, and Jason Barnes stepped up to slot home. The visitors did keep battling and pulled a goal back twenty minutes from the end, but it was never enough to really ruffle the Celtic feathers and they ran out winners in the end.
Cashel Town 2 – 2 Killenaule Rovers (AET Killenaule Rovers win 3-1 on penalties)
This was an entertaining game between two closely matched teams, which ultimately saw Killenaule advance on penalties after the teams had shared four goals between them in regulation and extra time. Both teams started in an attacking fashion and had a series of chances each before the visitors finally took the lead ten minutes before the break when Kieran Walker took a shot outside the box, that fizzed into the bottom corner of the net. This was enough to leave them in front at half time, and when they extended their lead ten minutes into the second period after Craig Walker put away a nice move, it looked like they were going to have an easy passage into the next round. But Cashel rallied and reduced the deficit when with ten minutes remaining David O’ Dwyer netted after some nice build up play. This spurred the home side into all out attack and with just four minutes left, Ross Bonnar scored a great goal to level the tie. That pushed the game to extra time, and the best chance in the extra minutes fell to the home side, but they spurned it when scoring looked easier. With no more goals the game went to penalties, where the visitors keeper was inspired saving the first three penalties he faced, and helping his side to a three goal to one win from the spot kicks.
Suirside 3 – 0 Dualla
These two teams have met numerous times in different competitions in the last few years and some of these games have been titanic battles, but Suirside got a well deserved win here on Sunday on a relatively comfortable scoreline. The home side started the brighter and had an early opportunity to open the scoring in the fourth minute, but John O Darmody’s effort went narrowly wide. Gavin Sheehan had another good chance in the ninth minute, but again his volley went he wrong side of the post. It seemed inevitable that they would score however, and six minutes before the break they got the opening goal when Jason Coffey found an onrushing Gavin Sheehan, whose strike was parried by the Dualla keeper into the path of veteran striker Paul Kennedy and he made no mistake from just yards out. This was enough to give Suirside a half time lead, and they doubled their lead in the second minute of the second period when a Jason Coffey corner was met by the head of Kennedy to give him and his side a comfortable cushion. This left the hosts in control, but eighteen minutes from time Dualla almost pulled a goal back when a brilliant through ball put a visiting striker one on one with the home keeper, but Mark Kelly in the goal got down to make a very brave save. This shook the Ardfinnan side back into action, and they added a third goal to make sure there would be no comeback ten minutes from time, courtesy of a mistake in the visiting defence. A looping back pass was spilled by the Dualla keeper and Oisin Ryan was in hand to get the third to put his side in the hat for the next round.
TSDL First Division 4th February 2024 Match Reports
Cullen Lattin 2 – 2 Cashel Town
League leaders Cashel Town dropped their first points of the season away to a Cullen side who are battling to join them in the promotion race after the two sides shared four goals in Sunday in Aisling Park. The first period was tight with the home side having the better of the early chances, with Micheál Elligott and Darren Mc Grath going close on occasion. Cashel’s Ciaran Fitzpatrick was unlucky not to tap home at the back post ten minutes before the break, when a long Mikey Mc Dermott throw was headed on by Eoin Byrne at the near post. Ultimately however the sides went into the break level at nil all. It didn’t take long for the second half to warm up though, and the home side opened the scoring ten minutes in, when Tony O Neill flicked on a Darren Hueston kick out on and Darren Mc Grath took on the visiting defence to finish well. The away side’s chances were dented further ten minutes later when they were reduced to ten men for a bookable offence, and just before the hour mark looked holed below the water line when Micheal Elligott made it two to nil, after Tristan Stokes played wonderful ball into the box and Elligott headed home. But Cashel showed fantastic resilience and dug deep to get something from the game. Fifteen minutes from time Darragh Browne was fouled in the area, and Kyle Ryan despatched the resulting penalty to make it a one goal game again. They seemed to have undone that good work when they were further reduced to nine men, but a late Daithi Hall throw into the area was flicked on Ciaran Fitzpatrick and Browne scored from close range to the delight of the travelling contingent. That point seems to assure them of promotion back to the Premier League but they will continue to turn their thoughts to going back up as champions in the coming weeks.
Vee Rovers 1 – 1 Peake Villa
A last-minute goal for Vee Rovers kept them very much in the promotion hunt, but as good as finished any lingering hope that the away side have of catching Cashel in the Division 1 title race. The game was dominated by the weather with a strong wind blowing throughout, and when behind the visitors in the first period, ensured that the were on the front foot for most of the half. But they had to wait until the thirty fourth minute to make that pressure count when Scott Brennan opened the scoring after taking advantage of a mistake by the home keeper who inexplicably dropped the ball into Brennans path after what looked like an innocuous ball over the top. This was the only goal of the first period and the home side now had the elements on their side in the second. They attacked relentlessly but looked destined to finish the game empty handed, before Kieran Hackett fired home from a corner in the final minute of the game
TSDL Youths Report 3rd February 2024 Match Reports
FAI Youths Cup
Bridge United 2 – 0 Two Mile Borris
Borris travelled to Clare on Saturday to take on a strong Bridge United side in the fifth round of this year’s FAI Youths Cup, hoping to join fellow TSDL side Cashel Town in the last eight. Alas they faltered in the end, but gave a great account of themselves a long way from home. The home side had the better of the opening twenty minutes but the Borris defence was resolute and their keeper was in fine form. Eventually the Tipperary side started to get into the game, but just as they seemed to be getting to grips, Bridge made the breakthrough with a lovely through ball ten minutes from the half time break, that was clinically finished to the net. The TSDL side regrouped at half time and played some nice football but frustratingly could not find the net. For the last twenty minutes both teams had chances to score and the game was still on a knife edge, when the Clare side delivered the sucker punch when adding a second goal in the final twelve minutes from time to go two up. Borris threw everything they had at the hosts for the remainder of the game and thought Louis Coughlan had scored to pull a goal back, but the score was somehow disallowed. Darragh O Dwyer and John Lacy also came close but it wasn’t to be, and the visitors dropped out of the competition.
TSDL Youths Div 1
Clonmel Town 0 – 1 Cashel Town
Cashel Town kept up their recent excellent run of form by taking another three points on the road against Clonmel Town, to keep them right in the hunt for the title in the top division of Youths football in Tipperary this season. It was a closely fought affair, with the away side dominating for most of the game, but finding it hard to break down a very stubborn Town side. In the end it looked like the game would finish in a draw, until the visitors were awarded a penalty kick with four minutes left to play, and up stepped Blake Doyle Carroll to smash the ball to the net to the delight of the travelling supporters. After that it was simplt a case of keep ball for the away side and they were happy to go home with three extra points in their pockets.
TSDL Youths Div 2 Cup semi finals
SC & K United 2 – 1 Cullen Lattin
The Kilsheelan Youths produced a heroic performance here to come from behind, and with a man down to snatch a win late in extra-time and secure their place in this year’s Division Two Youths Cup final. The opening of half of this game was a tight and cagey affair, with very little separating the sides. Although both had half chances neither were able to apply that killer touch and they went into the break scoreless. The game continued in the same vein in the second period, until it looked like it had reached a turning point when the home side had a player dismissed just after the hour mark. Minutes later Cullen fired to the net and things looked ominous for the hosts. But they dug deep, and with ten minutes remaining Gus Nolan’s in-swinging corner kick found its way directly into the back of the net to give us the equaliser and send the game to extra-time. It continued tight throughout this period and looked destined for penalty kicks. But with just four minutes remaining Preston Vickers popped up with a stunning first-time effort, off his weaker foot, from the edge of the penalty area that found the bottom left-corner of the Cullen net, much to the delight of the home fans. This was enough to settle the game and the home side will be looking forward to a final in the weeks ahead.
TSDL Youths Div 2 Cup semi finals
Two Mile Borris 2 – 0 Clonmel Town
Borris’ seconds entertained Clonmel Town’s second side on Saturday in Newhill to fight for a place in the Division Two Cup final, and both teams played out a very enjoyable tie in front of their respective supporters. The two teams started well with a few chances each, but it was the hosts who broke the deadlock after great work from Aaron and Lorcan in midfield Cian was slipped through and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the far corner to put Borris in front. It was nip and tuck up to halftime with Clonmel applying strong pressure and playing some good football but Borris remained strong and went in ahead at the break. Borris started the 2nd half at a blistering pace and doubled their lead inside 5 minutes when Conor Ryan cut inside and buried past the Clonmel keeper giving him no chance. It was a nervy last 30 minutes with Clonmel looking for a lifeline back into the game and only for some great defending would have pulled one back. Borris held out well for the remainder of the game to take the tie. We now look forward to a Cup Final in a couple of weeks time which is sure to be an entertaining affair. A great achievement for this very young Borris side. Well done to players and management and best of luck in the final.
Division 2 Youths League
Galbally United 0 – 5 Mullinahone
The away side were always on top here against a depleted Galbally side, and once they opened the scoring ten minutes before the break through a Dylan Meagher strike, it looked like there was only going to be one winner. In fairness to the home side, Anthony Murphy almost levelled, on the stroke of half time, but the home side went in a goal behind. A three goal blitz after half time sealed the win when Michael Cuddihy, Liam Doyle and Pierce Vaughan all scored, and a Colin O’Brien goal five minutes from time added the cherry on the top of a good win for Mullinahone.