TSDL Premier League 5th May 2024 Match Reports
Clonmel Celtic 0 – 1 St Michael’s
Not winning the TSDL Premier League title last season stung St Michael’s, but the Tipperary town side made up for it on Saturday night, when they wrested back the league from holders Peake Villa with a win on the bypass in Clonmel. But the hosts Clonmel Celtic made the Saints battle hard for the positive result last night that saw them crowned champions again. In the end it took a single goal from the penalty spot to separate the sides, but it proved to be enough to spark celebrations among the travelling supporters. It was a good quality first half that saw Adrian Walsh deny Darren Sweeney on twenty minutes, while at the other end a chance that fell to Joey Mulcahy was easily saved by Fabian Kerton. The home side probably shaded a tight first half that ended scoreless. The second period continued in a similar trend, with the sides sharing possession but the turning point came on the hour mark, when the visitors were awarded a spot kick. Mulcahy converted to give his side the vital breakthrough. There are not many better teams around at defending a single goal lead, but Celtic were very close within five minutes to getting level, when Peter O’Dowd rattled the underside of the crossbar. As the home side probed for a leveller and began to chase the game, they left themselves vulnerable at times, and Rhys O’Regan nearly made the game safe in injury with a shot that hit the post. In the end the one goal was enough as the final whistle sounded and St Michaels were crowned champions. Jim Carr accepted the trophy and gave a gracious acceptance speech acknowledging the vital contributions of referees in the local game while also appreciating the support of his sides backroom team throughout the season.
Cahir Park 3 – 0 Two Mile Borris
There was a real feel of an end of season game between these two side in Cahir. The sun shone and the home side got off to the perfect start, when they took the lead in the sixth minute, thanks to an effort by Willie Dunne. The striker showed a sure first touch when played into the area, and he drilled his side low into the net. After that the home side controlled the game, but they gave up a perfect opportunity to Borris to level, when they conceded a penalty kick in the twentieth minute. However, the Newhill side were unable to take advantage, with the spot kick coming back off the upright and was cleared away to safety. Borris had a number of chances to rectify this miss in the ten minutes after, but they didn’t take them. And they rued the misses when Cahir added a second goal five minutes before the break, thanks to a wonder strike by veteran defender Christopher Higgins which flew from the edge of the area into the top corner of the net. This gave his side a good footing for the second half, which was played at a much more sedate pace. Both teams probed and prodded, but they had to wait until thirteen minutes from time, before the hosts made the points safe with a third goal, this time seeing Niall Daly heading home from close in, to seal the win.
Bansha Celtic 1 – 3 Peake Villa
They may have relinquished their Premier League title the evening before, but Peake Villa still put in a very professional performance in Bansha on Sunday to take all three points, and leave the home side still staring at a possible relegation from the top division. Peake dominated the early exchanges and had a couple of chances but Shane Egan in the host’s goal was equal to them, until ten minutes before the break, when a mistake in the defence allowed Ronan Mc Guire in to score. It looked like that might be the only goal in the half, but just before the break, Stephen Carroll dispossessed a defender and scored to make it two, and give his side a cushion. The home side did continue to battle however, and pulled a goal back on the hour mark, when Tony Egan put one in the top corner from all of twenty-five yards out. They then had a great chance to equalise Tony Egan hit the side netting from close range ten minutes later. But the Thurles side made the game safe on five minutes from time, when Stephen Carroll scored with a left footed shot to the corner, to secure the points.
Paddy Purtill Cup, semi final 5th
Vee Rovers 1 – 4 Cullen Lattin
Cullen Lattin came from behind to put in a dominant performance and bag themselves a place in this year’s Paddy Purtill Cup final, knocking out Vee Rovers on their home patch in Clogheen. The game started tight enough with no real chances before Shane McGrath put the hosts up from the penalty spot in the twenty fifth minute, after Fiachra O Grady was taken down inside the box. But that advantage only lasted eight minutes, before Cullen were awarded a penalty of their own, and Mickie O Brien was the man who held his nerve and converted the penalty to level matters. That was how the game went to the break, and in the fifty third minute the visitors took the lead when Tony O Neill cut in from the right and his right footed shot ended up in the bottom corner. This led to a period of dominance from the away side, and seventeen minutes from time, Fiachra O Grady converted from close range after some good build up play. The game was finally wrapped up in the last minute when sixteen year old Havi Serrano finished the scoring, heading home from close range.
Paddy Purtill Cup, semi final 5th May 2024 Match Reports
Peter O Reilly Cup Final 3rd May 2024 Match Reports
Peter O Reilly Cup Final 3rd May
Donohill and District 2 – 1 Clonmel Celtic
There were huge celebrations in West Tipperary on Friday night, when Donohill overcame Clonmel Celtic, to win the Peter O Reilly Cup final, their first silverware in a number of years. The game was played in a pristine Cooke Park, and the local side came out of the blocks flying, playing exceptionally well in opening minutes, and were rewarded in the fifth minute when Alan O Dwyer was brought down outside box, and Seanie Ryan stepped up to slam home the resulting free kick. This eased any nerves that Donohill had, and saw them dominate for the next half hour, with Dinny Crosse making himself a constant thorn in the side of the Celtic defence. Five minutes before the break, it looked like Crosse had bagged a second, but his shot was brilliantly saved. Unfortunately for Celtic, the rebound fell to the feet of Seanie Ryan who followed in and bagged his second of game. In the second half the dynamics of the game changed, and Celtic came out a different side. They dominated possession and chances, and played excellent football. But man of the match Ned Lowry marshalled the Donohill defence brilliantly, denying Celtic time and again. Ten minutes from the end, Celtics pressure finally paid off, when Cillian O Brien found the net to bring his team right back into the game. In those final minutes, Jack Aylward was caused Donohill all kinds of problems and deep into time added on, he had a free kick that went agonisingly wide. To Donohill’s relief, seconds later the final whistle blew and sparked wild celebrations from the supporters of the victors.
TSDL Second Division 5th May 2024 Match Reports
Rosegreen Rangers 1 – 1 Powerstown
This was a good game between two teams whose seasons are winding down with Powerstown already having gained promotion, and the hosts destined for the drop to the Third Division next season. The game had a number of early chances, but the hosts finally opened the scoring in the twenty fifth minute, when Keith Bergin fired home with a shot from twenty yards out that finished up in the bottom corner of the net. Ten minutes later, Powerstown got an equaliser when they won a corner and saw the home sides defence rooted to the spot as they scorer with a well taken header. That was how the game went to the break, and the intensity died a little in the second half, with neither side creating anything of note, and no more goals being scored