TSDL Premier League 5th February 2023 Match Reports
Wilderness Rovers 4 – 1 Vee Rovers
This was a massive game for both clubs on Sunday morning, with the home side battling to cement the Premier League place they won last season, and the visitors knowing they desperately needed points to try to stay in the division they’ve graced over the past number of years. And by the end, it was the home side that was happiest, despatching Vee with aplomb. They went at their opponents right from the beginning of the game, putting together some fantastic passages of play before they opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Sean Brown found the net after a brilliant Cillian Hogan assist. This gave them the impetus to really go after the visitors and they forced them back time after time in a dominant first half performance that only lacked a second goal. The second half began where the first finished off, and the second goal finally came, albeit by the direct route, when a long kickout by Wildies keeper Oisin Lavin played a ball in behind the Vee Rovers centre backs for Cillian Hogan to capitalize with a smart headed effort over the advancing keeper. Not satisfied with a two goal lead they pushed for a third, and got it when Danny Hogan found Graham Kelly alone in the box and he put the chance away coolly. With nineteen minutes left to play, they made it four, as they threatened to run riot, with Niall Kelly finishing off some good work by Brown at the top end of the pitch. To their credit, the Vee side never stopped trying to get back into the game, and although the final result was a foregone conclusion at that stage, eight minutes from time, they did pull a goal back, to make it four goals to one. But they were never going to see that as anything more than a consolation effort as the home side closed the game out for a very important win.
St Michael’s 1 – 0 Two Mile Borris
It might have seemed strange that Premier League title holders St Michael’s went into this game starting behind their opponents from Borris, but they had played a few games less this season due to commitments in other competitions. By the end of the game, they had leap frogged them, but they were made to work very hard against a young but competitive Borris side, who look to be bearing the fruits of some good foundation work at underage level over the past number of years. In the end it was a fortuitous goal that separated the sides, with a DJ Cremins header being deflected that wrong footed the Borris keeper to give the Saints a one goal to nil lead at half time. The second half was mostly played in the middle third of the pitch, with a lot of stop start play that never really allowed either side to build up a head of steam, and chances that were already few and far between constantly went a begging. The one first half goal ended up being enough to separate the sides and Michael’s began what they hope will be a steady climb up the standings between now and season end.
Bansha Celtic 2 – 3 Cashel Town
This was destined to be a huge result for either and both teams, when Cashel travelled to Bansha with both sides the wrong end of the Premier League table. And after some sharp criticism in recent weeks, the young Cashel squad felt that they had something to prove, and did so, coming out on the right end of a five goal thriller. The visitors got off to a dream start and had the ball in the net inside the first thirty seconds, when a long ball fell kindly to the feet of Kyle Ryan, and he made no mistake from six yards out. Still shell shocked from giving that early goal away, the home side were two behind within five minutes, when once again they didn’t deal with a direct ball into the area, and Kevin Keating smashed home after a couple of blocked efforts eventually saw the ball land at his feet. The home side eventually settled down and got into the game, and pulled a goal back on the half hour from a Tony Egan free kick from all of twenty five yards out. This started a period of domination for the home side and it was all Bansha for the rest of the half, but Cashel defended well and went to the break a goal to the good. The break seemed to kill the hosts momentum, and the visitors started the half well. But they were caught on the break just before the hour mark when Darren McGrath forced the ball home from close range. It was nip and tuck from then until the end, with both sides desperately needing the goal that would give them all three points, but that eventually fell to the away side, and Celtic will be kicking themselves when they look back as the reason why. Poor defending caused confusion in the home box, and after some scrambling and scuffed shots, eventually the keeper was beaten by a deflected effort, to the delight of the visiting team and their supporters. Both teams will still face a slog to stay up across the rest of the season, but Cashel’s journey will feel just a little lighter after this win.
Clonmel Town 1 – 0 Peake Villa
A Lee Costello penalty twenty minutes from time was enough to give Clonmel Town all three points in the big Premier League clash against Peake Villa at the Dr Pat O Callaghan sports complex last Sunday. Peake started the game without their talisman striker Pippy Carroll who is out injured, and this aided the home side in dominating the first half, with Rhys O Reagan the tormentor in chief as he forced the visiting defence into some last ditch defending. In the twenty eight minute he looked to have been upended in the box but his claims were waved away, and just two minutes later Peake missed a glorious opportunity to go in front when Dale Loughnanne did brilliantly to evade two Town defenders to pull the back but with the goal at his mercy Kieron Hennessy scuffed his shot wide. As the game flowed over and back the away side were almost made to pay for that miss, when Jamie Ahearne was tripped in the box, and a penalty awarded, only for the Villa custodian Willie Tierney to be equal to Alan O Donnell and save the penalty with his feet. Jack O Donnell and Lee Costello then had efforts on goal but they never troubled Tierney as the sides went in at half time all square. It was the Thurles side who started the second half the better, and in the fifty seventh minute, Evan Comerford did brilliantly to deny Jack Ryan Carey, before the follow up shot from Dylan Cody was cleared off the line by Jamie Ahearne. Peake then thought they had the ball in the net when Cian McCormack managed to get up at the back post but his header from a Darragh Burn header hit the side netting. These missed chances seem to reenergise the home side and in the sixty fourth minute Jack O Donnell saw an effort from a Craig Guiry knock down scream inches wide. Minutes later Tierney was on hand again to push away an excellent Lee Costello free kick. Town were now dominating proceedings and were forcing Peake to concede a number of corners, one of which led to a second penalty decision. Lee Costello didn’t pass up the opportunity this time, as he buried the ball into the left hand corner of the net, to give the hosts the precious lead. The last twenty minutes were played at a frantic pace with both sides fully committed to the cause. Town nearly added a second, when Jack O Donnell was fouled on the edge of the box but once again Willie Tierney was equal to Lee Costello’s effort. Town introduced a number of substitutes late on, and the fresh legs proved decisive as they held on for a massive three points in their quest to win a first league title since 2011.
TSDL First Division 5th February 2023 Match Reports
Peake Villa 1 – 1 Tipperary Town
Peake Villas second team bounced back from provincial action last weekend, to entertain league leaders Tipperary Town on Sunday afternoon, and came out with a draw that will have put a serious dent into the visitor’s title hopes. It was a highly entertaining encounter with a lot at stake for both sides, especially as the away side knew a win would edge them closer to that coveted league win and promotion back to the top table of Tipperary football. But at the other end, the hosts are perilously close to the relegation zone, and that was enough to spur them into producing a magnificent performance. Both sides played good passing football in what was a good opening half, but although each team had some decent half chances, neither did enough to trouble the opposing goalkeepers and the game went to the break level at nil all. The second half was a more open affair, and the away side took the lead five minutes after the hour mark, when Vinny Godfrey scored with a fine header. To Villa’s credit, they didn’t sit back and took the game to Tipp and were rewarded in the seventy fourth minute, when a Jack Condon free kick was headed into the net by the Tipp defender for an own goal. Both sides went for it in the last twenty minutes with some great chances being created at both ends, but it wasn’t to be with both teams guilty of some good chances missed. In the end, a share of the spoils was a fair result, and the drama that is the First Division title and relegation races, carry on for at least another week.
Clonmel Town 2 – 1 Mullinahone
Clonmel Town took all three points here, after a late Harry O Connor penalty was enough to seal the victory after hard fought game in Ferryhouse, that also condemns the away side to relegation back to Division Two a year after the joy of promotion. Town were on top at the start and with eleven minutes on the clock, Sean Kenny sent an unstoppable shot into the top corner to put the hosts a goal up. They had chances to extend their lead but a great save by the Mullinahone keeper from a James Power header kept them at bay. Oisín Looney went close again only for the crossbar to save the away team, but as the game wore on, Mullinahone were starting to grow into it, but just couldn’t add the necessary quality in front of goal to get reward for their good build up play, and they went to the break a goal behind. The early part of the second half was more evenly contested with Mullinahone becoming very threatening on the break. The hosts defence though were holding firm and a breakaway from James O Reilly saw his effort from all of thirty yards once again rattle the crossbar in the fifty third minute. Within minutes however, the away side got their equaliser when a move down the left was excellently crossed in by Alex Maher and finished to the net from close in. This sparked the home side back into life, but they had to wait until two minutes before the end to get the winner, after they were awarded a penalty, and Harry O Connor stepped up to rifle it home into the top corner. It would prove to be enough as a relieved home side were happy to hear the final whistle leaving with all three points.
TSDL Second Division 5th February 2023 Match Report
Dualla 2 – 1 Galbally United
Dualla and Galbally played out a thriller in Dualla on Sunday morning, as both teams knew that three points would go a long way to putting them in prime position to not just be promoted, but even take the Second Division title. From the off the home side hunted in packs and pushed high up the pitch, and were rewarded early on after great work from the midfield saw the ball played between the visiting keeper and centre backs, who were beaten by Tossy Ryan, who had timed his run perfectly to slot the ball home. The visitors though had chances of their own, and looked very dangerous especially from set pieces throughout the game, forcing good saves from the home custodian Luke Kevin on a number of occasions. But late in the half, the hosts added to their tally and punished the poor finishing of the away side, when Spanner O Dwyer found the ball at his feet, right on the penalty spot, before opening his body out and burying the ball to the roof of the net with a brilliant finish. Just before the break it was nearly three after a Micheál Barron free kick hit the crossbar, but the home side went in, happy with their half’s work. After the break the league leaders came out with guns blazing, pushing high up the pitch and attacking with numbers, soon getting on the score sheet through a great strike from the edge of the box. They continued to pin back the home side, and for most of the final twenty minutes, camped themselves around the home area. But Dualla held their nerve, and with the aid of a late stunning save from Luke Kevin in the goal, took the points and ascended past their opponents to the top of the table on Sunday night.
Cullen Lattin 1 – 0 St Nicholas
Cullen welcomed neighbours St Nicholas to Aisling Park, for yet another derby in the Second Division, with the home side on a bit of a late title run, and the away side looking to get back to winning ways after a defeat last weekend. The home side had the brighter of the early exchanges, but they were finding it hard to beat the experienced Mark Lowry in the Saints goal. Darragh O Brien played in Micheàl Elligott in the twelfth minute, but Lowry saved with his feet, and Tony O Neill thought he had opened the scoring ten minutes later when Jack O Halloran’s cross to the back post, found him in space, but again the veteran keeper was up to the task of keeping him out. The away side came into the game a bit after this and has a succession of corner and free kicks that Jason Sutton and Aaron Ryan Shiner delivered well into the box but Cullens defences stood tall, ensuring that the game went to the half time break scoreless. In the early stages of the second half a mix up in the home defence, allowed Ryan Shiner to lift the ball over home keeper, but Mickie O Brien’s goal line clearance kept the game all square. The deadlock was finally broken five minutes after the hour mark, when Dan O Dwyer found Micheàl Elligott in the box, and though his initial strike was once again saved, the rebound fell for Tony O Neill who calmly put in the net while under pressure. This spurred the away side on in the last quarter of the game, and for the last ten minutes the hosts had to soak up a lot of pressure, but they dealt with all that Nicholas could throw at them, and recorded a well earned one goal win.
Cashel Town 0 – 0 Suirside
Both teams really needed the three points from this game, but in the end, they were both disappointed in having to settle for a nil all draw that really didn’t have a lot for either set of supporters to cheer. After a great start to the season, Suirside’s title and promotion aspirations have fallen away, while the home side are growing increasingly likely to slip through the relegation trap door. This scoreless draw saw very few chances created in either half. The home side did have a goal disallowed for offside in the first half, and they missed a couple of half chances near the end, but the visitors had the best chance in the final minute, that was missed from close range, summing up the day that both teams had.
TSDL Third Division 5th February 2023 Match Reports
Moyglass United 2 – 1 Kilsheelan United
Moyglass United’s win in this game, kept their promotion hopes alive for another while, but effectively ended those of their opponents, who have fallen away in recent times, after they had put themselves in a good position to rectify the relegation that they suffered last season. The home side started very strong and had a few early chances, before they opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute, when a long kick out from David McCormack was flicked on by Darragh Hurley, to Brian Delahunty who hit a neat shot to the bottom corner. This was the only goal in a nervy first half, but the hosts doubled their advantage twelve minutes into the second period when Stephen Holohan scored an absolute cracker from all of twenty five yards out, curling a sweet effort into the top corner. Kilsheelan improved after this and started getting a bit of forward momentum, finally getting a goal back eight minutes from time, when Brandon Cagney scored, but the home side held out until the end to seal the three points.
Donohill and District 2 – 1 Killenaule Rovers
The home side here but a dent in Killenaule’s promotion hopes, and gave themselves a small chance of going up themselves when they pulled off a deserved victory after a tough battle on Sunday morning in West Tipperary. The the home side had a lot of the ball in first half but missed chance after chance, before getting caught on the break six minutes before half time, when the visitors were awarded a penalty that was fired to the net by Conor Sinnott. That left Killenaule a goal to the good at the break, but again the home side dominated the ball in the second period and finally got a gilt edged chance for an equaliser when they were awarded a penalty kick of their own, nine minutes in. But the visiting keeper was up to the task and kept his side in front with an excellent save. But twenty minutes from time, the pressure on the away defence finally took its toll and Dinny Crosse got an excellent equaliser. Killenaule battled hard to try to retake the advantage, but ten minutes from time, a third penalty of the game was awarded, a second for the home side, but once again it was missed. However, almost immediately they made up for the miss when Crosse found Paudie Bradshaw who scored a stunning goal to win the game for the home side.
Burncourt Celtic 0 – 2 Two Mile Borris
Two Mile Borris made the trip to Burncourt on Sunday morning chasing three points to keep themselves in touch with the top of the Division Three table, and went home with all three points after scoring goals early and late in the game. They started the stronger, and after a succession of corners, Darren Flood finally put the away team ahead when he finished well at the near post. The home side were unlucky not to go in even at half time when a shot from Alex Meaney just went past the post. During a rather dull second half, neither side ever really tested either keeper until with ten minutes to go, a shot from the edge of the box brought a good save from the Borris keeper. Nevertheless, in time added on, Cathal Mc Callgon scored the insurance goal for the away side, after blocking down a Burncourt clearance to make it two goals to nil, and secure the all important points.
TSDL Youths 5th February 2023 Match Report
TSDL Youths Division 1
Clonmel Celtic 3 – 0 Slievenamon Celtic
After their first league defeat of the season, Clonmel Celtic were determined last Saturday to get back to winning ways, and did so with a comfortable three goal win over a Slievenamon Celtic side that has been showing some very good form of late themselves. The home side started brightly and created most of the early chances, but an inspired performance by Kyle Grant in the visitors’ goal denied both Alex Greene and Michael Prendergast’s attempts to opening the scoring. Their patience was rewarded however in the twenty seventh minute, when Max Ryan found Julian Kerton outside the box and Kerton fired home to the bottom corner. Three minutes later they doubled their lead when they won a corner and Jack Lawlor headed home Paddy Ormonde’s cross at the far post. This was how they went to the break, and in the early part of the second half, they dominated the game, scoring a third just before the hour mark. This time it was all Max Ryan, as he cut in from the left and lashed home a shot that gave the keeper no chance. The visitors did continue to battle, and had a couple of half chances, but nothing that really worried the home sides defence and the Clonmel side took the points in the end.
Cullen Lattin 5 – 3 Clonmel Town
Playing each other for the second time in a couple of weeks Cullen and Clonmel Town played another high scoring entertaining game on Saturday afternoon in front of a vocal crowd of supporters from both sides. Playing against the elements the home side raced into a two-goal lead inside the first half hour, with Tristan Stokes scoring the first after some good build up play and Dylan Mc Grath scoring the second after a well worked corner kick routine. But they seemed to take their foot of the gas before half time and allowed Town back into the game, when they scored eight minutes from the break. Stand in goalie John O Brien then had to pull off an excellent save to keep it his sides lead by the time they went off, and they seemed to take the funk with them onto the early part of the second period, with Town levelling the game within the first ten minutes. This seemed to finally shake the home side from their torpor, and they regained control of the game, by adding two more goals within a ten-minute period. First is was Javier Seranno who scored after bursting behind the Clonmel defence, and then Paddy Downey made it four with a brilliant strike from outside the box. But again, they got caught against the run of play for the away side to bring it back to four goals to three, before straight from the kick off, Tom Ryan Bob with his fourth assist of the day sent Tristan Stokes away to round the goalie and make it five and assure his side of the points. A long awaited but much deserved league win for the home side.
TSDL Youths Division Two
Cashel Town 4 – 0 Mullinahone
Cashel Town maintained their grip on the top of Division Two of the Youths league, with a four goal win over a young Mullinahone side on Saturday. They were two up at the break thanks to a twelfth minute goal by Niall Hallisey, and a strike by Paraic Ryan just after the half hour mark. Two more in the second period from Alex O Sullivan and Blake Doyle Carroll ensured that the home side would finish the weekend where they began and the top of the pile. Special mention was also given to the young away keeper who had an excellent game in goal, despite being beaten on four occasions.
Shanbally United 3 – 0 Cahir Park
Shanbally United kept in touch with the top of the table with a win over local rivals Cahir Park on Saturday afternoon. The home side were always in control and goals from Ben Doyle, Cathal Tobin and Ryan Breedy were enough to take all three points on the day.