TSDL Premier League 8th January 2023 Match Reports
Bansha Celtic 2 – 5 Wilderness Rovers
With other games being called off due to the poor weather, Wilderness Rovers travelled to Bansha in what was a must win game for both sides, as they both skirt with the lower regions of this seasons Premier League, and came away with a precious three points that will ease some of their worries, but left the hosts in a very precarious position regarding their efforts to continue to maintain Premier League football. The Wildies started brightly playing some very composed football and caught the home side flatfooted on several occasions especially due to some fantastic work by Jayden Cagney and Michael Morrissey. Chances were created but again it was finding that much needed goal which has been the Achilles heel in previous games, and they had to wait until the half hour mark before striker Sean Browne found the net with a tidy finish across the keeper and gave them a slender lead, which they kept until the break. But they started the second period almost perfectly, when Browne found the net within the opening minute to double the lead and ease some of the nerves. But Bansha dug in and pulled a goal back in the fifty second minute when they reacted quickest at a set piece. This swung the momentum on the game for the next fifteen minutes and the hosts levelled in the sixty fifth minute, carving open the Wildies back line, and throwing the game right back into the melting pot. But as the half went on it was becoming more obvious the effects that they lay off was having on the players legs and it was the away side who seemed the fitter, finishing much stronger than the home team. With ten minutes left, a teasing ball was swung in by Niall Kelly and deflected past the hom keeper to give the visitors the lead once more. This seemed to take the air out of the Bansha sails and three minutes later Sean Browne completed his hat trick to put real light between the sides once again. Forced to chase the game now, Bansha were caught again late on from a speedy counter attack that finished with Gavin Kennedy finding Niall Kelly who made no mistake from twelve yards out to ensure his side would take all the points in this game.
Cashel Town 3 – 6 Clonmel Celtic
A nine goal thriller warmed the watching supporters as these two sides resumed after the break at Palmershill on Sunday morning, with the Clonmel side taking the spoils. The game was only three minutes old when the visitors went in front, thanks to a close range finish by Darren Sweeney after the hosts failed to deal with a corner. The same player doubled Celtics lead in the seventeenth minute, with another finish from close in after the defence were caught ball watching from a cross, and showing the rustiness of the layoff. Two became three on the half hour mark as the away team threatened to run riot when Davy Garrett headed home unopposed from six yards out. But the home side finally showed some life six minutes later when they pulled a goal back thanks to a headed effort from Kyle Ryan. One all at the break, the destination of the next goal was going to be vital to the outcome of the game, and eight minutes in, Philip Drohan got a fourth for the visitors with another goal from a Celtic cross and header. Well in charge now, Ayo Williams got his first of two on the hour mark, with a shot from the edge of the area, after the Cashel defence backed off, and although the home side got a second fifteen minutes from the end, through Callum Meagher, Williams fired home another mid-range effort ten minutes from the end, to get his sides sixth goal of the day. Darragh Browne got a consolation goal for the home side two minutes from the end, with a great free kick from all of twenty five yards out, but it was too little too late to change the outcome of the game.
TSDL First Division report 8th January 2023 Match Reports
Old Bridge 0 – 1 Tipperary Town
Tipperary Town secured a vital three points in this dour encounter played in Tipperary on Sunday. The Bridge who gave up home advantage due to Green Lane being unplayable had the better of affairs for the first twenty minutes and created a few decent chances through Jack Burke, Sean Martin and Darren Guiry, but couldn’t get the ball into the net. Their opponents eventually found their feet and gained a foothold but their chances were reduced to long range shots and set pieces. Seven minutes before the break, the Bridge almost made the breakthrough when Sean Martin took a shot from an outrageous angle only to see his effort rebound of the inside of the right hand post, and skitter away to safety, much to the relief of the Town keeper. Shane Foley had another chance right on half time, but he just failed to control the ball and the effort disappeared. The second period was only a minute old when Bridge conceded a needless penalty which Michael Ryan dispatched to the net in style, to give Town the lead. They then took control of proceedings while The Bridge look shell shocked. Michael Ryan, Steven Quinn, Mark Roche and Kevin Browne were really prominent for the winners, and while the Clonmel side raised their game for the last twenty minutes they could not get the goal their efforts deserved, and the Tipperary side continued their run at the top of the division as they maintained their title and promotion push.
TSDL Second Division 8th January 2023 Match Reports
Dualla 3 – 1 Clerihan
After the long break it’s hard to hit the ground running but that’s what Dualla did from the start in their return to league action for the first time in 2023. They had a couple of chances early on and finally opened the scoring in the twenty fifth minute though a wonderful strike by Michael Barron, from all of thirty yards out that nestled in the top corner of the net. Just before half time the visitors started to come into the game and put pressure on the home back four, but they weathered it well, and doubled their lead when Brian Sheehy pounced on the loose ball and drove it into the bottom corner, with the visitors keeper stranded. The game followed a similar pattern in the second half with the home side giving their opponents plenty of possession, but always looking for the opportunity to hit back on the break. They eventually caught Clerihan on the break again midway through the half, when Aiden Maher found Paraic Ryan in space and the Dualla striker made no mistake from twelve yards out to make the score three goals to nil. Late on near the end Clerihan pulled one back but Dualla always had a strong grip on this game, and played out the game to take the points and move to the top of the Division Two table.
TSDL Paddy Purtill Cup 1st Round, 8th January 2023 Match Reports
Cahir Park 2 – 1 Suirside
Both these sides were in good league form when the league began its midseason break before Christmas, and both would have fancied runs deep into this competition before they were drawn together, so that set up a feeling of anticipation when they faced off against each other in Cahir on Sunday morning. The home side got off to the perfect start though when Willie Dunne headed home a Tom Keating cross from eight yards out, in the early minutes of the game, to put them in front. After this, they dominated much of the opening half and could and probably should have added to the lead on a number of occasions, but were kept at bay at times by some heroic defending from the visitors. All the while, Suirside kept them honest with some smart breakaway chances, but in the end, the hosts went to the break a goal to the good. The visitors then began to up their game right from the off in the second period and were constantly dangerous from set pieces with Jason Coffey delivering some really good quality ball to his attackers. It was no surprise then that they levelling goal came from a corner kick, when Colm O Gorman headed home from close range midway through the second half. But the Park didn’t panic, played themselves back into the game, and got what proved to be the winner ten minutes from the end, when Connor Murphy found himself one on one against the visiting keeper, before slotting into the net to the delight of his team mates and supporters.
Cullen Lattin 1 – 2 Galbally United
Cullen welcomed Galbally to Aisling Park Cullen for the first round of the Paddy Purtill Cup in a local derby on Sunday afternoon and both sides played out a very entertaining encounter before the away side took the spoils in the end. Galbally started well, and got in front in the twelfth minute when a Cullen defender was dispossessed just outside his own area, and Cathal Flynn squared the ball to Ger Quinlan to tap home. They doubled their advantage ten minutes before the break when a Josh Dineen ball over the top, fell to the waiting feet of his brother Jordan Dineen who used his blistering pace to skin the defence and finish well when one on one with the home keeper. The home side reshuffled their pack for the second period and made three changes, which seemed to give them extra impetus to take the game to their opponents. From the start the changes paid off, and substitute Michèal Elligott played Tony O Neill in on goal, to score ten minutes in and bring the game back to a single goal. However although the game really opened up after this with lots of positive attacking play from both sides, there were to be no more goals, and the visitors took their place in the draw for the next round, very satisfied with their afternoons work.
Peake Villa 1 – 1 Rosegreen Rangers (AET, Rosegreen Rangers win 4-3 on penalties)
In their first game back after the break, Peake Villas seconds welcomed Rosegreen Rangers to the Tower Grounds in the Paddy Purtill Cup, and were beaten on penalties after a good game of football in front of a good crowd in Thurles on Sunday. There was nothing between the sides early on with some half chances for both sides, before the hosts took the lead in the twenty first minute courtesy of a goal by Scott Brennan after he was found in space by a Tony Galvin through ball. Villa’s lead only lasted ten minutes however as the visitors were awarded a freekick which they scored make it on all. The teams went in at the break level, and although Villa got on top they couldn’t get a second goal despite creating numerous chances. At the other end the home sides defence was holding steady limiting the visitors to a few efforts, and the game finished level at the end. Extra time could not separate them either and it went to penalties with the away side holding their nerve the better sending them through to the quarter finals after winning on a scoreline of four goals to three.
St Nicholas 4 – 3 St Michael’s (AET)
A local derby that could have been dubbed All Saints Day, saw victory in extra time for the home side on Sunday last, after they came from behind before despatching their more illustrious opponents at Danny O Dwyer Park. The visitors started better and took the lead thanks to a Cian O Dwyer goal in the seventh minute. But just eight minutes later the home side were back on level terms when James Scanlon equalised after some really neat build up play in front of the visitors goal. But Micheal’s were back in front in the twenty second minute when Cian O Dwyer added his and his sides second with an excellent strike from the edge of the area after twisting and turning around a number of home defenders. And Dean Thompson put Micheal’s in control of the tie when he made it three goals to one on the half hour mark. But the goals kept coming and the home side pulled a goal back to make it three goals to two when Aaron Ryan Shiner found the net five minutes before the break with a cheeky lob from the edge of the box. This was how the game went to the break, and the second period kept the goals flowing with Ryan Shiner levelling the game just on the hour mark to set up an exciting final thirty minutes. Both side had their chances in this time to finish the game without the need for extra time, but defences finally got on top and there were no more goals before the referee blew for time and set up the additional twenty minutes. Ryan Shiner continued his excellent form in the added time, and looked set to put his side in front before being hauled down inside the area, resulting in a penalty kick for his side. It was Mark Flannery who stepped up and he made no mistake, putting the home side in front for the first time in the game. And that was enough to ensure the win, as they defended excellently till the end to keep out the increasingly desperate Michael’s side.
TSDL Peter O Reilly Cup, 1st Round, 8th January 2023 Match Reports
Moyglass United 2 – 1 Tipperary Town
It went all the way to extra time, but Moyglass United advanced to the semi-finals of this year’s Peter O Reilly Cup with a hard fought win over Tipperary Town on Sunday last in Moyglass. They were well on top in the early period of the game, and finally took the lead in the thirty third minute when Craig Nolan scored after some good build up play through the middle of the pitch. They held this lead to the break, but the visitors got on level terms five minutes into the second period when Markie Roche, who was a massive threat to the hosts all throughout the game, won a penalty and then converted it himself. After that the game degenerated into a battle of attrition with the two sides finding it hard to create any clear cut chances, and it was no surprise when the final whistle went without either side adding to their tally. Into the early part of extra time, the game began to open up, no doubt a result of tiring legs and minds, and three minutes into the second period, a long throw by Mike Hickey eluded the Town defence and landed at the feet of Eoin Barry who made no mistake from fifteen yards out to put the home side in front. After that the visitors threw the kitchen sink at Moyglass and got a gilt-edged chance to level the game in time added on, when they were awarded a penalty kick. But David Mc Cormack proved to be the hero for the home side when he saved both the penalty and the rebound to send the Village through to the next round.
Donohill and District 1 – 2 Killenaule Rovers
Donohill suffered heartbreak in the first round of this seasons Peter O Reilly Cup when they gave up an early lead before being beaten at the death by a Killenaule side that have carried over the pre break form into the New Year. The hosts started the better and Ned Lowry put them ahead inside the first quarter of an hour with a screamer from well outside the penalty area. But indiscipline cost them and they were reduced to ten men before the half hour mark giving the impetus in the game to their opponents. This changed the course of the game, but Killenaule were level ten minutes before the break, thanks to a goal by Conor Sinnott. Level at the break, the second half was a fairly even affair with the home side probably having the better of the chances despite being a man down, and were unlucky not to add to their tally. And that came back to haunt them, when with both sides having one eye on the extra time likely to come, Killenaule broke quickly from defence and Mark Doyle scored a fine goal to win the game.
TSDL Youths 8th January 2023 Match Reports
Slievenamon Celtic 1 – 0 Cullen Lattin
Slievenamon Celtic started off 2023 on a winning note when they overcame Cullen Lattin on Saturday afternoon thanks to a late Senan O’Shea strike, and in doing so created a little bit of club history by becoming the first Kilsheelan side to ever win a match in the highest level of South Tipperary Youth soccer. The game was played at a good tempo, despite the terrible rain & wind conditions the two sides had to deal with throughout the ninety minutes. Tommy O’Connor was kept on his toes throughout the game in the Slievenamon goal, saving well on a number of occasions to keep his side in the game as Cullen saw the majority of the play in the first-half. The game went to the break all square and although the tie was more even in the second period, it looked like ther was going to be stalemate at the end until five minutes from time, Senan O’Shea got on the end of an Eoin Barry through-ball and fired beyond the visiting keeper to break the deadlock to the delight of the home supporters. The action didn’t stop there though, as Cullen almost equalised moments later when their attacker looked to fire home from close range, but the Celtic defence put their bodies on the line to maintain their clean-sheet and take the three precious points.