FAI Senior Cup preliminary round, 9th April 2023 Match Reports
St Michael’s 2 – 1 Ballynanty Rovers
Both these Junior teams played understrength sides when they met in the preliminary round of this years FAI Senior Cup tie at Cooke Park, on Sunday afternoon, with the home side finally progressing by the odd goal in three. With bigger fish to fry in upcoming games, the sides seemed flat and lifeless for much of the first half, with the Saints probably shading it in terms of chances in the first quarter of the game. They had half chances through Paul Breen and Rodrigo Goncalves, before they finally opened their account just after the half hour, when Rhys Byron was brought down and from the resultant free kick Adam McGrath found the corner of the net to the delight of the home support. Byron then fired over the bar two minutes before the break, and at the other end a shot from Cathal Fitzgerald went wide of goal, the best chance the Limerick side produced in a poor first half. Veteran defender Paul Breen again went close again with a header just before the hour mark, and his side finally added their second in the sixty third minute, Rovers keeper Colin Lynch failed to control an Ashley Kelliher cross and Byron was on hand to poke home from close range. Both sides used their subs after this and on sixty six minutes, Brian Quinn got in behind the Saints defence to make it two goals to one. The visitors then had two good chances to level the tie firstly when Toomey got in behind the defence but shot poorly and Robbie McGrath made a superb save to touch an Earls header over the bar following a free kick. Danny O’Brien nearly got in at the other end to increase the home lead but, in the end two goals were enough to carry the TSDL into the next round.
TSDL Premier League 9th April 2023 Match Reports
Bansha Celtic 2 – 2 Clonmel Town
Bansha Celtic assured themselves of Premier League action next season, but put a big dent in the hopes of Clonmel Town winning this years title, when they held the league leaders to a two all draw at home on Sunday afternoon. In good form of late, the hosts took the lead after just three minutes, when a free kick from Darren Mc Grath took a slight deflection off the wall and nestled in the bottom corner, leaving the Town keeper stranded. But directly from the kick off, the vistors attacked with purpose, and saw a ball break in the box to Rhys O Regan who made no mistake from twelve yards out, and levelled game again. But the home side regained the initiative just before the half hour mark, when a cross from the right was volleyed home by Robbie Byron, and that was enough to send his side to the break a goal to the good. Needing a result from the game, Town took control in the second period and produced a couple of excellent chances before they finally got level for a second time with when a strike from Cilllian Crowe nestled in the top corner from all of twenty five yards out. The home side defended manfully for rest of game, desperate to hold onto that precious point, and almost won all three when a header from Darren Mc Grath smashed off the crossbar in the final moments. But in the end they were happy with the draw, while Clonmel will rue what they will consider to be two points dropped as the season enters its seminal weeks.
Two Mile Borris 0 – 4 Peake Villa
More clinical finishing by the away side gave Peake Villa victory in this local derby and kept them well in touch for a push to win a first Premier League title in a decade. The home side had the better of the opening exchanges, but were unable to convert any of the half chances that they created, and found themselves a goal behind on the quarter hour mark when a long free kick into the area, found the head of Ronan Mc Guire and he made no mistake from less than six yards out. This shifted the balance of play and Villa took control, adding to their tally ten minutes before the break when sharp shooter Pippy Carroll took advantage of a brilliant through ball to round the keeper and roll the ball into an empty net. Borris had the ball in the net five minutes later, only to see the effort ruled out for an offside flag, and their disappointment was compounded almost on the stroke of half time, when a cross from the right caused consternation in the home defence and one of their own players bundled the ball into his own net. This killed the game as a contest, and the second period was much more pedestrian than the first, with few chances created. Villa finally added a fourth fifteen minutes from time, when a speculative shot by Mc Guire seemed to get lifted by the wind and wrong footed the home keeper before nestling in the back of the net.
Paddy Purtill Cup semi-final, 9th April 2023 Match Reports
Old Bridge 1 – 1 Cashel Town (AET Cashel Town win 5-4 on penalties)
Cashel Town continued their fairytale run to the final of this seasons Paddy Purtill Cup, when they caused a big upset by defeating in-form Old Bridge on penalties at Green Lane in Clonmel on Sunday afternoon. The game was an absorbing contest which all supporters appreciated, with the side being hampered after losing key player Jake Mulcahy to a pulled hamstring in just the first minute, and seeing his replacement Sean Martin go off shortly after similar complaint. When the action rally got going, it game proceeded along expected lines with The Bridge dominating in possession, but failing to capitalise on the chances they created through a combination of poor execution and good defensive work from the visitors. Cashel themselves were constantly looking for opportunities on the break, but neither side was able to break the deadlock in a scoreless first half. The second period continued along similar lines but the visitors did get forward on more occasions, only to find the hosts defence up to the task of keeping them out. The home side did continue to have chances, but in the end the game finished scoreless in regulation time. Extra time commenced and still The Bridge could not break down a resolute Cashel side who were growing in confidence. In the last minute of the first period a Niall Hallissey cross was superbly finished to the net by Gavin Browne to put the away side in front. The Bridge came out fast in the second period, and almost from the restart, Connie Power equalized with a beautifully placed header after some good build up play. The home side continued their pressure but were unable to add a winner so the game went to the dreaded penalty shoot out. Cashel were perfect from the spot and keeper Dean Harding’s save booked their place in the final much to the regret of a disappointed Old Bridge side.
TSDL First Division Shield 9th April 2023 Match Reports
Cahir Park 4 – 0 St Michael’s
Cahir Park welcomed Saint Michaels B for the quarter final of the First Division Shield on Sunday morning, and left with their hopes of a Shield and Divisional title double well intact after dispensing of the visitors in a routine four goal win. The visitors started the better of the two teams as they took advantage of a very sloppy start by the home side. Dominating the early stages, they created some half chances in the first twenty minutes but good defending and goal keeping kept the visitors at bay. Once the hosts finally settled down they came back into the game, and took a rather fortunate lead on the stroke of half time when Tommy Mc Donagh finished off the best move of the first by rounding the keeper and finishing to the empty net. This brought the home side to life and came out much the better team and took control from the restart. Shane Murphy doubled the lead heading home at the back post on fifty-one minutes, and Willie Dunne made the game safe in the sixty seventh, when he made it three nil from the pen spot. Ger Quinn tapped home from close range five minutes from time, to finish the scoring.
TSDL Third Division 9th April 2023 Match Reports
Powerstown 3 – 3 Moyglass United
With both teams locked on the same number of points, this final game of the season was a “winner takes all” tie, that finished up with neither taking anything, after an enthralling six goal thriller that seen the spoils shared, and the teams having to do it all again in a play off to be scheduled in the coming weeks. With so much on the game you could have been forgiven for expecting it to be tense and low scoring, but both teams went at it hammer and tongs from the beginning, and Conor Mc Grath opening the scoring for the hosts in the thirteenth minute. A corner caused chaos in the box and Mc Grath reacted fastest to poke home from five yards out. Mark Olney doubled the lead seven minutes later with a bullet header, after Gino Lonergans free kick found him free at the back post. And the hosts looked to have the game, the points and the title wrapped up minutes later when Darren Murphy got the third after he beat the visitors offside trap, slid the ball into the net. But an Adam Lyons penalty seven minutes from the break, was the catalyst for Moyglass’ revival. Stephen Houlihan followed up with a second just moments before the half time whistle to bring and eventful first half to a close. The home side were under siege for much of the second period, but looked to have weathered the storm, and must have felt like they had one hand on the title, when Keith Cleere wrenched it away, coming up with a deserved leveller for Moyglass, to huge cheers from the travelling support, who will no doubt also be in attendance when this absorbing league title comes to a conclusion at a play off to be determined.
TSDL Youths 9th April 2023 Match Reports
TSDL Youths Division
Clonmel Celtic 2 – 1 Peake Villa
After missing out with their first attempt, Clonmel Celtic finally secured their first ever TSDL Youths title in front of a large crowd at the bypass on Saturday, when they beat a strong Peake Villa side by two goals to one. The home side looked nervous in the opening minutes and Villa sensing there was something there for them began to get on top. The hosts game plan seemed to be to play in the opposition half but every ball they launched forward was carried by the wind and failed to trouble the visiting defence. And they had to mind their own goal, giving up two early chances to the Thurles side, the first of which flashed over and keeper Oisin O’ Donoghue getting down smartly to save the second effort effort. Knowing a win might still allow them to catch the hosts in the table, the visiting team continued to probe and cause all kinds of problems, but were rocked back on the half hour mark, when Celtic finally opened the scoring after a fine free kick from Paddy Ormond found Jake Forrestal ghosting in behind the defence and he applied a clinical finish to put his side a goal up. But the away side were almost level within a minute when a dangerous cross was met by a header that lacked power and was easily saved by O’Donoghue, who was having a solid game between the posts. Then the Villa were presented with a gilt-edged chance to level, when they were awarded a penalty kick eight minutes before the break. However, O Donoghue continued his inspired performance by diving full length to save the subsequent effort. Things got even better for Celtic when they doubled their lead four minutes later, with Michael Prendergast slotting home after great work by Alex Greene to send the hosts to the break two goals to the good. They nearly made the perfect start to the second half when Michael Prendergast raced clear but his effort was saved. Villa still looked dangerous and were very much in this game and on fifty-one minutes they were denied again by O’ Donoghue diving full length to tip a shot on to the crossbar. With 15 minutes remaining Villa finally got the goal their play deserved when a fine half volley from Ciaran Purcell eventually beat the home net minder. They pushed for an equaliser but in truth it was Celtic who should have put the game to bed in the last five minutes with a succession of chances that they couldn’t convert. Fortunately, they didn’t need that third goal and the win against a good Villa side saw them claim their first ever title to huge delight from the crowd.