FAI U17 Cup Round 2 Saturday 02-11-24
Freebooters (Kilkenny) 1-2 Cahir Park
Cahir Park made the trip to Freebooters of Kilkenny in the U/17 FAI Cup.
The home team started the better and caused Cahir Park a number of problems in the opening 15 minutes.
Cahir settled down and grew into the game and on 43 minutes got the opening goal when Josh Davey found the top corner with a left footed shot from the edge of the area.
Cahir got the perfect start to the second half when they doubled their lead on 47 minutes when Liam Kelly got onto a through ball to poke past the keeper.
Freebooters found a way back into the game with 20 minutes remaining when a shot from 25 yards out found the roof of the net.
Cahir held on without too much drama to advance to the next round.
Youths Division 2) Saturday 02-11-24
Cullen Lattin 2-5 St Michaels
In an action-packed encounter, Cullen succumbed to a 5-2 defeat despite dominating large stretches of the game and creating numerous chances. St Michaels however, proved clinical on the counterattack, capitalising on nearly every opportunity to secure a convincing victory.
The match began with Cullen on the front foot, pressing aggressively and nearly breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute when a powerful effort struck the crossbar. But as they looked for an early lead, St Michael’s swiftly countered, breaking down the field and catching the home defence off guard. In a swift turn of events, the St Michaels forward slotted home to make it 1-0, seizing momentum.
The away team doubled their advantage in the 28th minute, punishing a defensive lapse by the home side. A long ball over the top wasn’t dealt with cleanly, allowing the St Michael’s forward to pounce and finish clinically past the home keeper. Despite Cullen’s efforts to regain control, they entered the halftime break down 2-0.
The second half opened with further frustration for the home team, as they they had chances in the opposition box but moments later, St Michaels won a penalty, converting to extend their lead to 3-0, leaving the home fans and players visibly frustrated.
Determined to fight back, Cullen pushed forward relentlessly, but they struggled to find a way through the St Michael’s well-organised defence. Just as they seemed poised to create a breakthrough, the away side caught them once again on the counterattack. Winning a corner, they capitalised with a powerful header from two yards out to make it 4-0.
Despite the daunting deficit, the home team showed resilience and were finally rewarded in the 64th minute. Eoin O’Connell coolly dispatched a penalty to give them a glimmer of hope at 4-1. Energised by the goal, Cullen continued to press but were undone once again by a swift counterattack that resulted in a fifth goal, effectively sealing the contest.
Cullen continued to create chances and showed a fighting spirit until the end. In the dying moments, Shane O’Brien gave the home crowd something to cheer about with a thunderous strike from 30 yards, a perfectly hit effort that left the keeper with no chance.
In the end, the match concluded 5-2 in favour of St Michael’s who left with all three points and a clinical display to be proud of. For Cullen the match will be one of regrets and missed opportunities, as their efforts went unrewarded on a frustrating afternoon.
Mullinahone 4-1 Cashel Town
Galbally 2-3 Kilsheelan Utd
Kilsheelan took the lead on 15b minutes when Darren Kirwin opened the scoring. Donnacha O’Shea equalised and despite chances for both sides they went to the break level. Tristan O’Connor restored the Kilsheelan lead but they were pegged back once more when Killian Peters struck in the 81st minute. However with time almost up, Anthony Boyle was on hand to seal the game for Kilsheelan.
FAI Junior Cup Round 3) Saturday 02-11-24
St Michaels V Two Mile Borris
This was an epic Fai Junior Cup tie that had everything with St Michael’s showing character to dig deep and get the win at the death. Borris had a great chance after three minutes when Ryan played in Maguire but he flashed his shoT wide of the post. Borris had two successive shots in the 7th minute that went over the bar. Ed O’Dwyer just missed a header in the 8th minute from a Philip Drohan cross. The talented Tom Ryan went off injured for Borris. Philip Drohan put Saints in front on 17 minutes from a Luke Kiely pass after good approach play by Shane Ryan. Philip Drohan saw a defender get in a block in the area on 21 minutes. Borris were level on 23 minutes when substitute Nolan played in Lee who saw his shot beat Kuba Beban to level the game at 1-1. Cian Fadden saw his flicked header go just wide from a Joey Mulcahy corner on 37 minutes. Borris were awarded a penalty on 44 minutes and a well taken spot kick by Cullen Jordan put Borris 2-1 up at the break. Borris were winning a lot of second ball with Saints missing the influential Cillian Coonan in the middle of the park. In the second half Ed O’Dwyer found Russell Quirke but he delayed his shot and the chance was gone. DJ Cremins made it 2-2 at Cooke Park on 63 minutes when he got on the end of a Cian Fadden knock down from a corner to energise the St Michael’s team. On 72 minutes with the game in the balance substitute Burke Cawley hit wide of the saints goal. Russell Quirke went close with a header on 73 minutes and Cian Fadden got in a crucial tackle on Cullen Jordan on 76 minutes. In a further twist Lewis Kearney got on the end of substitute Burke Cawley’s right wing cross to put Borris 3-2 ahead on 77 minutes. In a pulsating heart stopping finish Nolan went close to sealing it for Borris. On 86 minutes Donagh Hickey saw his cross mishandled by goalkeeper Dolan and it was 3-3 at Cooke Park and extra time was looming on the horizon. In the 89th minute of an absorbing tie Jimmy Carr won a free on the left for Saints and from the delivery Cian Fadden came up with a header to win the match 4-3 for Michael’s. Borris gave it their all in a game that had everything and as the crowd dispersed, Saints took breathing space to reflect on their night. Cup games are all about the result and Saints now go into round four and the open draw of the Fai Junior Cup.
FAI Junior Cup Round 3) Sunday 03-11-24
Cahir Park 1 V Old Bridge 1 AET Cahir Win on Penalties 4-3
Cahir Park welcomed Old Bridge with a passage to the open draw in the FAI Junior Cup as the prize on offer to the winners.
Cahir started the better dominating possession and creating a number of half chances. Old bridge looked dangerous on the break and it was from one of those breaks that they took the lead on 33 minutes when Sean O’Connor finished well from the edge of the area.
Cahir got back into the game on 38 minutes when Willie Dunne finished off a John O’Brien cross at the second attempt.
The second half was dominated by Cahir who missed a host of gilt-edged chances and hit the post while Bridge continued to look dangerous on the counterattack. However, neither team could create a clear goalscoring chance and 20 minutes extra time still couldn’t separate the sides. However, it was the Premier League side who held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out to advance to the next round with Robbie McGrath the hero saving two spot kicks.
Cullen Lattin 0-1 Rearcross
Cullen had the better of the early chances and were unlucky not to take the lead on 16 minutes when Fiachra O’Grady hit the upright and the rebound was cleared to safety. On 25 minutes again O’Grady hit the woodwork and for the second time the rebound fell kindly for the visitors.
On 30 minutes Paddy Deegan was found free in the box only for Cullens goalie to be on hand to safe the strike.
Cullen then came close from two set-pieces before Tony O Neill tested the Rearcross keeper who spilled the strike but Cullen couldn’t capitalise.
Rearcross started the second half with more determination and took the game to Cullen and dominated early on and they were rewarded with a goal on 78 minutes when Paul Nolan’s strike from distance somehow ended up in the bottom corner to give Rearcross a 1-0 lead.
Micheal Elligott controlled came close to equalising when he turned his man inside the box, but his shot was saved.
Cullen applied pressure for the last 10 minutes but couldn’t find a way through the Rearcross defence.
Sunday the 03rd of November 2024 Division 1
Tipperary Town 0 V Powerstown 1
Tipp Town were looking to build more momentum after a good couple of results but found an improving Powerstown side a tough nut to crack and went down by two goals to nil.
In a very good footballing game played by both, Powerstown went ahead with John Lowes penalty was initially saved by Eric Higgins but rebounded back to Lowes to slot home. Tipp Town had chances through Ryan Maher, Olek Ivanov, Vinnie Godfrey and Caleb Hickey but just couldn’t score. In the second half more chances fell to the home side though Ryan Maher, Liam Murphy and Dylan Cummins but again couldn’t find that crucial breakthrough. They were made to pay late on when John Lowes smashed in his, and Powerstown’s second. Tipp never gave up, but Powerstown stood up firm and got the three points and a hard-earned clean sheet.
Wilderness Rovers 1-2 Two Mile Borris (B)
Wilderness welcomed a good side in Two-Mile Borris and it the visitors who started fastest and went 1-0 up on 5 minutes with a great free kick from 20 yards by Robbie Jordan. Borris twice got in behind the Wilderness defence in the next 10 minutes but two brilliant saves by Jake O’Donnell kept the shoreline at 1-0. Wilderness grew into the game and created plenty of chances with the best one touched over the bar followed by a brave block by one of the away side defenders keeping it out.
Wilderness started well in the second half and went in search of the equaliser, but the Borris defence stood tall. The away side went down to 10 men on 58 minutes and Wilderness threw everything at Borris with Dean McLoughlin first hitting the crossbar and Joseph Cummins hitting the post. Wilderness kept pressing and on 88 minutes Jason Barnes delivered a free kick deep to the back post for Alex McSherry to nod home to score his first goal for the Wilderness.
But a minute later Two-Mile Borris broke and a great ball through found Lorcan Burke and he found the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to Borris.
Peake Villa 2-1 Vee Rovers
Villa started brightly taking the game to Vee from the start and could have been two goals up in the first five minutes when Adam Garrett came close on two occasions, but the Vee goalkeeper denied him both times.
Villa did take the lead in the 12th minute when they were awarded a free kick out on the right, and Mark Lennon found the top corner with his left peg with an excellent strike to make it 1-0.
Villa could not capitalise on going ahead, and Vee grew into the game and came close with a free kick of their own, hitting the crossbar. There were no more goals in the half, and the home side went in one up at the break. Villa scored again in the 62nd minute when Luciano Carelli made it 2-0.
Vee tried hard to get into the game, but Villa’s defence was playing well throughout. Vee did get a consolation goal with five minutes to go through Jack Sullivan to make the score at the final whistle 2-1. A good win for the home side, which keeps them in touch at the top of the league table.
Sunday the 03rd of November 2024 Division 2
Ballingarry 4-1 Suirside
Ballingarry Albion were at home to Suirside and conceded early to a fantastic, chipped finish from Paul Kennedy after 13 minutes. The opening goal seemed to kickstart the home side and they began to get themselves into the game creating some half chances.
The home side almost levelled on 20 minutes after a great move between Stephen Holohan, Jonothan Ivors and Adrian Maher ended with Maher finding the head of Riain O’Callaghan in the box but his header went just over the bar. Both teams looked very dangerous in attack, and it looked like either team could score at any moment. Suirside almost doubled their lead but for a fantastic save by David Cashin in the goal from point blank range, and after almost going two goals down Ballingarry levelled the game just a minute later after great work down the right hand side by Keith Cleere, he fired a low cross across the face of the goal and with Riain O’Callaghan waiting to tap in, the Suirside defender made a last ditch lunge to try block but turned it into his own net.
Ballingarry then went ahead just five minutes later when again the hardworking front three turned the ball over in the opposition half and O’Callaghan again turned provider for his strike partner Keith Cleere who raced through and fired a low strike past the keeper.
Suirside very nearly levelled just a few minutes later but again David Cashin in the goal pulled off a fantastic save. The home side should have went in two goals up at half time after a great long ball by David in the goal found Keith Cleere again who pulled the ball out of the sky and again raced through but this time the keeper pulled off a good save to keep it at 2-1.
The second half began with the same script as the first, with both teams attacking and looking for goals. Suirside went close first after another great save by David Cashin in the goal saw the rebound fall to a Suirside attacker but they fired wide from close range. Keith Cleere then very nearly grabbed his second after great work down the left side by O’Callaghan but his effort lacked the conviction to beat the keeper.
With 25 minutes to go it was all very much to play for and the next goal would be vital, and it was the Albion who scored it. After a free kick by the away team’s keeper was headed back up field by Jonothan Ivors and fell to Riain O’Callaghans feet, he swivelled and struck a half volley from all of 40 yards out to beat the keeper who hadn’t yet made it back to his net. This could have knocked the away side but to their credit they came right back throwing bodies forward and forcing plenty of corners and free kicks but could not find a way past a resolute Ballingarry defence led by the young Dylan Maher at the centre of it. Ben Ivers and Patrick Ivors were massively impressive also. Albion grabbed a fourth late on with the last attack of the game, Stephen Holohan calmly brought the ball down in midfield and threaded a lovely ball through for O’Callaghan who blasted through and slotted cooly home to grab his second of the game and ensure the three points.
Moyglass 1-2 Kilsheelan
Kilsheelan just came out on top of what was a very entertaining game of football played to a high standard. Moyglass had the better of the early chances, with John Lacy twice coming close and Kilsheelan’s keeper did very well to keep out a Jamie Morrissey free kick.
Kilsheelan took the lead on 25 minutes when Jamie Roach finished well from a well struck corner. Both sides worked a couple of half chances before the break, but it remained 0-1 at half time. Moyglass piled on the pressure for the majority of the second half, looking most dangerous from set pieces with Brian Delahunty, Gus Brown and John Lacy all going close. Moyglass eventually drew level on 85 minutes when a route one ball from Mike Hickey in goal was met by a Kilsheelan head and for the unfortunate defender it looped over the keeper into the net. When it looked like finishing in a draw Kilsheelan got one more ball into the box and John O’Dwyer controlled the ball and finished to the bottom corner (92mins). A draw would probably have been a fair result, but Kilsheelan left happy with all three points.
St Nicholas 3-2 Cashel Town (B)
This was a good open game between two sides determined to take all three points. On 6 minutes, Cashel scored through Blake Doyle Carroll. A mistake at the back allowing him to slot into the corner of the net. On 17 minutes, Tom Flynn had a great effort, just wide of the goal. On 30 minutes, Jason Sutton had a goal scored but it was ruled offside. And Jason Sutton again had a shot after a Sean Daly cross which was just wide of the post.
On 40 minutes, Jason Buckley had a shot from 20 yards which the keeper pulled out of the top corner. On 43 minutes, against the run of play, Cashel scored to make it 2-0, goal scored by Daniel Fitzpatrick.
The second half started with St Nicholas really up for it. They went straight at it, right from the off. On 48 minutes, Sean Daly headed in a superb goal from a corner, to bring it back to 2-1. And then on 50 minutes, Jason Sutton had a brilliant finish to the corner of the net, after great work from James Scanlon, to make it 2-2.
St Nicholas were well on top for the next five minutes, and on 56 minutes, Aaron Blanche scored, with a brilliant finish, to make it 3-2. In the 60th minute, James Scanlon had an effort which was just wide of the post. St Nicholas were well in control for the whole second half and could have scored a fourth. In the 79th minute, Cashel were pressing and had a good effort from their number 10, brilliantly saved by St Nicholas keeper, Bradley McNabb. And in the end, Cashel went all in to score the equaliser but couldn’t find the net as St Nicholas held on for a great victory.
Sunday the 03rd of November 2024 Division 3
Cahir Park (B) 2-4 Mullinahone
League leaders Mullinahone travelled to second placed Cahir Park for an afternoon kick off and left with all three points to extend their lead at the top to five points.
Cahir started brightly and created good chances through Conor Murphy and Zach Keating and it was the home team who struck first from a corner kick with David Clifford finishing from close range.
Mullinahone equalised from a long throw in only five minutes later and went in at the break 2-1 to the good, scoring from the penalty spot. Mullinahone had a chance to further increase their lead only two minutes into the second half, again from the penalty spot, but Robert Bagus saved well low to his right. Mullinahone weren’t to be denied much longer though, scoring another two goals in quick succession. Hichem Birem finished well from a tight angle late on to make it 4-2 but the away team were deserved winners on the day.
Tipperary Town (B) 1-2 Rosegreen
In the early game on Sunday morning, both sides started with good recent form with both looking to kick on in their second meeting this season. In a cagey first 15 minutes, Rosegreen capitalised on some hesitancy in the Tipp Town defence and Gavin Ryan slotted home.
Tipp Town then came close twice through Aiden Coffey’s low shot after Alan Carter played him in and then again when Andrew Wade almost scored only to see the defender clear off the line.
Steven Brabston replied with an effort for Rosegreen before Rory Heffernan’s 25 yarder put Marcus Godfrey to the test which he passed to deny a top corner strike.
Tipp Town responded with an effort from Mark Browne but he failed to hit the target.
Town shuffled the pack in the second half and were level when an in swinging corner from Mark Browne met the head of Dean Moore to make it 1-1.
Both sides huffed and puffed to get the winner and the home side had efforts from Alan Carter, Dean Moore and Mark Ellard but Tyler Barry stood firm. With 15 minutes to go Ian Collins found space in the box and fired home to give Rosegreen the lead. The away side stood firm to claim all three points.
Kilsheelan (B) 7-0 Dualla
Kilsheelan’s B side picked up their second win of the season with a seven-nil victory over a depleted Dualla side in Kilsheelan. With just nine players available to the visitors, they put up a valiant fight throughout the course of the 90 minutes.
Kilsheelan opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Adam Hants powerfully headed home Ben Power’s corner, before Patrick Murphy made it 2-0, getting on the end of Martin Ryan’s pull-back. Evan Forristal netted a quick-fire double inside the opening ten minutes of the second half – firing the first beyond the keeper from close-range before doubling his tally moments later through the penalty spot.
Darragh Landers made it five when he found space inside the Dualla box before firing high into the roof of the net. Substitute Jack Mulcahy got in on the action tapping home from close-range after Darragh Landers’ cross, before Daniel Condon finished off the scoring when an effort that initially hit the post rebounded to Daniel who then fired home to make it seven.