TSDL Division One Round-Up
Peake Villa 1 – 1 Tipperary Town
Peake Villa’s second team bounced back from provincial defeat 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 a 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 53rd 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.