TSDL Division Two Round-Up
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 20 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 12th 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 had a succession of corner and free kicks that Jason Sutton and Aaron Ryan Shiner delivered well into the box but Cullen’s 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 the 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.