First half Rhys O'Regan hat-trick keeps Clonmel Town in Tipperary Premier League hunt

Clonmel Credit Union Premier League

Vee Rovers 0 – 5 Clonmel Town

Clonmel Town maintained their title push and practically condemned Vee Rovers to the First Division when they produced a scintillating first half performance that included a Rhys O’Regan hat-trick in Clogheen on Sunday.

The home side knew they needed something from the game and started well, camping at the edge of the visitors area in the opening five minutes, but were unable to trouble the Town keeper. And they were then punished in the seventh minute when the Clonmel side broke out and swept the ball up field before delivering a cross into the Rovers area that was deflected into his own net by a home defender.

This was the kind of bad luck that has struck the Clogheen side all year, and before they had recovered from the concession they were hit by two quickfire goals from man of the match Rhys O’Regan. The first a delicate lob over the keeper from the edge of the area, and the second a poacher’s goal when he prodded home from six yards out, when the home side were unable to clear a corner kick.

This left the visitors in control for the rest of the half, and in the final minute they put the game to bed completely when O’Regan added his third and his side’s fourth, this time heading to the net when all alone in the area.

The second half saw the visitors take their foot off the pedal and concede a lot of possession and territory to a battling Vee Rovers side, but as has been their Achilles heel all season, they were unable to turn chances into goals.

Town added a fifth ten minutes from time, just to rub salt into the wounds, and keep their own title challenge purring nicely ahead of some big ties in the weeks to come.