Celtic come from behind to defeat Wilderness Rovers in Clonmel derby game

Clonmel Credit Union Premier League

Clonmel Celtic 2 - 1 Wilderness Rovers  

In the only Premier League game to survive the poor weather at the weekend, Clonmel Celtic edged out Wilderness Rovers by two goals to one in an entertaining tussle at Celtic Park on Sunday morning.

Rovers had the better of the encounters in division one last season but Celtic have turned the tables and Sunday’s win sees them complete the double over their neighbours at the higher level.

That said, the visitors got off to better start and won a penalty within 90 seconds of the kick off, which was converted by Graham Kelly to give them the lead.

Celtic struggled to get going, and were not helped by too many misplaced passes, while Rovers constantly looked to exploit the mistakes of which the home side were guilty.

Sean Brown looked well capable of doing that with a couple of efforts that were just off target, and “The Wildies” will look back on the game wondering what might have been if they had managed to secure that second goal.

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Clonmel Celtic gradually got into the game, with Philip Drohan looking lively up front, and Jack Purcell did well to get his head to a corner but his effort was well saved. 

They were unable to pull the deficit back before the break, but they upped the tempo in the second half as they went in search of an equaliser. They didn’t have long to wait as Darren Sweeney fired home a fine free kick ten minutes in, to make it one all.

Both sides battled to get the upper hand and it was  Celtic who got themselves in front 20 minutes from the end with a well-worked goal. A free kick to the far post was headed back across the goal by Cian O’Sullivan and Jack Purcell was on hand to nod home from close range.

Wilderness Rovers  rallied in those final minutes and were unlucky not to equalise when Graham Kelly was denied by Fabian Kerton, and the rebound was headed against the bar before the home side managed to scramble the ball clear.

Celtic hung on until the end for three very hard won points.