Powerstown inch closer to their first-ever soccer silverware in Tipperary

Clonmel Credit Union League Division 3

Burncourt Celtic 2 – 4 Powerstown

Burncourt Celtic welcomed pacesetters Powerstown to Ballyhurrow on Sunday last, hoping to slow what looks like their relentless march towards the Third Division title.

The game started scrappily enough, but as it wore on the visitors started to create some chances and in the 34th minute they got a reward for their pressure when a miscued clearance ended up in the home net, which gave Powerstown a single goal lead at the break.

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

Four minutes into the second period they doubled that lead when Jack Barlow latched onto a ball over the top of the home defence and slotted home.

Just after the hour mark, following a defensive mix-up, Powerstown looked to have made the points safe when they added a third through a smart finish by Brian McKeown.

But Burncourt continued to push for something from the game and they got it when Dylan Ryan got on the end of a good through ball to bring the score back to 3-1 in the 68th minute.

However, Powerstown showed why they lead the division by responding quickly again and adding a fourth through Cian Crowe, who finished with a smart drive from just inside the box.

Celtic kept plugging away and got a second goal after Pa Ryan was fouled by a Powerstown defender, and Dave Baker stepped up and cooly slotted the penalty home to complete the scoring.

Tipperary Town 1 – 1 Cahir Park

Tipperary Town welcomed Cahir to the Abbey on what was a perfect day for football, last Sunday morning in the Third Division.

The game started wel,l with both sides committed to passing the ball, and after early chances for both the home team struck first. In the 22nd minute a well-worked throw-in saw Town move the ball into the Cahir area, and it was expertly steered into the net by Cathal Ryan, who reacted quickest.

The Park had a good spell for the remainder of the half and were good value for an equaliser when they were awarded a penalty just before half time. The penalty was dispatched with the minimum of fuss by Dean Fitzwater, and that took the teams to half time at -1-1.

The second half started with the home side on the front foot, with attacks leading to shots on goal, but they just couldn’t find a second goal. Midway through the second half it was Cahir’s turn to boss the game and, just like the home side, they too couldn’t find the target, with Mickey O’Dwyer doing well in goal.

Chances came and went but both ‘keepers stood firm and a share of the spoils was a fair ending.

Donohill and District 1 – 0 Two Mile Borris

Donohill and District stayed in the promotion hunt and put a huge hole in Two Mile Borris’ chances of winning the Third Division when they defeated them by a single goal after a good game on Sunday last.

Both teams tried hard from the start and got the ball moving as fast as they could, but were still finding it hard to create clearcut chances in a tight first half. Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening period, and the second half continued in much the same fashion.

That was until 20 minutes from time when, as the teams tired, Donohill’s Dinny Crosse was taken down in the area, and Jerry O’Neill stepped up to take the resultant penalty. But his effort came back off the crossbar and was scrambled away to safety.

That could have knocked the stuffing out of the home side but they kept pressing, and with ten minutes left Crosse scored from a free kick that was enough to ensure his side would take the three points, despite a flurry of late pressure from Borris.