Tipperary Soccer: Powerstown come through in Peter O'Reilly Cup shootout

Peter O'Reilly Cup (1st Round)

Powerstown 1 – 1 Burncourt Celtic

(After extra-time Powerstown win 4-3 on penalties)

On a weekend when a penalty kick decided a much more viewed game and in a much more hospitable weather environment, Powerstown overcame Burncourt Celtic in a penalty shootout to become the first and so far only team to advance to the second round of the Peter O’Reilly Cup.

The home team started the game well and thought they had taken the lead in the seventh minute, only for Cathal McKeown to see his effort come back off the post before being scrambled away to safety.

They continued to dominate but were caught by a goal against the run of play, when Nathan Byrne clinically finished a Burncourt counter attack in the 29th minute.

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Burncourt took that slender lead to the break, and then manfully defended their lines throughout most of the second half. But with the winning post in sight, all their good efforts were scuppered by Brian McKeown, who got on the end of a ball flashed across the Celtic box, and he finished to the net to draw the teams level.

The game finished at 1-1 and went to extra time, where Powerstown were reduced to ten men, just minutes in.

Despite this, the hosts dominated possession and created most of the chances, but a winner simply could not be found, and the game had to be settled by penalty kicks.

Powerstown prevailed, much to the delight of their supporters, and they’ll go forward in the competition if not as red hot favourites, certainly a few degrees warmer than the weather experienced last Sunday.