Killenaule Rovers and Suirside advance to third round of Tipperary Cup

Clonmel Credit Union Tipperary Cup, 2nd Round

Cashel Town 2 – 2 Killenaule Rovers
(AET Killenaule Rovers win 3-1 on penalties)

This was an entertaining game between two closely matched teams, which ultimately saw Killenaule Rovers advance on penalties after the teams had shared four goals between them in regulation and extra-time.

Both teams started in an attacking fashion and had a series of chances each before the visitors finally took the lead ten minutes before the break when Kieran Walker took a shot outside the box, that fizzed into the bottom corner of the net.

This was enough to leave them in front at half time, and when they extended their lead ten minutes into the second period after Craig Walker put away a nice move, it looked like they were going to have an easy passage into the next round.

But Cashel Town rallied and reduced the deficit when with ten minutes remaining David O’Dwyer netted after some nice build up play.

This spurred the home side into all out attack and with just four minutes left, Ross Bonnar scored a great goal to level the tie.
That pushed the game to extra time, and the best chance in the extra minutes fell to the home side, but they spurned it when scoring looked easier.

With no more goals the game went to penalties, where the visitors keeper was inspired saving the first three penalties he faced, and helping his side to a three goal to one win from the spot kicks.

Suirside 3 – 0 Dualla

These two teams have met numerous times in different competitions in the last few years and some of these games have been titanic battles, but Suirside got a well deserved win here on Sunday on a relatively comfortable scoreline.

The home side started the brighter and had an early opportunity to open the scoring in the fourth minute, but John O’Darmody’s effort went narrowly wide. Gavin Sheehan had another good chance in the ninth minute, but again his volley went he wrong side of the post.

It seemed inevitable that they would score however, and six minutes before the break they got the opening goal when Jason Coffey found an onrushing Gavin Sheehan, whose strike was parried by the Dualla keeper into the path of veteran striker Paul Kennedy and he made no mistake from just yards out.

This was enough to give Suirside a half-time lead, and they doubled their lead in the second minute of the second period when a Jason Coffey corner was met by the head of Kennedy to give him and his side a comfortable cushion.

This left the hosts in control, but 18 minutes from time Dualla almost pulled a goal back when a brilliant through ball put a visiting striker one on one with the home keeper, but Mark Kelly in the goal got down to make a very brave save.

This shook the Ardfinnan side back into action, and they added a third goal to make sure there would be no comeback ten minutes from time, courtesy of a mistake in the visiting defence. A looping back pass was spilled by the Dualla keeper and Oisin Ryan was in hand to get the third to put his side in the hat for the next round.