Great joy as Clonmel Celtic hit two late goals to advance to FAI Cup quarter-finals

FAI Junior Cup, 6th Round

CLONMEL CELTIC 2 LETTERKENNY ROVERS 1

Jamie Ahearne may only be a recent addition to the squad but he wrote his name into Clonmel Celtic folklore with an injury-time strike that completed a stunning comeback to clinch a place in the last eight of the FAI Junior Cup for the TSDL side.
Moments earlier Cian O’Sullivan had scored a deserved equaliser just when it looked the Donegal side had done enough to advance after Zach Gorman had fired them ahead in the 53rd minute.

Played on a good surface before a decent sized crowd, Clonmel celtic made a good start to the game with some nice link up play and seemed to settle quicker than the visitors. The away side did have the first attempt on goal with Adrian Delap trying a shot from distance that didn't trouble Fabian Kerton however.

Delap was looking likely as the Donegal side began to find their way into the contest and Zach Gorman saw his free kick clear the bar ten minutes in.

Two minutes later Cian O’Sullivan was called into action to stop a promising attack from the northerners.

Clonmel Celtic's Philly Drohan effort is foiled by Letterkenny Rovers goalkeeper Blake Forkan during Sunday's FAI Junior Cup game at the Clonmel By-Pass. Pic: Michael Boland

Celtic at this stage were relying on quick breaks and were nearly in on 21 minutes but Blake Forkan was quick off his line to deny Philly Drohan with a fine save.

They home came even closer on the half hour, when from a quick break Philly Drohan released Darren Sweeney who did well to hold off the defender but his effort was inches wide when it looked destined for the corner of the net.

The Donegal side finished the half well but the home rearguard held firm.

Adrian Delap was prominent again in the early stages on the second half and he flashed a shot just wide two minutes after the restart.

The visitors didn’t have to wait much longer and they hit the front in the 53rd minute, when Zach Gorman’s low shot swerved away from Kerton to find the net.

It was a huge blow for Celtic but their response was excellent. Straight away they took the game to Letterkenny Rovers winning battles all over the pitch. The away side began to drop deeper and deeper and on 73 minutes, minutes Sean Brown’s overhead kick saw Blake Forkan scrambling across his line to push the ball away.

At this stage it looked as time would be Celtic’s enemy, despite creating lots of chances, seeing themselves denied time after time. But the best was saved until last.

It was a great fighting display by the hosts and they got their reward in the final minute when another ball into the box fell at the feet of Cian O’Sullivan and he made no mistake as he fired low through a crowd of players to find the net to huge roars from the home crowd.

It looked as the game was heading for extra-time but Celtic had the momentum now as they continued to push forward.
After suffering a late setback last week to St Michael’s in the Munster Junior Cup quarter-final, it was the opposite this time. Two minutes into time added on, Philly Drohan did well on the left and his cross found Jamie Ahearne on the edge of the box and he kept his composure to fire a stunning effort to the corner that left the Rovers’ keeper rooted to the spot.

Clonmel Celtic have had some big wins over the years in junior soccer, but rarely has the Clonmel By-Pass venue witnessed such a joyous reaction from supporters when Aherne’s rocket hit the net. It completed a stunning late comeback to an exciting contest, and heartbreak for Letterkenny Rovers who had played their part in a very sporting game.