Good day for Clonmel Celtic in Tipperary Cup as both club sides advance

Clonmel Credit Union Tipperary Cup, Round 3

St Nicholas 2 – 4 Clonmel Celtic A

Clonmel Celtic’s first team prepared for their upcoming home FAI Junior Cup quarter-final against Donegal’s Cockhill Celtic by moving into the next round of the Tipperary Cup, after a good win in Solohead against St Nicholas.

The game was dominated in the early stages by the visiting side, and they opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a corner wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and Niall Prendergast had a free header at the back post, from which he made no mistake.

But far from that goal opening the floodgates, the Second Division side dug in and even created some half chances themselves in a first half that ultimately saw no further goals scored.

St Nicholas had a brilliant chance to level the game five minutes into the second period which they spurned, and they got a lesson in the difference between the Second Division and the Premier League when Celtic put the game beyond them shortly afterwards with two goals in as many minutes.

Firstly Darren Sweeney found the net after some clever build-up play, and then they were awarded a penalty kick, which Ayo Williams blasted to the net for 3-0.

That said, the Saints never lie down and they pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Brendan Collins finished off a cross from Jason Sutton from less than twelve yards out.

The game opened up after this, with both teams making chances, but the crucial goal went to Clonmel Celtic when Prendergast got his second of the day to dispel any notions of a comeback by the home side.

St Nicholas continued to push on, and got a second goal 11 minutes from time when Sutton finished off an assist by Collins, but it was too little too late and the Clonmel side advance to the next round.

Clonmel Celtic B 6 – 0 Killenaule Rovers

Both these teams may currently play in Division 3 of the TSDL League but there was a clear gulf in class in this Tipperary Cup tie, with a Mike Cooper hat-trick laying the foundations for a big win by the home team.

Three more goals added by Dylan Kiely, Cillian O’Brien and David Garrett gave Celtic the victory by 6-0, and they now join their first team in the next round.