Aylward's last minute goal wins Tipperary League tie for Clonmel Celtic v Cahir Park

Clonmel Credit Union Premier League

CLONMEL CELTIC 2 CAHIR PARK 1

A last-minute goal from substitute Jack Aylward saw Clonmel Celtic get back to winning ways as they overcame Cahir Park by a single goal in an exciting encounter at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was a good quality game dominated by defences, but it didn’t look like that in the early stages as both rearguards were breached in the first eight minutes.

The visitors were ahead after two minutes when Celtic didn’t deal with a high ball into the box and the ball dropped to Niall Daly who nodded home from close range.

But the hosts were level within six minutes with a well worked goal. Cillian Hogan did well on the right and his centre was swept home to the corner of the net by Jack Purcell.

Following the early drama both defences tightened up and chances were few and far between. The rest of the first half was an entertaining even affair but both solid backlines dominated with neither side able to create any clearcut chances.

The second half followed a similar pattern but as the game progressed Clonmel Celtic began to get on top. A fine move on the hour mark opened up the visitors’ defence, but Brian Sweeney got down well to deny Peter O’Dowd.

A draw probably wouldn’t have been a bad outcome for either side but the home side were rewarded in the 89th minute for pushing that bit harder for a winner. It was another finely worked goal. Sean Brown did well to win and hold up the ball before releasing Philip Drohan and his cross was expertly despatched to the corner of the net by Aylward, to the delight of the watching crowd.

Cahir Park tried to respond in injury time and had a couple of efforts on target but both were comfortably saved by Fabian Kerton as Clonmel Celtic held on for an important three points.