Huge celebrations as Tipperary club win first silverware in years with cup final victory

Peter O'Reilly Cup Final

DONOHILL & DISTRICT 2 CLONMEL CELTIC 1

There were huge celebrations in West Tipperary on Friday night last, when Donohill & District overcame Clonmel Celtic, to win the Peter O’Reilly Cup final, their first silverware in a number of years.

The game was played in a pristine Cooke Park, and the local side came out of the blocks flying, playing exceptionally well in the opening minutes, and were rewarded in the fifth minute when Alan O’Dwyer was brought down outside box, and Seanie Ryan stepped up to slam home the resulting free kick.

This eased any nerves that Donohill & District had, and saw them dominate for the next half hour, with Dinny Crosse making himself a constant thorn in the side of the Celtic defence.

Five minutes before the break it looked like Crosse had bagged a second, but his shot was brilliantly saved. Unfortunately for Celtic, the rebound fell to the feet of Seanie Ryan who followed in and bagged his second of game.

In the second half the dynamics of the game changed and Celtic came out a different side. They dominated possession and chances and played excellent football. But man of the match Ned Lowry marshalled the Donohill & District defence brilliantly denying Celtic time and again.

Ten minutes from the end, Clonmel Celtic’s pressure finally paid off when Cillian O’Brien found the net to bring his team right back into the game.

In those final minutes, Jack Aylward caused Donohill all kinds of problems and deep into time added on he had a free kick that went agonisingly wide.

Much to Donohill & District’s relief seconds later the final whistle blew and sparked wild celebrations from the supporters of the victors.