Premier League relegation battle in Tipperary - Bansha Celtic stay up

Premier League Relegation Play-Off

Bansha Celtic 2 – 1 Tipperary Town

It was an all or nothing game for these west Tipperary sides, with the prize of staying in the top division of the TSDL at stake.
Bansha Celtic started the better and deservedly took the lead on fifteen minutes, when a cross into the box was headed out to the edge of the area and Robbie Byron volleyed the ball back to the corner of the net.

In control now, Celtic were dominating both play and chances, and made it two just before the half-hour mark when Adam Hennessy turned a Town defender, and crossed into the box for Eamon Quirke to sidefoot home from close range.
They had chances to extend the lead after this but Town hung on, and the game went to the break at 2-0.

The Tipperary Town management obviously had some strong words for their team, and they came flying out of the blocks in the early stages of the second period and pulled a goal back five minutes after the restart, when a corner wasn’t cleared properly and Olek Usyk fired a low shot into the net.

Bansha Celtic were dealt a further blow on the hour mark when one of their players received a second yellow card, and they were reduced to ten men.

Town dominated the rest of the game but the Celtic backline defended brilliantly, and on the few occasions they were breached their ‘keeper came to their rescue to preserve their lead.

Tipperary Town threw everything at them in the final minutes, but couldn’t find the goal that might have even brought the tie to added time, and it finished with Bansha preserving their Premier League status for another season.