Hard-earned win keeps Clonmel Town on top of Tipperary Premier League

Clonmel Credit Union Premier League

Clonmel Town 3 Two-Mile-Borris 1

Clonmel Town gained a hard- earned three points against a dogged Two Mile Borris side in the Dr Pat O’Callaghan Complex on Sunday morning, to keep them at the summit of the Premier League, as their closest rivals were busy playing elsewhere.

 The 3-1 scoreline might suggest a comfortable morning’s work for the home side but as always Borris proved once again just how formidable a side they are, especially this season, where they have managed to compile a nice blend of experienced and younger players into their squad.

The visitors started on the front foot and the first chance of the game fell to Jamie Lee, when in the 13th minute his strike from 25 yards  brought a great save from Town custodian Ben Cooney.

Five minutes later Clonmel Town’s  Rhys O’Regan blazed over with the goal at his mercy, and that miss was shortly followed by a Cillian Crowe shot that cannoned off the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Clonmel side Wilderness Rovers' FAI Cup odyssey ends with brave defeat in Cork

But as the game progressed, the home side began to make more chances, and just after the half-hour mark went ahead when Crowe got on the end of a delicious pass from Keith Guiry and fired past Endiss Mickelson in the Borris goal.

 But the visitors didn’t panic and just on half-time their positive play was rewarded when Stewart Hanrahan headed home a Jamie Lee corner, to leave the sides level at the break and it was anyone’s game for the taking.

Right from the start of the second period, the home side began to dominate, but found a Two-Mile-Borris defence that was well marshalled by veteran Martin Darmody and Loran O’Toole very difficult to break down. They finally cracked, however, in the 63rd minute when a clumsy challenge in the visitors’ area saw Town awarded a penalty, and Alan O’Donnell made no mistake to put them back into the lead.

 They pushed on in search of a third as they tried to put the result beyond doubt, and five minutes from time O’Donnell added his second and his side’s third, when he curled the ball around the wall at a free kick and into the bottom corner, much to the relief of the home supporters.

 After that it was a case of what they have they held, as Clonmel Town secured the three points without any more problems.