Tipperary representatives Peake Villa lose out in Champions Cup

Peake Villa FC 0 Villa FC 2

Peake Villa’s Junior A team entertained Waterford side Villa FC at the Tower Grounds in Thurles in the Munster Champions Cup quarter-final.

Peake knew going into the game that it would be a massive task to come out on top. It was their first competitive game of the season, while the visitors are already in the middle of their domestic campaign.

Villa started quickly and it took Peake a while to settle into the game, but once they did, the boys grew in confidence.

The defence played very well and, although under pressure at times, dealt with everything that came their way.

Willie Tierney was called upon during a ten-minute spell and produced three cracking saves to keep Peake in the game.

Michael Quinlan and Pippy Carroll had fine first halves, linking up very well, while Keith Cahill and Jason Patterson also grew into the game as the half progressed.

Unfortunately, all Peake’s hard work came undone in injury time. The visitors took the lead a minute into added time when John Tamen found the net.

Two minutes later, Villa doubled their advantage when Anthony Ebhonuaye scored in the 48th minute to give them a 2-0 half-time lead.

Peake tried to get back into the game in the second half, but the quality of the visitors was there for all to see. Young Darragh O Dwyer came on for Peake at half time and kept the visitors defence busy playing very well.

There were no further goals and the game finished 0–2.

Manager Derek Loughnane will be very happy with the performance of his players, particularly with several players missing through injury and others unavailable, against a quality Villa FC side.

Villa FC are wished the very best of luck for the remainder of the competition and are also wished every success in their exciting new venture into the League of Ireland Third Tier.

For Peake, the focus now turns back to pre-season as they continue our preparations for the new season.