Tipperary soccer club Kilsheelan United make club history
Kilsheelan qualify for last 16 of Munster Junior Shield
Kilsheelan United 2 Bridge United 1
Club history was made on Sunday afternoon in Kilsheelan when the Junior A soccer side defeated Clare opposition in Bridge United AFC to put their name in the hat for the last 16 draw of the Munster Junior Shield - the furthest they have ever reached in a Munster competition in the club’s history.
The game started at a frantic pace, with Ben Smith almost giving the home side the perfect start when he was played through one-on-one but failed to convert his chance.
On three minutes, the visitors had a great chance, picking up the ball after a defensive mistake, but they fired their effort wide of Conor Grant’s goal.
A stunning save then denied Kilsheelan youth player Anthony Boyle, before Ben Smith forced the Bridge United 'keeper into a another great save midway through the half.
With six minutes on the clock in the second half, Bridge United took the lead through Jason Whyte, as theClare team’s captain fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner to give them the lead.
Kilsheelan continued to press, and got the goal their performance deserved 10 minutes from time when substitute Jamie Roche fired home from close range after getting on the end of John O’Dwyer’s pinpoint cross to send the game to extra-time.
Extra-time was a story of tired bodies and mistakes a-plenty from both sides. Kilsheelan enjoyed the majority of the ball, and eventually got themselves in the lead five minutes into extra-time when Jack Landy found the bottom corner from distance to the delight of the home crowd.
Kilsheelan saw out the cagey remaining minutes to book their place in the next round of the competition.