All too easy for St Michael's against Clonmel Celtic in Tipperary Premier League

Clonmel Credit Union Premier League

St Michael’s 5 – 0 Clonmel Celtic

St Michael’s produced an excellent performance here against a good Clonmel Celtic side but some good play and good finishing by the home side saw the game effectively over as a contest by half-time.

Both teams had early chances. Danny O’Brien went close for the hosts in the third minute, from an Ashley Kelliher cross, and a sublime pass from Cian O’Sullivan four minutes later saw Sean Hawkins hit a superb strike which was matched by a top save from Adrian Walsh, resulting in a corner.

Celtic then won four corners in a row but were rocked back in the 11th minute when a good pass from Sean Murphy freed Rhys O’Regan who crossed from the endline for Ashley Kelliher to tap home from close range.

It was 2-0 to the Saints, in the 16th minute, when Danny O’Brien played in Rhys O’Regan who again crossed for Kelliher to score a similar goal to the first.

They almost made it three in the 25th minute when Shane Ryan tested Fabian Kerton from the edge of the area, but the Clonmel Celtic keeper pushed the shot round the post.

On 33 minutes, the visitors almost caught out the home side with a long ball out from backline which saw Darren Sweeney square the ball across the 18 yard line but Ben Browne got under the shot and it went up and over the bar.

This was enough to focus the home side’s minds again and three minutes later they got their third, when O’Brien played in Ashley Kelliher to score from six yards and complete his hat trick.

Just on half time it was 4-0 with the move and goal of the game, after a series of one twos between O’Brien and Kelliher saw Kelliher turn provider for O’Brien to meet the ball in mid air and guide it to the net.

The game was over as a contest and St Michael’s could afford to ease back and use their bench with Ed O’Dwyer coming in at half time for Shane Ryan.

Celtic also used their bench and threw a bit of caution to the wind in order to try and reduce the deficit. Ed O’Dwyer saw his shot saved by Kerton on 51 minutes and Kelliher followed up but hit the ball wide of goal.

At the other end substitute Keenan Kerton also fired wide of goal, before 15 minutes from time O’Brien got his second, from close range to make it 5-0 as the impressive Saints, closed out the game with relative ease against the visitors.