Clonmel Celtic trump Town in Tipperary Youths League derby game

Youths League Division 1

Clonmel Celtic 4 – 2 Clonmel Town

Clonmel Celtic and Clonmel Town started their league campaigns on Saturday at the Bypass in very challenging conditions, with extreme heat proving very difficult for the players.

In the opening exchanges Celtic started the brighter and sought to maintain possession of the ball. However, a resolute Town defence kept chances to a minimum.

On 17 minutes Jack Aylward dispossessed a Town defender outside the box and set up Michael O’Reilly to hit an early contender for goal of the season, driving home from all of 25 yards to give Celtic the lead.

They continued to press forward, with Cillian O’Brien and Michael O’Reilly controlling the midfield and looking dangerous. However, Town broke ten minutes before the break and came very close to levelling, just narrowly shooting wide.

Within three minutes of the restart, Celtic made it two when Cillian O’Brien squared the ball to Dominic Mendel to score.

The Clonmel Town Youths squad prior to last Saturday's Division 1 League game against Clonmel Celtic. Pic: Michael Boland

For the next five minutes Town sensed an equaliser and when pushing forward Celtic broke down the right through Max Ryan, who squared the ball for Jack Aylward to slot home and re-establish his side’s two- goal cushion.

They continued to push forward and 12 minutes from time put the result to bed with a fourth goal, capitalising on confusion in the Town defence that allowed Cillian O’Brien to finish from close range.

Eight minutes from the end, Town got a second goal back through a Harry Tobin penalty kick, but it was never going to put the final result or destination of the points in doubt.