Shock of the round as Suirside dump Premier League side from Tipperary Cup

Clonmel Credit Union Tipperary Cup

Suirside 4 – 1 Wilderness Rovers

The Second Division side caused the shock of the first round of this year’s TSDL blue riband competition when they came from behind to dump Premier League team Wilderness Rovers out of the cup.

Rovers started much the better and were unlucky not to go in front as early as the sixth minute when Jamie Dunne forced a brilliant save from Mark Kelly between the Suirside posts.

The home team’s tentative start continued and five minutes later Dunne made amends for his miss when he headed home a pinpoint cross to put Rovers ahead.

Suirside seemed to rally after this, and their first real sight of goal was in the 25th minute when Eoin Walsh went close.

Over the next five minutes they produced some more good efforts thanks to John Darmody and David Recontre.

It looked like the Wildies had weathered the storm until the final minute of the half, when captain fantastic Jason Coffey equalised with a brilliantly-taken 25-yard free kick.

Carrying on the momentum from the end of the first half into the second, Gavin Sheehan and Coffey executed a nice one-two before releasing veteran striker Paul Kennedy and he made no mistake in firing Suirside in front.

However, the Premier League side didn’t just fall away and Suirside were grateful for Kelly in goal once again 20 minutes from time, when he produced another excellent save to keep his side in front.

The victory was almost assured for Suirside 12 minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty kick for handball, which Coffey converted, and which saw Rovers reduced to ten men.

When Kennedy popped up with a second goal seven minutes from the end the final result was in no doubt, and Suirside won through to a second round game at home to Dualla this weekend.