Single goal decides game between two top teams in Tipperary soccer
Champions St Michael's surrender unbeaten record to Peake Villa
Peake Villa 1 St Michael's 0
There was a fine crowd at the Tower Grounds in Thurles last Saturday evening for the last league game of the season for both of these sides, even if it wasn’t a title decider game as many hoped, between the top two sides in Tipperary football.
It was a very competitive league game played at a high tempo and Villa started well, getting at the champions from the start and putting them under a lot of pressure.
They came close through Ronan McGuire in the twelfth minute but he was denied by an excellent save.
They broke the deadlock ten minutes later when captain fantastic Pippy Carroll scored from close range to make it one nil.
Both sides had efforts leading up to half time but it remained 1-0 at the break.
The Saints were hoping to go through the season unbeaten, and came out in the second half with real purpose.
However, they found Villa defenders Evan McCormack and Sean Condron in great form and they kept the visitors at bay.
Micheal Quinlan was having a fine game in midfield and Dale Loughnane was hurting the visitors with his runs up the wing.
In the end, there were no more goals, as one champion handed over the crown to another.
There’s no doubt that both teams will be very much in the mix again come next season.