Tipperary Soccer: Peter O'Reilly Cup wins for Donohill, Kilsheelan and Clonmel Celtic

Peter O'Reill Cup Preliminary Round

Burncourt Celtic 2 – 2 Donohill and District

(AET Donohill and District win 5 - 3 on penalties)

This game got off to a brisk start and inside five minutes Celtic hit the front when Sean Cagney slotted a penalty home after a foul on Pa Ryan.

The hosts continued to play on the front foot, and added a second just before the half-hour mark when a long ball over the top by Sean Cagney was collected by the onrushing Ryan again, and he finished with a fine strike to the roof of the net to double his and his team’s tally.

After this, though, Donohill woke up and created some good chances. Just as half time approached, they pulled a goal back when a cross into the box was finished from close range by Alan Wallace.

The second half flowed back and forth, with chances for both sides, and 15 minutes from the end Donohill equalised when they were awarded a penalty.

Despite a great save from Marc Cagney from the initial effort, Ned Lowry followed up his spot kick to score the equaliser.

There were to be no more goals in the 90 minutes, so extra time ensued. Again, both sides had chances and right at the death Pa Ryan was desperately unlucky to see his strike hit the crossbar, and from the clearance Celtic won the ball back and got in a shooting position, but David Cagney scuffed his shot wide.

The lottery that is penalties played their part to finally divide the teams and Donohill came out on top, winning on a 5-3 scoreline to progress to the next round.

Peter O'Reilly Cup Quarter-Finals

Killenaule Rovers 2 – 3 Kilsheelan United

Kilsheelan United got their defence of the Peter O’Reilly Cup off to a winning start over Killenaule with a narrow win by the odd goal in five on Sunday morning last.

After an even opening half an hour in which Kilsheelan dominated possession without creating many clear chances, they eventually took the lead when Billy O’Connor played a smart through ball behind the home defence to Aaron Costin, who deftly chipped the ‘keeper to open the scoring.

This was the only goal of the first half, and ten minutes into the second half Killenaule levelled the scoring with an effort from distance.

But that shook Kilsheelan once again, and just after the hour-mark they regained the lead through Nathan Dolan, who emphatically powered home a header from an inch-perfect corner kick from Billy O’Connor.

However, while they were still in celebratory mood, they were rocked again when Killenaule equalised for a second time courtesy of a fantastic volley into the top-left corner of the net from a set-piece delivery.

The game was on a knife edge after this, with both sides going close, before Kilsheelan finally found the vital fifth goal. With just eight minutes remaining, Aaron Costin caused havoc down the left wing before his cross found the head of substitute Jamie Roche, who scored from close range.

Killenaule were reduced to ten men soon afterwards, and Kilsheelan soaked up all the pressure to secure their passage into the semi-finals.

Clonmel Celtic 1 – 1 Ballingarry Albion

(AET Clonmel Celtic win 4-3 on penalties)

Clonmel Celtic’s seconds edged out Ballingarry Albion at home on Sunday morning to qualify for the semi-finals of the Peter O’Reilly Cup.

It was a tight, keenly- contested encounter that went all the way to penalties. Ballingarry started brightly, going close on a couple of occasions to taking the lead. But Celtic, under new management, finally settled into the game as the first half finished scoreless.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with scoring chances at a premium, before Ballingarry hit the front on the hour mark when John Pollard headed home from Dylan Walsh’s corner.

Albion were on top at this stage, with Gerard Ivors going close to scoring a second.

However, Celtic hung in and rallied in the final ten minutes, before they were rewarded in injury time when David Garrett headed home from a free kick.

Ballingarry had the better of extra time but Celtic goalie Peter Boland made a brilliant save and a goalline clearance from a Celtic defender brought the game to penalties, with Clonmel Celtic eventually edging out the visitors, winning on a scoreline of 5-4.