Mugged at the death - Slattery goal seals Tipperary derby for Saints in Munster Junior Cup

placeholder image — The St Michael’s team who defeated Clonmel Celtic by 2-1 in the Munster Junior Cup Quarter-Final played at Cooke Park, Tipperary on Sunday last. Pic: Michael Boland

Munster Junior Cup Quarter-Final

ST MICHAEL'S 2 CLONMEL CELTIC 1

A late late goal from veteran striker David Slattery put St Michael’s into the semi-final of the Munster Junior Cup at Cooke Park on Sunday at the expense of local rivals Clonmel Celtic, who added immensely to a wonderful game of football between the two TSDL side.

The visitors had a strong second half and will feel aggrieved that they didn't at least take the tie to extra time, but they also know that when you give the Saints an inch, they are more than happy to take a mile.

The game fizzed right from the off and Aido Walsh had to be sharp off his line to smother the ball after Peter O’Dowd had played in centre forward Brown of the Clonmel side.

At the other end the home side created three good chances in as many minutes around the quarter hour mark, but Paul Breen, Ed O’Dwyer or Jimmy Carr were unable to break the deadlock.

After that the game settled into a tough midfield battle with both sides giving everything and it looked like they were going to go to the break scoreless until Rhys O’Regan picked up the ball on the right and his superb left foot shot sailed past Cooney five minutes before half time, to give St Michael’s the lead.

Celtic changed some of their personnel at the break and this gave them an extra lift but once the home side had worked out the new tactics and formations, they took back control once again. But they found it impossible to get that second goal that would have given them some breathing space, and they were punished 15 minutes from time when Cian O’Sullivan saw his header cross the line from a Peter O’Dowd corner kick to level the game.

The Clonmel Celtic team who lost to a late St Michael's goal in the Munster Junior Cup Quarter-Final game played at Cooke Park, Tipperary Town on Sunday last. Pic: Michael Boland

The goal energised Celtic and O’Sullivan almost added a second five minutes later.

Saints brought in David Slattery with five minutes left, and they were under the cosh. But, as stoppage time ran down, they broke upfield and a Carr cross into the area was turned away for a corner. Just as the game seemed to be heading for extra-time Joey Mulcahy’s delivery dropped for Slattery, who managed to find the corner of the net and send the Saints bench and supporters into raptures, while the Clonmel contingent sunk into desolation. They had been mugged at the death after a powerful second half display, and all they could do was watch the hosts run down the clock and record another important if at some times improbable win.