Clonmel Town lay down marker in bid to win first Tipperary league title in 12 years

Clonmel Town 1 Peake Villa 0

A Lee Costello penalty 20 minutes from time was enough to give Clonmel Town all three points in the big Tipperary Southern and District Premier League soccer clash against Peake Villa at the Dr Pat O’Callaghan sports complex in Clonmel on Sunday.

Peake started the game without their injured talisman striker Pippy Carroll, and this aided the home side in dominating the first half, with Rhys O’Regan the tormentor-in-chief as he forced the visiting defence into some last-ditch defending.

In the 28th minute he looked to have been upended in the box but his claims for a penalty were waved away, and just two minutes later Peake missed a glorious opportunity to go in front when Dale Loughnane did brilliantly to evade two Town defenders to pull the ball back, but with the goal at his mercy Kieran Hennessy scuffed his shot wide.

As the game flowed over and back, the away side were almost made to pay for that miss when Jamie Ahearne was tripped in the box and a penalty awarded, only for the Villa custodian Willie Tierney to be equal to Alan O’ Donnell’s penalty, which he saved with his feet.

Jack O’Donnell and Lee Costello then had efforts on goal but they never troubled Tierney, as the sides went in at half-time all square.

The Thurles side started the second half the better, and in the 57th minute Town goalie Evan Comerford did brilliantly to deny Jack Ryan Carey, before the follow-up shot from Dylan Cody was cleared off the line by Jamie Ahearne.

Peake then thought they had the ball in the net when Cian McCormack managed to get up at the back post but his header from a Darragh Byrne header hit the side netting.

These missed chances seem to re-energise Town and in the 64th minute Jack O’Donnell saw a shot from a Craig Guiry knockdown pass inches wide.

Minutes later Tierney was on hand again to push away an excellent Lee Costello free kick. Town were now dominating proceedings and forcing Peake to concede a number of corners, one of which led to a second penalty.

Lee Costello didn’t pass up the opportunity this time, as he buried the ball into the corner of the net to give the hosts the precious lead.

The last 20 minutes were played at a frantic pace, with both sides fully committed to the cause.

Town nearly added a second when Jack O’ Donnell was fouled on the edge of the box but once again Willie Tierney was equal to Lee Costello’s effort.

Town introduced a number of substitutes late on, and the fresh legs proved decisive as they held on for a massive three points in their quest to win a first league title since 2011, with Peake now wondering if this is going to be another year of sorrows for them, after their early season form promised so much.