Comprehensive play-off win sees Cahir Park back in Tipperary Premier League as champions

First Division title play-off

Cahir Park 6 Tipperary Town 1

On a wet afternoon at Aisling Park in Cullen, this highly anticipated play-off final turned into a bit of a damp squib, when Cahir Park blew away their opponents with a magnificent first half performance, to ensure they would head back to the Premier League as champions.

The pitch was in perfect condition as the players took to the field, with great credit due to the Cullen club, but it was The Park who raced out of the blocks and into the lead in the sixth minute of the game, when a Stephen Duggan shot for the edge of the area, eluded both defence and keeper to nestle in the far corner of the net to the delight of his team’s travelling supporters.

Only four minutes later, Cahir doubled the advantage when a long clearance from their keeper fell to Tom Keating and he lobbed the stranded Tipperary Town net minder from all of 25 yards out.

All the weekend soccer results in Tipperary - Cahir Park are champions

The Tipperary Town outfit, who had led the Division One table for nigh on the whole season, seemed shell shocked at this point, but things were to get even worse, and they fell 3-0 behind on the quarter hour mark when Willie Dunne fired home a low volley from 15 yards out, to establish Cahir with a vice like grip on the tie.

And Dunne as much as put the game to bed in the 33rd minute when he got his second, and his side’s fourth, heading home a corner kick from close in.

There were no more goals in the first half, and Tipperary Town came out with more purpose in the opening part of the second half, having greater possession, but in truth the Cahir Park defence were never really troubled and seemed to be happy to soak up the pressure without coughing up any real chances.

And once they stretched their legs in attack again, they added a fifth 20 minutes from time, when Barry Cooney rammed home a shot from outside the area.

Tipperary Town did pull a goal back almost straight from the kick-off, but the final say went to Cahir Park and to Willie Dunne when he secured his hat-trick from the penalty spot five minutes from time, and sent his team up on a high, back to the top level of the TSDL.