Heartbreak as late penalty denies Tipperary side win against crack Limerick outfit

Munster Junior Cup Quarter-Final

PEAKE VILLA 2 FAIRVIEW RANGERS 3 (after extra-time)

There was heartbreak for TSDL side Peake Villa on Sunday last in Thurles, when a late penalty in normal time denied them a famous victory against Limerick kingpins, and then losing out in extra-time.

The game started at a frenetic pace and Villa had the first chance at goal in just the second minute when Pippy Carroll attempted an audacious lob, but his effort slid just inches wide.
Carroll was involved again in the 15th minute, being the provider this time, to Ronan McGuire whose header went just over.

Fairview weathered the storm, and bounced back like so many great teams, and against the run of play they took the lead in the 27th minute when Jeffery Judge scored, slipped beyond the home defence and made no mistake from close in.

Villa didn’t drop the heads however, and again Carroll came close from a free kick in the 36th minute, but it was well saved by Josh McCarthy in the Fairview Rangers goal. The Thurles side went to the break a single goal behind and came out with real purpose in the second half, creating chance after chance.

They finally made the pressure count in the 70th minute when a great cross was put in by Darragh Byrne and left back Dale Loughnane who made his way into the box, got on the end of it to steer his shot under the keeper’s body and level the game.

The hosts were then forced to defend almost immediately from the kick off when Fairview almost struck back only for a great goal line clearance by veteran Alan Leahy.

And the TS&DL side turned the tie on its head, when they took the lead in the 73rd minute, with Keith Cahill playing in Ronan McGuire to score with a fine finish.

This forced the Limerick side to throw everything at Villa in the search of a leveller, but it look like the home side would hold out, until the final minute of time added on, when the visitors were awarded a penalty that Steven Bradley scored, and sent the game to extra-time.

During extra-time it was clear that Peake Villa, having done brilliantly to get back into the game during normal time, were still hurting after that late equaliser. Just three minutes in, Jack Arra caught the home defence flat and fired home a leading goal for his side.

After that the home side tried to get back level again, but the Limerick city side employed all their experience and nous, and played out the final minutes without giving the home side any real chance to get that equaliser.