Another exit in extra-time as Peake Villa lose out to Saints in Tipperary Cup

Tipperary Cup, 3rd Round

Peake Villa 2 – 3 St Michael’s (AET 2 -2)

Two of the “big beasts” of the TSDL faced off in the quarter finals of the Tipperary Cup at the weekend when St Michael’s travelled to Thurles to take on Peake Villa, and they put on a great show of football for the expectant watching crowd.

Unfortunately for the home side, there was a sense of déjà vu to the proceedings, when for the second time in a week, they exited a cup by a single goal in five after bringing the game all the way to extra time.

The hosts started brightly and created the first good chance in just the third minute when Ronan McGuire was through on goal, but his effort just cleared the crossbar. With the quality on show from both sides it wasn’t going to be long before a goal came, and when it did just three minutes later, it went to the visitors, with Ed O’Dwyer finding the net.

Villa then lost Keith Cahill through injury in the 16th minute, but they responded positively, by scoring the goal of the game eight minutes later, through a Mikey Wade free kick that gave the Saints netminder no chance to keep out.

Dale Loughnane also went close for the home side two minutes before the break, but his shot went just wide of the post.

It looked like the sides were going in level but the visitors stunned the home crowd when they broke quickly downfield and created an opportunity for Ashley Kelleher, who made no mistake to send his side into half time in front.

The second half saw the home side chase the game trying to break down a good Michael’s defence and it looked like the visitors were going to hold out, until deep in time added on, Dale Loughnane came up with an equaliser with a fine finish to send the game to a further 20 minutes.

But the hosts were dealt a blow only four minutes in when they didn’t clear their lines after an attack and John O’Brien scored to put the Saints back in front at three 3-2.

Try as they might to extend the game beyond that, the hosts simply couldn’t pick the St Michael’s defensive lock a third time, and bowed out of the cup, albeit with their heads held high.