Draw with Clonmel Town secures Tipperary Premier League survival for Bansha Celtic

Clonmel Credit Union Premier League

Bansha Celtic 2 Clonmel Town 2

Bansha Celtic assured themselves of Premier League action next season, and put a big dent in the hopes of Clonmel Town winning this year’s title, when they held the league leaders to a 2-2 draw at home on Sunday afternoon.

In good form of late, Bansha took the lead after just three minutes when a free kick from Darren McGrath took a slight deflection off the wall and nestled in the bottom corner, leaving the Town ‘keeper stranded.

But directly from the kick off, Town attacked with purpose and saw a ball break in the box to Rhys O’Regan, who made no mistake from twelve yards to level the game.

However, the home side regained the initiative just before the half-hour mark, when a cross from the right was volleyed home by Robbie Byron, and that was enough to send his side to the break a goal to the good.

Needing a result from the game, Town took control in the second period and produced a couple of excellent chances before they finally got level for a second time when a strike from Cillian Crowe from all of 25 yards nestled in the top corner.

Bansha defended well for the rest of game, desperate to hold onto that precious point, and almost won all three when a header from Darren McGrath smashed off the crossbar in the final moments.

In the end, Bansha were very happy with the draw that ensures safety, while Clonmel will rue what they will consider to be two points dropped as the season enters its crucial weeks.