Battle of Tipperary Celtics: Clonmel overcome Bansha to advance in Munster Junior Cup

Munster Junior Cup (3rd Round)

CLONMEL CELTIC 1 BANSHA CELTIC 1

(AET, Clonmel Celtic won 4–3 on penalties)

Clonmel Celtic needed a penalty shootout to edge past Bansha Celtic in a keenly- contested Munster Junior Cup Round 3 clash at the bypass on Sunday.

The home side hadn’t played for a few weeks and they looked a bit rusty in a lacklustre first half of few opportunities. It was the visitors who had the best chance of the first half and the woodwork denied them an interval lead.

They did hit the front, however, five minutes into the second period when Daniel O’Dwyer took advantage of hesitancy in the Clonmel defence to fire low to the corner.

It woke the home team out of their slumber but they were struggling to create much and were making too many errors. They finally began to motor and got level in the 65th minute when Cian O’Sullivan swept home an in-swinging corner from close range.

Well on top now, they pushed for a winner, and Seanie Hawkins twice came close with headers before Jake Forristal nearly lit the place up with an audacious overhead kick.

Despite having most of the play, however, they couldn’t force a second goal.

Philip Drohan had an effort ruled out for offside and with ten minutes remaining they looked to have won a penalty when Seanie Hawkins was tripped but the referee judged the contact was outside the box.

The hosts remained in the ascendancy in extra-time but neither side could find the winner and so it was penalties that decided the tie. Clonmel were faultless with their spot kicks, scoring all four, and goalie Fabian Kerton emerged the hero, saving twice to see Celtic through to the fourth round on a scoreline of 4-3.