Tipperary soccer: A brace each for the Brown brothers as rivals Town and Celtic both win

Clonmel Town 6 – 0 Wilderness Rovers

Clonmel Town were convincing winners over Wilderness Rovers in this local derby on a cold afternoon at the Dr Pat O’Callaghan Sports Complex on Sunday.

Town started well and were ahead after 15 minutes when Ben Brown scored on his return to the club.

They then had numerous chances to increase their lead but struggled to add a second until Ian Cleary continued his run of goalscoring form to score from the penalty spot just before half time.

That goal seemed to suck the life out of a game Wilderness Rovers who were well in the game up to that point, and when Jake French Davis added a third goal five minutes into the second period it was game over.

Brown added his second of the day soon after and not to be out-done, Davis secured his brace 20 minutes from time.
There was still time for a sixth when Sean Kenny pounced 12 minutes from the end, and it was a comfortable last ten minutes for the home side as they used their bench well to secure a clean sheet and very important three points.

Tipperary Town 1 – 2 Clonmel Celtic

The opening half hour of this game was very even, with the home side playing much better than in last week’s surprise Cup exit, and the visitors finding in harder to adapt to the cold and blustery conditions.

Eventually the home side opened the scoring when a Ryan Maher corner wasn’t dealt with and Caleb Hickey hammered home a volley from close range. They upped their tempo after this, but their final ball let them down on too many occasions and they weren’t able to add to their tally before the half- time break.

The second period however showed why the Clonmel side are in the latter stages of national cups, pinning back the home side who had Mikey O’Dwyer to thank in goals on a few occasions.

The equaliser eventually came with 15 minutes left on the watch, when after relentless pressure from a number of corner, Sean Brown stabbed home from close range.

The winner though broke home hearts, coming in the final minute of the game, when a well worked move down the left saw Sean Brown meet a cross at the near post with an excellent finish.

The hosts threw the kitchen sink at it in injury time but were nearly picked off twice more, and in the end the away side took all three points.