Donohill and Clonmel Celtic to contest Peter O'Reilly Cup final in Tipperary this Friday

Peter O'Reilly Cup Semi-Finals

DONOHILL & DISTRICT 2 TIPPERARY TOWN 0

These teams faced off last Wednesday evening to try and win a place in the Peter O’Reilly Cup final and it was a humdinger of a game, with both sides going hell for leather throughout.

It was the home side who struck first, in the 22nd minute, when Dinny Crosse was played through in front of goal and he coolly slid the ball past the ‘keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.

This spurred on Town and they should have been level on the half-hour mark when Ray Kelly lobbed the stranded ‘keeper, only to see his effort come back off the crossbar before being cleared away to safety.

Town’s bad luck was made worse when from that very clearance Donohill set up a counter attack and Jamie Malone finished it off by scoring a screamer from all of 30 yards to put them 2-0 up.

This seemed to knock the wind out of the visitors and they eventually wilted, finding it hard to create any attacks of note, and Donohill held on easily enough to book a place in the final.

FRIDAY MAY 3: Peter O’Reilly Cup Final: Clonmel Celtic v Donohill and District, at Cooke Park, Tipperary at 6:45pm M Chapman, J Lyons, M Freiberg

CLONMEL CELTIC 1 SC&K UNITED 1 (Clonmel Celtic win on penalties)

This was the fourth meeting of these sides in all competitions this year, and with the visitors having won on the first three occasions, they arrived to Clonmel Celtic in confident mood of making it four from four.

In the opening exchanges, however, the hosts looked to have settled well, but they were rocked back in the eighth minute when a lightning break down the right hand side saw Kilsheelan take the lead with a well-worked goal.

Clonmel Celtic continued to work the ball well and were creating some chances and they deservedly got back level when their pressure paid off ten minutes before the break. Jamie Hindley got into the box and finished well to put the home team on level terms at 1-1.

The second half was again an even affair, with the visitors starting the half the brighter and almost getting back in front.
Clonmel Celtic settled and began to exert some pressure, creating a number of chances but they didn’t capitalise on them.

As it transpired there were no more goals in regulation time and the game needed extra-time to decide who would play in the Peter O’Reilly Cup final.

Again the extra-time period was a very even affair, with defences winning the day, as players tired after the long game. It took penalties to separate the sides and finally the home side were to have some success at the fourth time of asking, when Peter Boland pulled off a fine save to send his team to the final.

FRIDAY MAY 3: Peter O’Reilly Cup Final: Clonmel Celtic v Donohill and District, at Cooke Park, Tipperary at 6:45pm M Chapman, J Lyons, M Freiberg