Youths League Peake Villa 2 - 1 St. Michaels
Peake Villa youths played host to recently crowned TSDL League and Tipperary Cup Champions St Michaels in their last league game of the season. Villa squad on the day, Ben Murphy, Sean Butler, Conor Murphy, Conor Loughnane, James Dillion, Tommy McGuire, Wizzy, Jack Taylor, Dylan O'Shaughnessy, Jack Casey, Ronan McGuire, Kevin Patan, Jamie Donovan, Jordan Fahey & Darren Fahey. Villa were without their regular keeper Eoghan Tinkler through injury so the ever versatile Ben Murphy stepped up and jumped in goals.
Villa started the game against a strong breeze and got caught napping to go 1 down after only 3mins. It took Villa a good 10-15mins to get into the game but when they finally settled down they created some good opportunities with strong play in midfield from Tommy McGuire, Patyrk Wizzy and Jack Taylor. A great piece of play which started from Villa's stand in keeper Ben Murphy who played the ball to Sean Butler who gave a defense splitting pass for Ronan to run onto, Ronan tried to lob the on rushing keeper but the ball just sailed over the bar. The equalizer did come on the 25min when some good play down the left between Patryk Wizzy and Dylan O Shaughnessy saw Wizzys shot fall onto the head of Ronan McGuire who cooling headed home to bring his seasons tally to 55 goals. Villa kept the pressure up but some good defending from Michaels kept them at bay. Michaels failed to create any great chances due to the strong centre back partnership of Conor Murphy and Conor Loughnane. Halftime 1-1.
In the 2nd half Villa should have had the strong breeze but as luck would have it the wind died down on what was a glorious sunny day and ideal for football. The game was played a lot in midfield for most of the 2nd half with chances being few and far between. Villa did find the winner when a through ball found (who else) but Ronan Mcguire running onto it to lob it over the oncoming keeper, a brave and well deserved goal by Ronan who was taken off injured following the clash with the keeper. This brought Ronans tally for the season to 56 goals, an outstanding number.
Villa had a couple of half chances after this but nothing of note. They played out the game in a very professional manner to enflict the first league defeat of the season on strong St Michaels side. A super all round performance by Villa with every one of the 15 players performing superably on the day.
How different the season could have been if we had started this season off how we played in the 2nd half. The big thing to take for Villa is 11 of the 15 players are still of eligible to play youths next season and with a couple of players to come back in, Villa will be pushing hard for all honours next season.
A big thank you to the 4 youths moving onto Junior football next season, Tommy Mcguire, Conor Loughnane, Darren Fahey and Patryk Wizzy, best of luck boys from all players and coaches.
Premier League Peake Villa 1 - 1 Tipperary Town
Peake Villa entertained Tipperary Town in the league on Sunday afternoon. Peake Villa started well and created some good chances but found the Tipperary goalie hard to beat. They did take the lead tho in the 17th minute when a great ball from Pippy Carroll found Keith Cahill who shot to the far corner to give the home side the lead. Tipperary Town got back on level terms in the 27th minute when a great strike from Michael Frawley from all of 28 yards sailed over the Villa keeper Stephen Ryan. Villa we're on top for the rest of the half but couldn't break down the Tipperary defence. 1-1 at the break.
The second half was a stop start affair with Villa creating some good chances, Cahill hitting the crossbar was the closest they came to a winner. The man of the match was the Tipperary Town goalie making some excellent saves in the second half denying Villa all three points and the game ended all square 1-1.
U15 Premier League St Kevin's 1 - 3 Peake Villa
Villa made the short trip out to local rivals St Kevin's for their final league game of the season. Kevin's started the better and should have taken the lead on a few occasions only for some fine saves from Mark Mccarthy. Villa settled into the game on 20 minutes and started to create some half chances only to find the St Kevin's keeper in fine form. On 30 minutes Paddy Creedon was taken down in the box . He stepped up himself to leave Villa 1 up at the break.
Villa started the second half well and man of the match Henry Fogarty played Kieran Boyle through on goal who fired past the keeper to leave it 2-0. 10 minutes later St Kevin's pulled one back from a great strike from the edge of the box. Villa responded perfectly when they went straight down and made it 3-1 when again Henry Fogarty played through Paddy Creedon who made no mistake in curling the ball into the top corner. The game finished 3-1 and while Villa will be happy with 3 pts it will be a case of what could have been this season in the league as a slip up with 4 games to go inevitably cost them a title.