Peake Villa Junior A and u17 through to last 8 of their Cup Competitions
Sunday 11th February
Munster Junior Cup Last 16
Full-Time: Peake Villa 2-2 Thurles Town
Scorers: Mikey Wade and Tommy Teer
Extra Time: Peake Villa 3-2 Thurles Town
Scorer: Mikey Wade (penalty)
Villa entertained local rivals Thurles Town up in the Tower Grounds on a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon, that had a bit of everything including a 20-minute snow shower in between the sunshine. Villa were rocked in the 3rd minute when a miss timed challenge from Sean Wade led to a free kick that Willie Tierney in the Villa goal fisted clear, but his clearance fell straight onto the head of Martin Darmody whose header went straight back over the keeper’s head to put Town 1-0 ahead. Villa got going after this wakeup call and were doing all the pressing and scored the equaliser in the 10th minute after great work by Mikey Wade down the right, saw him cut in and score to make it 1-1. Villa nearly took the lead soon after when James O'Sullivan's shot was excellently saved by the Town Keeper. Martin Darmody (Thurles) had a great chance in the 30th minute but Willie Tierney saved well. Alan Leahy made a well-timed tackle in the 35th minute to keep the score at 1-1. Tommy Teer gave Villa the lead cutting In from the left and striking to the bottom corner. Alan Leahy had to go off in the 43rd minute due to injury and we wish him a speedy recovery. 2-1 to Villa at half time.
Villa came out with real purpose in the second half and went to put the game to bed playing some great football at times and limited Town to very few chances. Villa came close on a few occasions. James O Sullivan set up Jody Harkin whose volley was brilliantly saved by Greame Loughman in the Town goal. Loughman again came to Towns rescue when saving again from a Pippy Carroll shot. Mikey Nally came close from a header which just went over. The Villa lads just couldn't find the elusive third which would have ended the contest and were punished in the 86th minute when Conor English scored the goal of the game from all of 25 yards out, hitting the top corner, giving Tierney no chance in the Villa goal. Full time 2-2.
The first half of extra time was cagey enough with limited chances. With 5 minutes to go of the second half of extra time when it looked like the game could be going to penalties, but Dale Loughnane was put through by Pippy Carroll only to be taken down in the box. Up stepped Mikey Wade who calmly slotted to the bottom corner to make it 3-2 and put Villa into the Quarter-Final where they will play Limerick side Janesboro.
A fantastic team performance and a great win against our cross-town rivals.
Saturday 10th February
FAI u17 Challenge Cup Last 16 Peake Villa 3 - 2 Manulla FC (Mayo)
Scorers: Liam McCormack (1) Darren Flood (2)
Villa played host to Mayo club Manulla who travelled the long distance from Claremorris in Co. Mayo. The game turned out to be a thrilling encounter. Firstly, credit must go to Martin Cooke and all the other club members who had the pitch in great order, despite the overnight rain and the recent tough weather conditions. Villa fell behind after 15 minutes through a corner which was met with a powerful header by the Manualla player. Villa could have fallen further behind when the Manulla striker got through 1 on 1 but for a sublime stop from keeper Eoghan Tinkler. The Villa lads responded in great style pushing the game and looking dangerous. When Jack Casey put his head on the line and was met with a high boot Villa were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Manulla box. Up stepped Liam McCormack and he struck a sublime free into the top left corner to make it 1-1. Villa were on top now with Max Hackett and Liam McCormack putting relentless pressure on the Manualla back line. The pressing was rewarded when on the stroke of half time Darren Flood, who was making menacing runs throughout received a pass from Max who had broken through the Manualla mid-field, Darren was ice cool and took his chance by finishing beyond the keeper. Half-time Peake Villa 2 - 1 Manulla.
As expected Manulla came out looking for that equaliser at the start of the second half and had a good 15-minute spell, looking dangerous and created a couple of good chances. Eoghan Tinkler was on top form and he was a match for anything they shot at him, he commanded his area and produced two very fine saves that kept Manualla at bay. On the 65th minute from a Manulla attack, Villa regained possession and broke down the left side of mid-field with Liam taking the ball down the left flank and he had the vision to split the keeper and defender with a pass to find Darren Flood, who poked home from close range to make 3-1 to Villa. Manulla then came back strong again and the crowd gasped when a Manualla strike from 20 yards was goalward bound, but it was clawed down from the top corner by Eoghan for a spectacular save. Manualla threw everything at Villa, but Eoghan and the Villa defence put in a mammoth performance to keep Manualla out. Then with 13 minutes left and a missed time clearance resulted in the Manulla forward, going through on goal to finish well, 3-2 the score line. The Villa lads to their credit kept their composure and saw the game out well, without too many scares. It was an outstanding performance from the whole squad, their attitude, work rate and passion was in abundance for everyone on the sideline to watch. There were many great performances, with two man-of-the-match performances from Liam McCormack and Eoghan Tinkler, the whole squad gave a 110% effort.
Villa u17 now face Springfield Ramblers of Cobh on March 4th in the quarter-finals at home. Villa will be hoping for a big crowd to make it up to the Tower Grounds to give their support to this top bunch of lads.
TSSDL u13 Division 1 League Cahir Park B 1 - 3 Peake Villa B
Scorers: Cathal Mackey (1) Mark Davis (1) Adam Jones (1)
Villa travelled to Cahir in this home league match, which was reversed to Cahir, so it could be played on the Cahir Park Astro. Villa started well but were let down a couple of times by poor final passes. Cahir against the run of play, took the lead when Villa failed to contest a corner, which left a free Cahir player to finish to the back of the n...et. This was just the kick in the pants, that Villa needed. Villa's passing and work rate improved, and they got just rewards when Cathal Mackey finished of a good move to make it 1 - 1 at half time.
Villa were playing the better football and restricted Cahir to a few counter attacks. Villa took the lead when Mark Davis smashed a corner into the roof of the net. Two quickly became three when Adam Jones broke down the right, cut in and finished to the roof of the net. Final score 3 - 1. Good performance by all, with a stand out display from Thomas Larkin.