Sunday Feb 18th
TSDL Premier League
Junior A won 4-2 Two Mile Borris
Scorers: Pippy Carroll (2) Frank McKevitt (1) Anto Walker (1)
Our Junior A team made the short trip to Newhill Sunday morning and came away with all 3 points. Villa were without some regulars which gave manager James O'Sullivan a chance to use his squad. Villa went behind in the 1st minute when a back pass to Shane McGuire bobbled before he kicked it away and his half clearance fell to the Borris striker and he was adjudged to have been fouled. Christy Burke stepped up and put Borris 1-0 ahead. Villa got to grips with the poor surface which made it difficult to play their usual passing game and were level after 20 minutes with a fine finish from Anto Walker. Villa made it 2-1 when Frank McKevitt scored in the 35th minute. Villa went 3-1 ahead when Pippy Carroll scored in the 38th minute. 1-3 Half Time.
Two Mile Borris started the 2nd half like the first and Christy Burke got his second of the day with a fine strike to make it 2-3. Villa were guilty of missing chance after chance on a pitch that was cutting up badly mid-way through the second half and it wasn't until the 80th minute before Pippy Carroll made the game safe with a fine finish. Good performances today from Jody Harkin in midfield and Sean Butler in defence. Full time 2-4.
TSDL Tipperary Cup 2nd Round
Full-Time Junior B 3-3 Suirside, Extra-Time Junior B 3-4 Suirside
Scorers: Kieran Hennessy (1) Kevin Croke (1) Darragh Byrne (1)
Villa travelled to Suirside today minus a few regulars but with still a strong squad and started the game very brightly with a couple of early efforts failing to hit target, in particular an unbelievable bicycle kick effort from Davie Mahony just narrowly missing top corner and a mark Lennon corner nearly went all the way to the net. Villa took an early lead after some great work rate from Darragh Byrne the ball fell to Kieran Hennessy and from a tight angle dispatched to the net. 1-0 Villa. Suirside came more into the game and began getting a bit of joy from long balls over the top and scored their equaliser from a long ball over top to an unmarked player who placed it in bottom corner 1-1. Villa went down other end and after some nice passing movement and good work from Davie Mahony and Darragh Byrne, the ball fell to Kevin Croke on the edge of the box, who put Villa 2-1 up. Suirside continued to play the long ball and after winning a corner off one, a super ball into the villa box was headed home to level it up 2-2 at the break.
Second half began with Suirside beginning to dominate and were putting a lot of pressure on the Villa defence with high balls into box but were well defended by Darren Connor and Cormac Lanigan. Their centre forward then picked up the ball on the far touch line and took on a couple of Villa defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the top corner to put home side 3-2 up with 20 minutes left. Villa then pushed forward looking for equaliser and put serious pressure on the home side. After great work from Damo Grimes and Davy Mahony and a goal-mouth scramble, Darragh Byrne put the ball away to level it up 3-3 and game headed for extra time.
In extra time it appeared that Villa's fitness would prevail, and a lot of chances came and went with a couple of Damo Grimes efforts and a Kieran Hennessy strike failing to hit target. In the last minute of extra time the Suirside defence cleared a long ball out of defence, which led to a ball in behind the Villa defence and they made it 4-3 Suirside. There was just a minute left and one last effort from Villa was saved by the home keeper and Suirside progress to the quarter final.
It was a disappointing end to the day for Villa after it had stared so brightly. Stand out performances on the day from Jamie Maher, Kevin Croke, Davy Mahony and man of match Darragh Byrne. Best of luck to Suirside in the quarter final.
Saturday Feb 17th
U15 SFAI Skechers National Cup
Full Time: North End United 2-2 Peake Villa
Scorer NE: Aaron Roche (2)
Scorer PV: Alejandro Garcia Diaz and Liam McCormack
Extra Time: North End United 2-3 Peake Villa
Scorer: Liam McCormack
Our 15's travelled to Wexford on Saturday morning knowing a win would put them into the Quarter Final of the SFAI Skechers National Cup. Conditions for the game were perfect and the home side started brightly taking the lead in the 5th minute when Villa didn't clear their lines and were punished with a well taken strike by Aaron Roche which gave Josh Coady in the Villa goal little chance of making the save. Josh kept Villa in the game when he made a great save when one-on-one with the North End's striker. Villa started to get more into the game mid-way through the half and were level on 20 minutes when Alejandro Garcia Diaz made it 1-1 with a clinical finish to the bottom corner after a lovely passing move on the left wing started by Danny Treacy to Tony Galin, to Liam McCormack who laid a perfect pass to Alex. The Villa defence were kept busy with North Ends No 9 Aaron Roche a constant threat. Villa were awarded a free-kick from 25 yards out when Liam McCormack was fouled in the 30th minute and he took it himself and his strike went clean over the wall and into the top corner, a similar strike following up from his exploits with the U17's the week before. 2-1 Villa. Villa were caught napping, as so many teams do when just after scoring and were punished in the 32nd minute when again they didn't clear their lines and North End made it 2-2, when their No 9 Aaron Roche shot a low ball under the Villa keeper. The teams went in level at the break 2-2.
The 2nd half was a much tighter affair with both defences settling into the game and performing much better. Gavin O'Shaughnessy was unlucky not to score when he got on the end of a Liam McCormack cross, but his header sailed over the bar. Villa continued to put North End under pressure and the lads did create a number of chances from set plays that came close for Villa. From two corners Villa were unlucky not to score at the back post, the first was a narrow miss by Shane Tuner and the second by Calum Blakebourough whose header went straight at the keeper. Darragh Stakelum and Tony Galvin worked tirelessly in mid-field and along with Liam McCormack and Alex they were combining well and continued to pose a threat to the North End defence. Cathal McElgunn ran the line well for the boy's linking up well with Liam and Callum. The backline of Sean Condron, Emmet Fogarty, Shane Turner and Gavin O'Shaughnessy had to be on their toes to handle the speedy North End strikers and they left nothing in the tank as they defended superbly. The game finished 2-2 and went to extra time.
Villa were up for it from the start of extra time and were on top in the game and were rewarded for their efforts in the 8th minute with a goal worthy of winning any game when Liam McCormack received a great through ball pass from Alex and he scored from a volley all of 30 yards out leaving the North End goalie no chance of blocking it and he could only watch as it looped over him and into the top corner. An unbelievable strike that sent the travelling support into hysterics. The game was far from over and Nort End pushed hard for an equaliser but the Villa back four of Sean, Emmett, Shane and Gavin along with keeper Josh Coady in goal stood firm playing out of their skin. Callum Blakebourough, Danny Treacy and Tom Reilly played their part in what was a fantastic game of football with both teams leaving nothing on the field. Full Time 3-2.
The whole squad should be very proud of themselves and of their great camaraderie within the squad. Very hard to pick a man of the match today but two players who really had a massive impact on today's game were Liam McCormack with two sublime finishes and Gavin O'Shaughnessy who completely nullified North Ends threat down the right where they were most dangerous.
The boys are in the hat now for the Quarter finals with the draw taking place on Tuesday next.
TSSDL u12 Premier League Peake Villa u12A 5-1 St. Kevin's A
Scorers: Artem Izzhko (2) Eamon Groome (1) Chloe Shorley (1) Tom Delaney (1)
On a beautiful afternoon for football Villa entertained local rivals St. Kevin's and it was the home team who started the quickest. Great work from the Keith Loughnane and Tom Delaney on both wings created several chances, which after three had gone unfinished, the fourth was finished into the back of the net by Artem Izhko. Eamon Groome got his reward for his hard work with a smart finish to make it 2-0. Villa controlled possession and territory and Chloe Shorley scored an amazing 3rd by chipping the keeper from 20yds into the top corner - contender for u12 goal of the season. 3-0 half-time.
St. Kevin's came out fighting in the 2nd half and bossed the first 6 minutes with 2 smart efforts, which the ever secure Fionn Fogarty in goal dealt with. After this period Villa took over and dominated play with Tom Delaney being immense in midfield and he got his reward when he hit a quality shot which beat the St. Kevin's keeper, 4-0. A smart short corner left Artem on the edge of the box and he was brought down inside the box to earn a penalty. Artem got up and dispatched the penalty 5-0. St. Kevin's never gave up and won a soft penalty which Fionn saved brilliantly but the rebound fell to Jack Hayes who bundled the ball into the net. 5-1 final score.
Great performance from this bunch of u12 players who worked hard and played flowing attractive football. MoM Artem Izhko.