Sunday April 1st
FAI u17 Challenge Cup Semi-Final Corduff FC (Dublin) 2-0 Peake Villa
Peake Villa travelled to the capital to take on Dublin side Corduff in the Semi final of the U17 Challenge Cup. On a cool Easter Sunday afternoon Villa started with the wind on their backs and had the best of possession for the opening ten minutes making some half chances but failing to really test the Corduff keeper. Corduff started to grow into the game and showed their class with some great football and for the next fifteen minutes had Villa chasing their tails and only by some excellent defending from the back five of Eoghan Tinkler, Jordan Fahey, Dylan Maher, James Armstrong and Kieran Costello. Corduff could have taken the lead when a ball played into the box from the right went across the Villa goals without anyone getting on the end of it and it was eventually cleared away by Villa. This seemed to spark the Villa lads into life and from this point it became a much more even affair with Villa creating the best of the chances, all be it only half chances with the best falling to Kevin Patan, Liam McCormack and Darren Flood. Halftime 0-0.
The 2nd half started and within thirty seconds Villa found themselves one down when a quick break by Corduff found a player free on the edge of the box and when he let rip there wasn't a lot keeper Eoghan Tinkler could do to stop it. Villa to their credit kept working to try get back into the game but with little headway, the midfield three of Jack Casey, Max Hackett and Cian Stakelum were doing their best to cover the ground from defense to attack to support Darren Flood up front as he was doing a superb job to hold up the ball, but when support was slow to get up most attacks fissled out quickly. Disaster struck for Villa on sixty-two minutes when Corduff forced a number of corners and from one of the corners they scored their second goal. Villa to their credit never gave up and kept working away to try get something from this game. After running himself into the ground for seventy minutes Kevin Patan was replaced by Henry Fogarty, this allowed Cian Stakelum to move to a more attacking role In the midfield and had an immediate effect as Villa started to again create some half chances. The game started to become allot more open as both teams began to tire. With only ten minutes remaining Villa had their best chance of the day to get on the scoresheet when a great through ball found Darren on the edge of the box but unfortunately his shot was easily saved by the Corduff keeper. Villa made two more subs in a last ditch attempt to get a goal back with Jack Kelly and Tony Galvin coming on to replace Max Hackett and Jack Casey respectively. With the fresh legs came three more chances for Villa to score before the end through Darren, Liam and Jack, but unfortunately none of them could beat the Corduff keeper. Final score 2-0.
Joint man of the match on the day was James Armstrong and Kieran Costello. Both were outstanding all day in the backline. This has been an excellent journey for a super bunch of players who will learn a lot from the experience. The management would like to thank each player for the effort and commitment during the season and we look forward to an exciting youth campaign next season with this great squad for what's certain to be another successful year.
TSDL Premier League Peake Villa Junior A 3-3 Clonmel Town
Scorers: Pippy Carroll (1) Frank McKevitt (2)
Peake Villa started the game brightly and went 1-0 up early through captain Pippy Carroll’s 30 yard screamer, giving the keeper no chance. James O’Sullivan was sure he added a second with a clever back heel only to be ruled out for offside to everyone’s amazement. Clonmel grew into the game and got an equaliser with a smart finish. 1-1 at half time.
Villa came out firing again after the break and were 2-1 up after Frank McKevitt finished calmly, passing the ball confidently through the keepers legs into the back of the net. Villa were 3-1 up shortly after with another Frank McKevitt goal after good work from Pippy hitting the post, O’Sullivan had is effort saved which fell to the feet of McKevitt tapping into an empty goal. 15mins left and it looked to be over as a contest. Clonmel pulled one back and made it 3-2 to set up a nervy last 5 minutes. Peake Villa’s collapse was completed and they were punished when sloppy play in midfield, losing a ball with no pressure on, left the defence wide open and Clonmel picked the right pass and broke the Villa players hearts finishing from the edge of the box to make it 3-3. Full time 3-3.
TSDL Division 2 League Peake Villa Junior B 4 -1 Mullinahone
Scorers: Eoin O'Dwyer (1) Kieran Hennessy (2) Davy Bourke (1)
Villa played host to their visitors this morning missing a couple of regulars through work commitments and holidays, but still started with a strong team and from the kick off were on the front foot with Eoin Dwyer and Kieran Hennessy causing a lot of problems for the visitor's defence. Villa took the lead in the 10th minute after some nice footwork from Kieran Hennessy put in a great cross to his strike partner Eoin Dwyer who powered a header to the back of the net. 1-0 villa. From the kick-off Villa continued to press forward and were unlucky with some good running from Davy Mahony and Darragh Byrne setting up a couple of chances which weren’t taken. Villa soon made it 2-0 with Eoin Dwyer this time providing Kieran Hennessy with the assist who made no mistake from a one on one with visitor's keeper. To their credit Mullinahone were very competitive in the midfield and had a couple of attacks but these were dealt with well by the Villa back line. Villa went 3-0 up soon after when after some good running from Darragh Byrne who set up Kieran Hennessy to score his second of the game. Mullinahone scored direct from a free kick to leave it 3-1 Villa at half time.
The second half Mullinahone caused a couple of problems for the home defence and had numerous corners which were well dealt with by Kevin Croke and Seamie Hanafin in defence. Stand in keeper Faolan Linnane then pulled off a great save from a long-range strike to keep the visitors out and soon after this a lovely flowing movement from Andrew Halloran and Davy Mahony picked out Mark Lennon who crossed for Davy Bourke to strike first time to the bottom corner to make it 4-1 Villa. This totally deflated the visitors and it was now all one-way traffic but despite numerous chances, poor finishing and some good goal keeping which kept Villa from scoring more in the last few mins. Full-time 4-1 to Villa.
A solid work man like performance from Villa today to secure another three points. Fair play to stand in keeper Faolan Linnane who had a good game along with Kevin Croke, Davy Bourke, Eoin Dwyer and Kieran Hennessey.
TSSDL Girls u16 Championship League Peake Villa 4-2 Cahir Park
Scorers: Chloe Cummins (1) Chelsea Lawlor (1) Ellie Maher (1) Emma McCormack (1)
This was a lively game played on cold but dry conditions at the Tower Grounds. Villa started quickly and an excellent clearance by Niamh Shanahan (right back) to Jessica Delaney (right wing) who played a first time through ball for Chloe Cummins who collected the ball and powered towards goal to score at the near post, 1-0 Villa. Cahir had two quick chances after that with Sophie Long in goal tipping the ball over the bar for a corner and the second just screamed wide of the post. Rebeca Birmingham-Jordan and Molly Hayes were clearing as much ball as possible, with excellent assistance from Niamh Shanahan and Emer Fogarty on the wings. Villa's second came when Emer made a timely interception, passed quickly to Brooke Slattery in the middle of the field who played a one-two with Emma McCormack and then played a through ball for Chelsa Lawlor who was strong enough to hold off the Cahir defender and slotted the ball home into the bottom left hand corner. 2-0 to Villa. The mid-field four of Ellie Maher, Emma McCormack, Brooke Slattery and Chloe Byrne were working hard to force the Cahir players out to the wings and successfully prevented any clear runs through the middle. Villa conceded a free kick just outisde the box and from the resulting kick Cahir pulled one back, despite the best efforts of Sophie in goals who got her fingers to the ball. Zoe Doherty was unlucky not to score after a great run through the middle by Emma McCormack but Zoe's shot straight at the Cahir keeper. Half-time 2-1 to Villa.
The second half began with Cahir determined to equalise and this they did when Villa were caught too far forward and their winger raced down the right to score at the near post, 2-2. The Villa girls kept to their game plan and after some excellent passing in mid-field, Emmer again intercepted the Cahir attack and placed a lovely ball over the top for fast running Ellie Maher to latch onto to make it 3-2 to Villa. Cahir Park then had a period of 15 minutes of dominance but could not get past the excellent Molly and Rebecca in the centre of defence who were very solid. Villa's keeper for the second half Emma Leahy pulled off two very good saves and from one of these she played a quick ball to Emer who spotted Chloe Cummins free on the wing and played a long pass for Chloe who tore down the right wing and crossed into the goal mouth for the onrushing Emma McCormack to score from a yard out. Full Time 4-2.
An excellent performance by all the girls which resulted in the win.
Saturday March 31st
TSSDL u12 Premier League Peake Villa u12A 3-0 Clonmel Town A - walkover
TSSDL u12 Division 1 League St Michael's 2-3 Peake Villa U12B
Scorers: Sean Treacy (1), Cormac Fitzpatrick (1) Pierce Ivors (1)
Peake Villa started the game strongly and had a few half chances. Sean Treacy gave them a deserved lead when he controlled a high ball with his head and volleyed into the side netting. The second came ten minutes later when Cormac Fitzpatrick latched onto a super Will Cooney through ball and coolly finished. Half-time 2-0 to Villa.
The second half started the same and Pierce Ivors added a third after an excellent Eoin Boyle assist. St Michael's scored twice to make the last five minutes a bit nervous, but the boys held on for a much deserved win. Full-Time 3-2 to Villa.
Will Cooney, Kyle O'Donnell, Gavin Butler and Aaron Cummins were solid at the back all game, but Eoin Boyle was MOTM giving a great captains display. Special thanks to John Delaney and Aaron for taking a half each for a stint as goalkeepers as the regular keeper was away for the Easter break.
Friday March 30th
TSSDL u14 Premier League Peake Villa A 2-0 St Michael's A
Scorers: Own Goal (1) Robbie Stapleton (1)
Peake Villa hosted St Michael's in their 2nd game in 6 days looking to maintain their league title challenge with another vital 3pts. The game was played on a super pitch considering all the recent weather, which is a credit to the Villa ground staff headed by Martin Cooke. Villa started the strongest and had St Michael's pined into their own half for most of the opening exchanges. Villa took the lead after 15 minutes when a free kick from keeper Josh Cody landed in the Michael's box only to be deflected home by a defender to give Villa a well-deserved lead. Villa were winning most of the battles around the pitch, with Scott Brennan, Josh Connelly & Darragh Minogue doing a great job to control the midfield and limit Michael's to long balls into their strong No.9 who was handled superbly by Aidan Butler & Conor Wall. Villa added a second goal when a good move was finished off by Robbie Stapleton with a little help from a goalkeeping error. Halftime 2-0.
Villa started the 2nd half in the same fashion with some good flowing football creating several half chances and forcing several corners. Villa looked dangerous all day from set plays and were unlucky not to add a couple more. Anytime Michael's did manage to get up the pitch, any chance they tried to create was quickly snuffed out by the ever improving back 5 of Josh, Alex, Conor, Aidan and Niall. Villa rotated all 4 subs into midfield and up front and each one slotted in and out throughout the game seamlessly which shows the strength in depth of this squad of players. Villa had a few more chances to add to the score line before the end but failed to score and the game finished 2-0. A very strong performance by Villa , which has extended their lead in the Premier League to eight points.
Man of the match on the day was Brandon Mills who broke the Michael's defenders hearts all day with his strong runs and overall play. A special mention to Alex Moloney who was superb both in defense and when attacking. Again this was a fantastic squad performance with an excellent effort by everyone involved to maintain Villa's unbeaten run in the league.
TSSDL u16 Premier League Clonmel Town 5-0 Peake Villa
This was a game where Villa travelled with a squad mostly made up of u15 players as some of the u16 squad were rested for their u17 FAI match on Sunday. The lads put up a good showing for the first half to go in at half-time 0-0. The second half was quite a different story as Clonmel who needed the win to stay in contention for the league title pilled on the pressure and scored five without reply. Full-time 5-0 to Clonmel Town.