Division Three Shield Q/F Peake Villa B 0 - 1 Clonmel Town B.
Our second team entertained Clonmel Town in the Shield up at the tower grounds on a blustery Sunday afternoon. It was a strange game with very limited chances for both sides. Villa played with the strong wind in the first half and most of the possession but could not score. Christy Burke and Seamus Healy came close on two occasions. Villa had a host of corners but could not take advantage of them. 0-0 at the break. Clonmel had the wind in the second half and within a few minutes with there first corner of the game they went ahead when John Shanahan scored with a header. Villa controlled the rest of the game for the most part but could not find an equaliser with the Clonmel defence in fine form. There were good displays from Stephen Fewer and Darragh Byrne.
U15 SFAI National Cup Dungarvan 6 - 5 Peake Villa
Villa traveled to Dungarvan on Saturday to take on one of the best sides in Waterford. Villa couldn't of pictured this match going any worse than it did in the opening 15 minutes when they found themselves 4-0 down and getting played off the park. On 20 minutes however Paddy Creedon gave villa the slightest hope with a goal of the season contender after a nice pass from Dillon Maher Paddy broke down the left cutting past two defenders and then cutting inside to fire to the top corner from 20 yards out. This goal gave Villa some hope and minutes later Oisin O'Brien played Paddy through who lost his marker and slotted past the on coming keeper . Villa were glad to get to half time and re group .
2 minutes into the second half Villa were right back in this game when Dillon Maher headed home after Conor Stapleton helped on a corner. Dungarvan hit back straight away to make the score line 5-3 with 25 minutes to go. Villa however were now well on top and were back within one goal when Cathal McElgun was very brave when he headed home. Five minutes later Villa were back level when a great ball from Liam McCormack played Paddy Creedon through for his hat trick with another brilliant finish . Villa were now looking like the side that would go on and get the winner and two very impressive saves denied Liam McCormack and James Armstrong from getting the winner. However it wasn't to be a fairytale come back for Villa when with 2 minutes to go Dungarvan were awarded a soft penalty which was scored to leave the villa lads heart broken. The lads showed great courage to come back from a disastrous start but will feel they let this result pass them bye. Best of luck to Dungarvan in the next round.
U13 SFAI National Cup Burrin Celtic (Carlow) 0 - 5 Peake Villa A
Villa travelled to Ballon, Carlow for the first round tie against Burrin Celtic. The match was played in very poor conditions with high winds and heavy rain. The first half in which Villa played against a very strong wind and uphill, saw the players put in a very disciplined, hard working defensive, performance, which restricted Burrin Celtic to only a few attempts on goal. Burrin nearly scored five minutes from half time, when Villa Keeper Aidan Butler, spilled a freekick from his hands but recovered in time to clear the ball off the line, before it crossed it. 0-0 at the break. The Villa players started the second half in a strong fashion. Playing with the wind at their backs, and downhill, the went on the attack from the kickoff. Philip Hayes almost opened the scoring after 35 minutes, when his shot hit the cross bar. This was followed soon after by an attempt from Robbie Stapleton coming back off the post. Villa scored after 40 minutes when Darragh Minogue scored with a great shot from the edge of the box, after coming in from the wing. Robbie Stapleton made it 2-0 five minutes later from close range. Burrin Celtic then had a couple of half chances, before Ciaran Woodlock, lashed home an unstoppable shot after being set up by Jock Fogarty. Tommy Maher then chipped the keeper from an acute angle out on the wing, but saw his attempt rebound off the base of the post.Villa kept attacking the Burrin defence, and Brian Gleeson volleyed home goal number four from all of 25 yards, after a defensive clearance came directly to him. Scott Brennan completed the scoring when he scored the fifth goal five minutes from time, when he beat two players in the penalty box before shooting past the Burrin keeper. A fantastic performance by all the players, who had to battle not just the Burrin Celtic team, but the horrendous weather conditions as well.
A special word of thanks for the hospitality shown to the Villa team and coaches, by Burrin Celtic, who provided drinks and sandwiches after the game.