KDFL Under 20 Division
Monasterevin AFC 2 Clane United FC 1
Clane came into this game on the back of a draw but in good stead sitting joint top of the division after a great start to the season. Monasterevin have been in good form of late, putting a run together to push up the table. The game started at a quick pace with both teams feeling each other out and using the width of the pitch to stretch the game. With the game three minutes old, newly crowned KDFL Under 20 Div 1 player of the year, James Ralph saw an opening and shot, only for Nikolaj Deerin in the Monasterevin goal to make the save. Daire O’Beirne and Liam Deane we’re linking up well on the left side for clane and we’re trying to get the better of Cian Barry and Matthew O’Sullivan of Monasterevin down their right.
On the sixth minute Cillian Byrne and Scott Britton played a beat 1, 2 resulting in a Clane corner after a clearance. Moments later a shot by Shane Henry saw Deerin in the home goal touch the ball on to post and gathered on second attempt. Paddy Murray down left for Monasterevin with his pace, was causing major problems for Clane and his persistence paid off, with him winning a corner. Monasterevin unable to punish Clane from the resulting corner. On thirteen minutes a sublime ball through by Oisin Molloy, saw the pace of Sean guitierez who evaded the last defender and went one on one with the keeper, who he rounded and smashed home to put Monasterevin 1-0 up. Only two minutes later the energetic Murray made another run and got to the end line, put in a cross, and the ball was turned into net by Clane defender to put the home side 2-0 up.
Clane to their credit didn’t lay down and James Ralph, Rhys Callaghan, and Shane Henry always looking for ways to get in around the Monasterevin defence. Euan Brennan, Cian Barry, Jordan Downey and Sean Behan were equal to anything that Clane were throwing at them. Both Midfields work rate was good. Clane’s Deane, James Moore, Henry and Callaghan working hard to outplay the midfield of Kian Doyle, Oisin Molloy, Matthew O’Sullivan and Paddy Murray of the home side. On the half hour mark a cross by Shane Henry just couldn’t reach Daire O’Beirne and was knocked out for a corner kick. Five minutes later the ever willing Ralph made a good run, controlled the ball, he turned quickly and put a cross across goal, only to be turned for a corner with the resulting kick headed Into goalkeepers hands. The game changed on the 37 minute, when Clane were reduced to 10 players for a second yellow card offence, they did regroup and no noteworthy chances coming either way for the remainder of the first half.
The second half was only two minutes old when another great turn from James Ralph saw him create a bit of space, shot and great diving save from Deerin in goals who clawed the ball away from the top corner. On the hour mark and with both sides battling in midfield with no real stronghold being taken, the game seemed a little flat. To Clane’s credit they didn’t look like they were down to 10 men and kept pushing for a goal to get back in the game. With twenty minutes remaining however Clane were reduced to nine men for another double yellow. Leaving the away side extremely frustrated with how the game was going. Both side made changes and Monasterevin’s nearly paid off when a corner floated in was sliced by wide by Tiernan Nash.
Monasterevin we’re looking comfortable at the back with their two man advantage but on eighty four minutes that changed when Monasterevin were reduced to ten players themselves for a Second yellow offence. With three minutes to go Oisin Molloy won the ball back in midfield and powered forward, went 1 v 1 with Callum Mooney but shoots just wide. Clane did grab a goal on the ninety first minute when an Eddie O’Loughlin free kick, low into the corner of the goal gave a little hope for clane. A couple of dangerous free kicks for Clane gave a scare to monasterevin, but a Liam Deane curler just going over was the closest they got. Monasterevin holding out for the win. Overall the Second half was very slow, laboured and with tired legs with pitch getting heavy and sticky, was always going to be a tight game. Best for Monasterevin were Oisin Molloy, Sean Guitierez, Luke kavanagh & Nikolaj Derrin. While Clane had good performers in James Ralph, Liam Deane & Scott Britton who battled hard for the visitors.
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