Feature game

KDFL Lumsden League Cup Final.

(By Wayne ‘Bubba’ Doyle)

Kildare Town AFC 1 Clonmullion FC 2

After a turbulent weekend in which Storm Amy rendered most pitches in the county unplayable, Doctors Rd, Clane, not only stood the test but looked in immaculate condition to host the showcase game in the KDFL calendar. The esteemed Lumsden Cup trophy is up for grabs as current Champions Clonmullion will again look to secure the coveted Cup against high-flying Kildare Town, who have experienced a resurgence under Fergal Finn and Brian Collins. The stage is set; weather conditions are good, but not ideal. The only question remains. Whose name will be etched into KDFL history after the final whistle?

Clonmullion couldn't have dreamt of a better start, with barely two minutes played in their first meaningful attack, they were on the scoreboard. As a Nathan Robinson corner wasn't dealt with after numerous attempts, the ball fell to Danny Thompson, who struck it sweetly and had Ian McDonnell beaten, but the effort struck the upright, and Nathan Robinson reacted the quickest to side-foot in from twelve yards. Kildare, not deterred, had a decent effort themselves after ten minutes when Anthony Durney nearly turned in a Keith Kinsella corner. A real end-to-end start with Clonmullion edging the opportunities and probably should have extended their lead further after Keelan Lacey forced McDonnell into a vital save. Nathan Robinson's set-pieces were exceptional as Keane Cully just directed his effort over Ian McDonnell's crossbar after ten minutes. 

It was that man Lacey who combined well with Cody Mulhall, who weaved and jinked to create a yard of space for himself and got a good shot away that took a slight deflection past McDonnell to double the Athy outfit's advantage after twelve minutes. Clonmullion were really in the driving seat early on and carved Kildare Town open at will with a brilliant piece of football as Lacey and Jake Nichol combined with a driving overlap up the left wing. It was Nichol who picked out Ceilum Maher, whose effort just flew over the crossbar with twenty minutes played. Cody Mulhall, moments later, had a spectacular overhead effort that just flew past Ian McDonnell's post. Robert Burke really works tirelessly for Kildare with his willingness to take up the responsibility to spearhead the Kildare attack. Kildare Town didn't really try to play out from the back, whether that was a tactical decision with the wind or they just decided to be direct, it proved fruitless as Mark Hughes and Gary Comerford dominated aerially anything that came their way. Kildare Town struggled under the high ball defensively and allowed Clonmullion to pick up loose balls in threatening areas. Shane Foley did a good job in neutralising Danny Thompson out wide. Fergal Finn and Brian Collins recognised that a change was needed making the difficult decision to take off Lorcan Wickham, moving Anthony Durney to Centre-half and bringing in the youthful Sam Murphy in centre-mid. Clonmullion were forced into a change themselves, with Keane Cully forced off with a back injury, and Chris Chanders took up residency in the Mull engine room. Durney certainly bolstered up the Kildare rear guard and they finally got to grips with that long ball. Cody Mulhall played two exquisite passes both to Keelan Lacey but the pacey winger couldn't turn the efforts on target. Clonmullion obviously were the happier at halftime, and Kildare Town did well to keep the deficit at two.

Kildare Town came out for the second half with a little more belligerence in their approach and there was a desire and hunger that wasn't seen in the opening half with Ryan Farrell, Durney, Sheedy and indefatigable Robert Burke leading the early charge. It was Clonmullion though who had the first sight on goal in the second half but Mark Hughes couldn't direct a Nathan Robinson corner goal-bound. Clonmullion made two early changes with Ceilum Maher and Danny Thompson hauled off replaced by John Doran and Jody Dillon. Both teams worked hard to establish control with neither creating anything substantial, with both defensive unit's performing particularly well. Cody Mulhall had a drive from thirty yards that stung the hands of Ian McDonnell but he gathered in well. Kieran Sheedy managed to set Robert Burke away down with a brilliant through pass, but Burke dragged his effort just wide of the Grattan post with fifteen minutes played in the second half.

John Doran looked lively since his introduction for Clonmullion but found no way past a resilient Ross Lyons but Clonmullion happy to be compact and counter when the opportunities arose. The game got turned on its head with twenty minutes remaining as Anthony Durney powered home a Brandon O Keeffe corner kick to get Kildare Town on the scoreboard after a sustained spell of pressure. That sparked a Kildare Town revival that they continued to push Anthony Durney forward for his aerial prowess. That formula proved fruitful almost immediately as a long freekick by Ian McDonnell was again flicked on by Durney and a Sam Murphy header forced Evan Grattan into a vital save to keep Clonmullion ahead. Kildare really pushed the tempo as again Sam Murphy involved this time he provided the flicked as Brandon O Keeffe rifled a shot just past Evan Grattan post.

Kildare Town had no option but to commit bodies forward in attack but that did leave them vulnerable to the counterattack with Doran and Dillon combined well, with Dean Hill making a great covering tackle. Chris Chanders did exceptionally well since his introduction and really disturbed Kildare Town's rhythm with some industrious midfield play. Clonmullion themselves looked particularly assailable as Kildare Town really were effective off that long diagonal ball as it took a string of outstanding saves from Evan Grattan to deny Town an equaliser, with Dean Conroy, Murphy and Robert Burke all going tantalisingly close. Clonmullion weathered the storm behind the heroics of Grattan and Kildare Town were reduced to ten with Shane Foley dismissed from an off-the-ball incident deep into injury time which just stifled Kildare's momentum. Without sounding too cliché it really was a game of two halves with Clonmullion dominant throughout the first and Kildare Town really putting in a commendable second half performance. Clonmullion did enough over the Ninety to deserve the win, but it was a valiant effort from Kildare Town which made for an excellent game of football, Best for the winners were, Gary Comerford and Mark Hughes' quality , Chris Chanders did brilliantly when introduced , Cody Mulhall spearheaded the attack well, Evan Grattan was just phenomenal with a string of fantastic saves earning him the Blackwood Photos Man of the Match award. 

Best for Kildare Town  were Ryan Farrell and Anthony Durney who were exceptional . Sam Murphy did well off the bench and Robert Burke was a constant menace all through the game. 

Captain Nathan Robinson accepted the trophy on behalf of Clonmullion, their fourth League Cup title in five consecutive years,  from Shane Maher-Keogh, grandson of the late Tony Lumsden. 

Other feature game

Ace Sports Awards Masters Division 1 

(By Wayne ‘Bubba’ Doyle)

Newbridge Town FC 3 Leixlip United FC 0

This wasn't quite a title-clinching game but it certainly had that feel. With a win for Leixlip closing the gap to two points and a win for Newbridge extending the gap to eight with less than a handful of games remaining, this game had major implications on the title race. 

The game was played in blustery but dry conditions, which severely affected both sides early on. The first Real opportunity of the match fell to Adam Chemaou after a good build-up by Graham Keirsey. Chemaou had a whole goal to aim at, but somehow sliced his effort, and Eoin Hetherington had to make the decisive block on the goal line after eight minutes. 

Newbridge Town were more industrious in midfield behind David McGill and Noel Curran, who were just starting to find ever Dangerous Milton Benitez and Leandro Macedo. It was JP McDonagh in the Newbridge goal who made two crucial saves to deny the elusive Chemaou with twenty minutes played.

David McGill played a perfectly weighted pass to Milton Benitez, who raced clear but couldn't convert, but that was certainly a warning sign for the Leixlip defence. Paul Loughlin was causing havoc for Newbridge down the left wing after Richie Kelly found him on numerous occasions. The weather conditions hardly ideal for open football but Newbridge made them work to their advantage, with Noel Curran retrieving a loose ball, and finding Benitez with a brilliant pass as Benitez set himself to pull the trigger he was bundled over the box by Brian McLoughlin,  David McGill dispatched the resulting spot kick to give Newbridge a deserved lead just on the stroke of halftime. Newbridge weren't done with the first-half scoring just yet as Leixlip failed to deal with a flurry Newbridge attacks , the ball fell to Milton Benitez, who weaved his way past Leixlip defenders and applied a clinical side-foot finish pass Tadhg Murphy to double the Newbridge advantage deep in first-half injury time. 

Leixlip, with the aid of a strong second-half wind, were on the front foot immediately, with Glenn McCabe and  Eamon Lynch getting off two efforts in quick succession that never really troubled JP McDonagh. Graham Keirsey worked hard to establish control of the midfield for Leixlip, but McGill and Curran for Newbridge were relentless and didn't allow Leixlip to get into any rhythm. Keith O Riordan, Kelly and Coleman were quick to stamp out any threats that managed to trickle through. Whilst at the other end, Brian McLoughlin and Mark Cribben were really struggling to contain a rampant Milton Benitez, who was lethal when given a yard of space.

The goal of the game came with just under an hour played as Milton Benitez chased down a long Keith O Riordan clearance that looked to be heading over the sideline wide left but the pacey South American did exceptionally well to keep the ball alive before blitzing through a host of player's before unleashing a thunderous drive that nestled into the top corner to leave Murphy no chance and Newbridge with 3-0 lead.

Leixlip didn't give up the fight, but couldn't work a really clear cut opportunity, the best falling to Glenn McCabe a free-kick that flew over the Crossbar. 

Newbridge could have added a fourth after David McGill picked out Milton Benitez with a lovely clipped ball, Benitez took a great first touch pass Cribben and lobbed the ball over Tadhg Murphy but the crossbar denied him a worthy hat-trick,Dean O’Toole should have converted the rebound but squandered the opportunity with a needless backheel effort. Newbridge controlled the game well down the home stretch and played the better football and more importantly were the more clinical when the opportunities arose and were full value for the points. Leixlip United weren't quite at the races today and looked a little lethargic at times. 

Best for Newbridge  were JP McDonagh in Goals didn't put a foot wrong, Richie Kelly solid at full back, Noel Curran  brilliant in Midfield and defence , David McGill  influential in midfield 

Milton Benitez was a class above today. Best for Leixlip, Brian McLoughlin gave a good account at centre back, Glenn McCabe in midfield tried hard.

KDFL League Shield Final

(By Jamie Connolly) 

Straffan AFC 0 Rathangan AFC 1

In a tightly fought contest, senior side Rathangan FC emerged as winners of the KDFL League Shield, edging out Division 2 champions Straffan AFC in Donore, Caragh. The opening twenty minutes saw both sides cancel each other out, with few clear chances as each team tried to gain a foothold in the game.  The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Jack Cannon struck for Rathangan after being played through by captain Lee Moore.

The second half brought several changes from both managers, with Straffan pushing hard in search of an equaliser and Rathangan looking to seal the win with a second goal.  Despite sustained pressure, Rathangan held firm at the back, showing experience and composure to see out the game. A standout performance came from the ever-reliable Tommy Power, who was named Man of the Match for his commanding display in central midfield.  His control and work rate proved crucial as Rathangan lifted the League Shield to cap off a tough season with some silverware.