Feature Game

Connolly Under 20 Cup (First Round)

Old Fort Celtic FC 2 Clane United FC 7

Clane’s “Double D” Strikeforce See Off Spirited Old Fort

Clane United’s “Double D” strike force of Gavin Denton and Alex Duffy burst into life in the

second half to see off a spirited Old Fort Celtic Div 1 side in this firstround Under20

Connolly Cup clash at Doctors Road on Saturday.

With Old Fort’s home pitch unavailable due to fixture congestion, Clane hosted the tie on

a crisp, dry afternoon. The visitors started brightly, targeting the aerial strength of

frontman Fergal Naughton at every opportunity. Clane were slow to settle, and on ten

minutes a high ball into their back line wasn’t dealt with. Eoin Carey set up Josh

Dempsey, who finished superbly into the corner past Mooney to give the Division 1 side a

deserved 1–0 lead.

The goal sparked Clane into action. They soon dominated possession and territory,

forcing goalkeeper Ben Malone into excellent stops from Adam Millea on seventeen

minutes and Duffy shortly after. Denton also went close as the pressure mounted. Their

persistence finally told on twenty nine minutes when Duffy cut inside from the left and

slipped the ball to Denton, who spun his marker and fired low past Malone to equalise.

Despite the setback, Old Fort continued to impress, with Harry O’Neill and Dempsey

battling strongly against Rian O’Neill and Shane Henry in midfield. The sides went in 1–1

at half-time with everything finely balanced.

Clane began the second half with renewed purpose, and Rian O’Neill rattled the crossbar

with a forty eight minute free kick. But Old Fort struck next. After clearing a Clane corner,

Dempsey won the ball on halfway and released Naysha Mahona, who surged through

and finished clinically to restore Old Fort’s lead on fifty one minutes.

Clane responded instantly. On fifty three minutes, Cormac Hopkins delivered a superb

ball from the left, and Denton finished with trademark precision to make it 2–2.

Millea, in excellent form, then began to dominate. He headed narrowly wide from a

Denton cross on sixty minutes, before flicking the ball on to Denton, who squared for

Duffy to slot home on sixty three minutes — putting Clane ahead for the first time and fully

igniting the “Double D” partnership.

Clane were rampant now, and on sixty nine minutes Duffy produced a stunning solo

effort, cutting in and unleashing a 25yard rocket into the top corner for 4–2.

With Old Fort fading under Clane’s pace and intensity, the hosts’ bench added further

energy. On seventy seven minutes, Rian O’Neill curled in a free kick for 5–2. Substitute

Harrison Smith then fired home from inside the box following another O’Neill pass to

make it 6–2, before turning provider on 84 minutes with a pinpoint cross headed in by

Felton to complete a dominant 7–2 win.

A powerful secondhalf display sends defending champions Clane United into the

Connolly Cup quarter-finals, while Old Fort leave with credit for a brave and skilful

performance. Best for Old Fort: Josh Dempsey, Naysha Mahona, Ben Malone while best

for Clane: Rian O’Neill, Adam Millea, Alex Duffy with the Man of the Match award going to

Gavin Denton

Newbridge United FC Suncroft AFC

Suncroft AFC 1-2 Newbridge United FC

Newbridge United showcased immense character and tactical flexibility on Saturday,

coming from behind to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Suncroft AFC. 

In a cup tie defined by clinical timing and impactful substitutions, the visitors booked their

place in the next round by scoring at the death in both halves. Suncroft AFC couldn't have

asked for a more explosive start. With only two minutes on the clock, Seamus

Murphy found a gap in the Newbridge backline and snuck the ball under the keeper to

give "the Croft" a lightning-fast 1-0 lead.

For the remainder of the half, the game transformed into a gritty battle. Both sides created

multiple opportunities, but the keepers on both ends handled the pressure with

composure.  It looked as though Suncroft would carry their advantage into the break, but

Newbridge struck in the fourth minute of added time. A "great ball" to the back stick

from Matthew Sherlock found defender Cillian Lane, who rose to head home in the final

play of the half. 

The equalizer served as a massive psychological blow for The Croft just as the whistle

blew.

Suncroft refused to back down in the second period, dominating large spells of midfield

play and forcing Newbridge into a tactical reshuffle. 

Looking for fresh energy, the United coaching staff turned to the bench, handing U20

debuts to Igor Halaczkiewicz and Lochlann Wafer. The gamble paid off. The newcomers

injected vital energy into the United midfield, allowing the visitors to reclaim control. 

The decisive moment arrived in the eightieth minute via a swift counter-attack. Central

midfielder Ronan Collins (assisted by John Maguire Collins) unleashed a fantastic over-

the-top ball to find striker Liam Gorman, who hammered his finish home to put Newbridge

2-1 up. Despite a frantic late push from Suncroft, Newbridge stayed organized and

weathered the storm to secure a narrow but deserved comeback win.

Both teams showcased the high standard of the Connolly Cup, with several players

putting in shifts worthy of praise: Charlie Doyle (Man of the Match): 

The Newbridge winger was a "constant thorn" in the Suncroft defence. His pace and

directness on the flank drove United forward and kept the hosts' backline under relentless

pressure for the full 90 minutes. Liam Gorman: Proved to be the hero with a clinical finish

when the game was on the line. Igor Halaczkiewicz & Lochlann Wafer: Made an

immediate impact on their debuts, turning the tide in the midfield battle.

For Suncroft Seamus Murphy provided a dream start and remained a threat throughout.