Feature game (By Lee McGinley – Straffan AFC)

KDFL Lumsden Shield Semi-Final

Straffan AFC  2 Rathangan 2

(Starffan AFC win 4-2 on penalties after extra time)

Rathangan made their second trip of the season to Lodge Park this Seaon, with both teams trying to book their place in the Lumsden Final. 

Rathangan, missing a lot of key players came with a gameplan to soak up the pressure and hit Straffan on the counter attack. For the majority of the first half Straffan had Rathangan pinned back in their own half, moved the ball well but struggled to create any clear cut chances.

The visitors had a couple of dangerous counter attacks themselves but were denied by top notch defending by the Straffan back line, supported by Matthew Duggan in goals. The game was 0-0 at half time.

Rathangan started the second half the better side and got the opening goal of the game in the 50th minute when Lee Moore put the ball into the back of the net from close range. Straffan jolted back to life and went at the Rathangan goal with clear purpose, creating chance after chance but were continuously denied by world class defending from Tommy Power.

The home side eventually got their opening goal when John Tracey skipped by two Rathangan players and whipped a ball into the box for Philly Connolly who met the ball with a great header to make the game 1-1 in the 73rd minute. Both teams searched hard for the winner but neither were able to finish the game off in normal time.

The game finished 1-1 and went into the dreaded extra time. Again, like two great heavyweights, both teams threw everything they had at each other and Rathangan were the one to come out with the next goal. Jason Dempsey rose high in the box and scored a spectacular header with two mins remaining in extra time. Straffan looked like they were going to come up short, in the last minute of extra time. Straffan were awarded a corner and James Kelly rose high in the box with determination and grit to put the ball towards the Rathangan goal, but it was saved by David Moore in goal. for Straffan, Stephen Tilley was there to follow up on the save and bundle the ball over the line to bring the game to penalties. Straffan proved the more clinical.  Man of the match for Straffan - Stephen Tilley. Best for Straffan Evan Treacy, Ben Holmes, Max Thompson. Best for Rathangan were Lee Moore, Oisin Dempsey and man of the match Tommy power.