KDFL Lumsden League Cup 2022 (Prelim)
Newbridge Town AFC 2 Castle Villa AFC 1
Newbridge Town 2-1 Castle Villa
Station Road, Newbridge
18 June 2022
The class and experience of a very talented Newbridge Town team was too much for a club with so
many fond memories of the Lumsden Cup, as they overcame Castle Villa in Newbridge last Saturday
evening. But only just.
It was an unusual match up, in the sense that Town's over 35 team represented the club in a game
against what is a very young Castle Villa side.
Newbridge started strongly and were on top early on with Villa keeper David Doyle making two
really good saves early on to deny the home team. when Wayne Callaghan was put through on goal
only for his shot to go wide of the Castle Villa goal. Newbridge Town took control of the game, when
the Town keeper, Mark Adverdijk was called into action, after making a save from a shot from Eoin
Tynan, Mark played a quick ball out to his full back, David O’Connor who played the ball down the
line to Richie Kelly, who then dinked the ball over the Castle Villa defence and running through from
midfield was David O’Riordan who held of the challenge from Brian Hickey to put the ball beyond
diving Castle Villa keeper, David Doyle, into the far corner to put Newbridge 1-0 up.
Villa's Sean Hickey had a well drilled strike well saved by the home side's keeper as they began to get
more of a foothold in the game. The front two of Aaron Delaney and Aaron Brennan were working
hard, without really getting much change out if an excellent Newbridge rear guard which was being
marshalled by the evergreen Ray Coleman, who led by example for the entire game in a superb man
of the match performance.
Villa made two changes at half time in an attempt to get back on level terms, and with Jordan
Harmon beginning to impose himself in the centre of midfield, chances began to come the
Castledermot men's way.
Aaron Delaney was desperately unlucky to see a bullet header cannon back off the crossbar from
that corner and soon afterwards, Eoin Tynan saw a shot well smothered by the ‘Town keeper after
some great work by Ethan McGlinchey.
There was a good twenty minute spell where Villa pushed hard but were continually rebuffed by
Coleman and Co and as is the irony of football sometimes, it was the home side that doubled the
lead in the seventy second minute In the second half, Castle Villa came at Newbridge Town in an
attempt to get level, and indeed they very nearly did when there forward Aaron Delaney had a shot
that struck the crossbar. From another Castle Villa attack which was dealt with by Newbridge, the
ball was played out to Town Substitute David Stanford, who replaced Richie Kelly, who then played
the ball into Wayne Callaghan who held off the Castle Villa defender and as he ran into the box shot
past the out coming Castle Villa keeper, David Doyle to put Newbridge Town 2-0.
That setback didn't deter Villa, who piled forward in search of a way back into the game and that
finally came with fifteen minutes remaining. Jason Morgan was introduced for Sean Hickey and his
drive and physicality almost immediately won his side a corner. He was being treated for a cut lip as
Jordan Harmon placed another brilliant set piece into the danger area and Eoin Tynan rose highest
to head home and get just rewards for an immense second half performance.
Villa introduced more youth and pace in the form of James Clifford in an attempt to get back on level
terms but the longer game time didn't affect the Newbridge lads the way some may have thought it
might. And they may well have extended their lead as Villa keeper Doyle had to be at his best on a
number of occasions as his side flooded forward. The experience and game management shown by
Newbridge was something that their younger opponents will learn from, no doubt.
Overall, it was a deserved win for the home team, and they progress to the next round where they'll
meet Naas United in Naas in a couple of weeks time. Best for the winners were in defence Ray
Coleman, midfield David O’Riordan, Conor McBride and upfront was Tommy Feane and the
Newbridge Town Man of the Match was Wayne Callaghan. Best for Villa were keeper Doyle, Jamie
Doyle and Jordan Harmon as well as Ethan McGlinchey and Eoin Tynan who had excellent second
half displays.