Leinster Football Association Junior Cup (Round 3).
Naas United FC 6 Stella Maris FC 1
Naas United FC hosted Stella Maris on Sunday morning in the third round of the LFA Cup ,this game was played on Clane United’s Astro pitch and started at a very fast pace with both sides playing exciting football. Naas United FC started to get the upper hand early and were always dangerous on the break. Stephen French was taken down for a penalty after a superb through ball from his brother Ritchie .Rox Higgins stepped up to the spot and made no mistake to put United one up after ten minutes. To Stella Maris credit they continued to play their football and got a deserved equalizer five minutes before half time when their centre forward swept home after a great cross from the right .The game reached halftime with the sides level at one all .
The second half started at the same pace as the first half finished but a determined Naas soon started to take charge and regained the advantage early when Daragh Faherty finished superbly to the net after great work by Stephen French .United were growing in confidence now and their substitute Egli scored the third with his first touch to finish at the back post from another French assist .Maris were then reduced to ten men on the hour mark and another Naas substitute Patrick Kelly showed superb balance to set up his skipper Stephen French to score the home side’s fourth .Naas were swarming all over their opponents now and their Dublin rivals just couldn't live with them .The fifth goal duly came when substitute Kelly stormed into the box to finish high into the top corner after good work by Daragh Faherty .With five minutes to go Naas full back Jack Conway rounded off the scoring when he finished neatly to leave the Maris keeper picking the ball out of his net for the sixth and final time .In what was an excellent all round Naas united performance Jamie Dunne, Jamie Nolan ,Keith Higgins ,Patrick Kelly and man of the match their skipper Stephen French all excelled. Naas now keep the Kildare flag flying together with Clonmullion FC who also had a great win today in the Cup, go through with confidence into the fourth on Sunday 28th Jan at Home to top Wexford side Bunclody FC
Naas United FC would like to acknowledge Clane United for allowing them the use of their fantastic facilities to fulfil this fixture.
Other feature.
Leinster Football Association Junior Cup (Round 2)
Clonmullion FC 7 Newlane FC 1
Clonmullion took on Clondalkin based LSL side Newlane FC in the second round of the Leinster Junior Cup on the all weather pitch in Kilcullen Community Complex this afternoon. It took only ten minutes to register the first goal when Jodie Dillon charged down the keeper's attempted clearance and rolled the ball into an empty net. Ten minutes later Mark Hughes played a lovely through ball to Dillon who unselfishly squared to Chris Chanders who side footed home from close range. On the half hour mark Hughes was again the provider with a pinpoint diagonal ball to Dillon whose first touch was exquisite and he rounded the keeper to make it 3 nil. On the half hour mark Nathan Robinson split the Newlane defence with a beautiful pass to Garry Comerford who despite being one on one with the keeper laid it off to Lee Day to make it 4 nil. The visitors pulled one back just before half time when centre forward Darragh McDonagh got on the end of Eoin Watson corner to head home from close range.
The second half was only five minutes old when Hughes whose range of passing was brilliant all day again picked out Dillon who sprinted down the left and finished under the keeper from an acute angle to make it 5 - 1. The same combination of Hughes and Dillon then set up Day to get his second and Clonmullion’s 6th of the game. With five minutes remaining Comerford made it 7 - 1 with a beautifully disguised free kick drilled low around the wall and cleverly dummied by Timmy Doyle to give the keeper no chance.
So Clonmullion, who continue to fly the KDFL flag at provincial level together with Naas United FC who had another great victory today over Stella Maris, take on Wexford League Premier Division side Ferns United in the third round with a home draw on the 28th of January.
Best for Clonmullion were Hughes and Benny Lawlor at the back Comerford and Robinson in the middle and Dillon and Chanders up front while Nicky Leonard put in a man of the match display at right full.