KDFL Division 1
Suncroft AFC 4 Prosperous United FC 1
The wait is over and the season begins. This has been spoke about as a rebuild for Suncroft AFC but they came up against a Prosperous side that have been out of the KDFL for several years. Both teams would have been cautious not knowing what their opposition were like. On a wet stormy day this was never going to be a footballing classic but both sides did what they could to entertain the crowd. The opening fifteen minutes the rustiness showed with a lot of misplaced passes and wild shots. The game came to light on the eighteenth minute when a quick short corner between Cathal Mahon and Garreth Dillon allowed Garreth to unleash a shot from outside the box to give the keeper no chance, a deserved lead for the home teams efforts. Only took seven minutes for Suncroft to double their advantage when again Dillon was involved when he swung in an inch perfect corner onto the head of Josh Lee who made no mistake to put the home side 2-0 up.
On the half hour it was Deja Vue with a similar corner from Suncroft number 9 but this time it was Gazza Connolly who finished to make it 3.0 and that's how it stayed going in to half time.
Conditions deteriorated and so did the football but both teams kept fighting. Prosperous definitely came out the stronger in the second half and began to dictate play seeing numerous chances but failed to capitalise. Being 3 nil down didn’t phase their temperament and to all their credit kept going. Prosperous continuing to try play positively playing out from the back eventually got their reward, it all started from the back utilising the full width, the ball was played early inside to Kian Butler who quickly played the ball out wide again to Luke Stafford who quickly decided and executed a pass to Jamie Cullen inside the 18 yards, Jamie aware of his surroundings and pressure quickly lay off the ball to perfectly positioned Kian Butler who tapped it home, bringing the game to 3-1. The visitors comeback was short lived when on the seventy fifth minute the quality of Garreth Dillon again up top broke on to the box and was taken down. He himself got up to convert the spot kick and put the game to bed. 4.1 it finished to Suncroft. Some really good performances today from this young side. Special mention to under 17 centre back Dylan Guilfoyle who was quality beside KDFL and Suncroft legend Ray Coleman. 15 year old goalkeeper Scott Doyle, U17 left back JJ Hartnett and also Bradley Cox and Eoin Magee who came off the bench to make it one of the youngest Suncroft teams we have ever seen. Man of the match goes to Gareth Dillon with 2 goals and 2 assists. Best for the visitors were Jamie Cullen and Cian Butler.
Second Feature game
KDFL Under 20 Division 2
Sallins Celtic FC 3 St. Anthonys Youths FC 4
St. Anthony’s 20s travelled to sallins for their final league game to chase promotion in what turned out to be a very windy affair. It was a slow start for antos struggling to get a foothold in the game with the wind against them, sallins playing with the wind used it to their advantage pumping long balls to which resulted in the opener for the home side through Tristan O Connor. Despite the best efforts of Anto’s Tom Healy, he just could not find the net.
Going in to half time at 1-0 down Anto’s stood up to the plate, with the game getting more physical and more direct the visitors took control of the game, against the run of play sallins managed to decisively get a second through an own goal by Antos, The visitors captain Tom Healy with a great run through the sallins defence and a great finish to made it 2-1 sallins, with a quick turn around and antos upping the tempo, a brilliant run through the midfield from Eimhin Sullivan earned the visitors a free kick, 30 yards out Tom Healy stepped up to take it and once again slotted it nicely into the bottom corner to draw level.
Antos went 3-2 up when Lennon had a quick thinking flick through the home defence to Tom Healy who made no mistake to make it 3-2 to the visitors. With the tempo dying off a bit Sallins were looking like getting back into the game however Anto’s managed to flick the switch and up the anti once again, Danny Stafford doing well to clear the ball up the field where it bouncing over the defender and a brilliant run from Lennon got onto the end of it to stick it home for a tidy finish to make it 4-2. the game wasn’t done there, after two red cards for Antos, playing the last fifteen with nine men looked like it could be a major challenge to hold onto the lead, with sallins upping their attack and making some changes they managed to grab a third goal back to make it 4-3 but the visitors managed the game very well and with some late subs and fresh legs they stuck it out to hold onto the lead, the game ended 4-3 to St Anthony’s Youths with a Tom Healy hat trick and a goal from Lennon, Best for the winners were Tom Maloney, Arthur Clarke, Lennon Wilson but the vote has to go to Tom Healy for man of the match. Best for Sallins were Cian McGrath, Cillian Dany, Ben McDonald and Ruairi McAuliffe.