KDFL Lumsden League Cup Final
Clonmullion FC 2 Clane United AFC 2
(Clonmullion FC win 6-5 on penalties AET)
Report by Wayne ‘Bubba’ Doyle
The stage was set for the twenty-eight Lumsden Cup final at Doctors Rd in Clane, the proud home of Clane United. This promised to be an intense rematch of the 2022 final between Clane United and Clonmullion F.C., the two seasoned adversaries competing for the esteemed trophy. Clonmullion emerged victorious in the 2022 showpiece, but Clane has been quietly nurturing a talented roster and is now in contention for the coveted triple this season, with Clonmullion the only other team to complete that accolade. Clane were looking to secure their maiden Lumsden Cup on home soil, having already beaten the Athy-based side at this venue in the league this campaign. Clonmullion's form has been intermittently erratic this season by their exceptionally high standards, despite that they have been formidable in this competition, boasting a considerable goal tally. With key players returning in the latter part of the season, Clonmullion looks to be peaking at the right time. Making this a finely poised Cup final.
Clonmullion were on the offensive from the opening kick-off when Mark Hughes pinged a route one ball to Cody Mulhall who controlled brilliantly, before theatrically throwing himself on the deck in the hope of a penalty, the ref waved it off correctly. The Athy side didn't have to wait long to create their first opening; a well-executed corner saw Cody Mulhall set up Nathan Robinson, who flashed a fierce shot from outside the penalty area that produced an excellent save from John Ball in the Clane goal after five minutes. Clonmullion were dealt a massive blow as Micheal Lawless was forced off with a calve injury in the eighth minute and reserve keeper Nathan Germaine was thrust straight into action. Clane worked their first opening with a neatly placed pass by Dean Comiskey from midfield, found the feet of Liam Deane, who turned well inside the box and got a quick shot off that was well saved by the feet of Nathan Germaine. There were tense opening exchanges, with Clonmullion edging the possession, but Clane comfortably defended any real threats. Clane, in their haste to mount a counterattack, did squandered possession quite easily at times in the final third. John Ball for Clane, making a string of vital saves in the opening twenty-five minutes, denying Benny Lawlor and Mark Wolfe on two separate occasions.
Cathal Geoghegan got Clane on the front foot, his willingness to get on the ball in tight areas was the springboard the home side needed. A well-crafted move from the home side involving Comiskey, Geoghegan set Sean Connelly up who got a clean strike away that Gary Comerford blocked bravely inside the penalty Area. A long Nathan Germaine goal kick found Chris Chanders, who was bundled over by Jack Kelly, up stepped up Cody Mulhall from thirty-six yards a considerable distance. Mulhall struck it sweetly, and no doubt was sailing for the top corner before Ball again made another top-notch save just after the half-hour mark. Clane United overcame that flurry and were starting to find some openings themselves. With the youngster, Liam Deane making a decent opportunity for himself after weaving through a host of players and getting a shot off, that was well saved by Nathan Germaine.
Clane’s Sean Connelly picked out Jack Kelly moments later with an inch-perfect pass. The captain took it expertly in his stride on the chest before his shot was again saved by Germaine, who was having a fantastic game but looked to have picked up an injury. Clane had the attacking momentum with a host of half chances in quick succession. They finally got the breakthrough after the ball was half-cleared twice and fell to Sean Connelly, who picked out Liam Deane, who headed home with five remaining in the half to send the home crowd wild with celebrations. Clonmullion, not deterred, hit back almost immediately when Sean Sheridan fouled Mulhall, it gave Nathan Robinson a chance, and the Dead ball specialist bent an unstoppable freekick beyond the wall and John Ball to level up the game on the stroke of halftime, a fantastic set-pieces.
The start of the second half was a cagey affair. Mark Hughes composed the play for Clonmullion from Centre-half his reading of the game allowed him to mop up any early threats. Again, Clonmullion were forced into another change as the substitute keeper Nathan Germaine was forced off through another injury after giving a fine showing, and Corey Moore, normally a Centre-half, took up duty as Keeper Sweeper. James Ralph and Dean Comiskey were starting to find pockets of space through the middle for Clane, both probing for a telling opening. Clonmullion became a little predictable as they tried on numerous occasions to send the same ball over the top to Mulhall, but it was mostly nullified by Kelly and Sheridan, who were stellar for the home side.
Clane gained the upper hand and worked a splendid flowing move from the back when Mark Kelly picked out Geoghegan in midfield, turned brilliantly under pressure, and set Dean Comiskey up. His effort was well saved by Corey Moore. The home side created some excellent chances, with James Ralph and Liam Deane peppering the Clonmullion goal, but found no way past Moore, who was equal to the task. The Athy-based side stood resolute under a significant amount of pressure from Clane with Hughes, Boyne and Day all in tremendous form. A Gary Comerford corner for the Mull was whipped in, the cross eluded both teams and Mark Wolfe picked it up outside the edge of the box, with his back to goal the nippy winger worked a yard of space for himself and sent an unbelievable curling shot that clipped the crossbar and found the back of the net leaving John Ball no chance in the Clane goal with Seventy minutes on the clock.
The game was wide open now. Clane, to their credit, responded almost immediately when Geoghegan flicked on a Ball goal kick. Liam Deane picked up the ball twenty yards out and pinged a drive beyond Corey Moore to level the game again 2-2. Both teams sensed that this game was there for the taking, but it was Clonmullion who carved out the more telling opportunity in the closing moments. Cody Mulhall took a long raking pass from Comerford before scooping a clever ball over Mark Kelly's head to set Benny Lawlor in on goal, but the pacey striker couldn't adjust his feet as he blazed his shot wide. Gary Comerford's throws proved a big weapon for Clonmullion the industrious midfield launched his trademark throw from the right flank that went straight through the Clane rearguard Cody Mulhall reacted first and crashed a header off the crossbar from ten yards out, Clane got the danger away and James Ralph latched on to the loose ball and made a mazy run before being smothered out by Hughes. Dean Comiskey was shown a second yellow which reduced Clane to ten with two minutes left in the Ninety. Both teams cancelled each other out for the remainder of the half.
Clonmullion with the numerical advantage heading into extra time, but they couldn't make it work in their favour as Clane had all hands on deck. There wasn't any major chance until the last minute of the first period of extra time when Gary Comerford picked up the ball in midfield and split the Clane rearguard with a perfectly weighted pass to set Benny Lawlor in on goal, Lawlor lopped his effort over Ball but it just flew over marginal over the crossbar.
Clane introduced Rasdi Nsimba for the second period of extra time his pace and dribbling were a real handful to contend with for Clonmullion. Rasdi won a free kick for his team after clever footwork, twenty-five yards from goal. Mark Kelly stepped up and hit a ferocious freekick that had Moore rooted to the spot but the effort crashed off the post before Aiden Ralph blasted the rebound over the crossbar. Clonmullion had one last-ditch effort when Comerford delivered a pinpoint cross that Jamie Boyne looked certain to nod home, but Cathal Geoghegan again showed his quality with an impeccable piece of defending to see the game out.
Clonmullion chose to shoot first on the penalty shoot-out, and as the penalty went, it was a masterclass by both sides. With Clonmullion's first six scored and Clane's first five with Youngster Rasdi Nsimba taking the sixth that was well saved by Corey Lammon to give Clonmullion their third Lumsden Cup victory in a very closely contest game that both sides poured everything into. Some exceptional goals on the day by both sides
Best for Clane, Sheridan, M Kelly, J Kelly. Cathal Geoghegan in midfield, Liam Deane, James Ralph Dean Comiskey and Rasdi Nsimba showed great courage and character to step up for his team when needed.
Best for Clonmullion, Hughes was quality at the back with Day and Boyle. Comerford, Robinson, Wolfe, and Mulhall put a serious shift up top. Both Nathan Germaine and Corey Moore were equally effective in goal-making vital saves.
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