League Action!
Coill Dubh AFC 1 Clane United FC 2
Clane United took another crucial step towards securing their first senior league title with an eighty fifth-minute winner from Dean Comiskey. In what was a tightly contested match, both teams had opportunities, but Clane ultimately came out on top.
The opening half was a cagey affair, with Coill Dubh goalkeeper Luke Anderson being the busier of the two, pulling off several fine saves to deny Clane an early lead. Coill Dubh came close themselves when Ryan Grace cut in from the left and struck the post from a tight angle. Despite the near miss, it was Clane who made the breakthrough just before halftime. In the forty third minute, James Ralph managed to slip behind Coill Dubh’s Aaron Linehan and finished superbly into the bottom right corner past Anderson.
In the second half, Coill Dubh pushed hard for an equaliser, pinning Clane back in their own half. The introduction of Jack O'Brien for Coill Dubh proved pivotal, as he drove at the Clane defence repeatedly. O'Brien came agonizingly close to levelling the match, with a fine effort that narrowly missed the post.
Clane, however, remained a constant threat on the counter-attack. Luke Anderson continued to keep Coill Dubh in the game, pulling off another great save to deny Dean Comiskey in the seventy third minute. Shortly after, Coill Dubh finally found their equalizer. Jack O'Brien struck a contender for goal of the season with a stunning 25-yard shot that left Clane goalkeeper John Ball with no chance, bringing the score to 1-1.
As the match drew to a close, Clane pressed forward in search of a winner. Their persistence paid off five minutes from the end when they were awarded a free-kick just left of centre. Mark Kelly’s delivery found Dean Comiskey at the back post, and he made no mistake, heading the ball home to give Clane the lead once more.
Clane managed to see out the final minutes to claim all three points, bringing them one step closer to the league title. For Coill Dubh, it has been an up-and-down season, and their league campaign ended in disappointment with this loss.
Standout Performers for Coill Dubh were Luke Anderson in goal was excellent, along with solid performances from Dan Small, Aaron Lenehan, Cian MacMahon, Ryan Murran, Ryan Grace, and Jack O'Brien. Best for the visitors were Sean Sheridan, Jack Kelly, Sean Connolly, James Ralph and Dean Comiskey.
League Shield
Newbridge Hotspurs FC 1 Rathangan AFC 2
Rathangan made their second trip to Snigg’s Brogan park in three weeks to seek revenge in their narrow extra time defeat last time out. And it was the visitors who made the better start to a rather depleted Hotspurs squad. After a tactical open ten minutes by both teams, it was the visitors who started to put pressure on the home team with the first chance of the game going just narrowly wide after a cross in from the right.
Hotspurs had a chance to equalize soon after when they won a corner and after a lot of head tennis in the box it was eventually cleared. On twenty six minutes Rathangan were awarded a free kick about thirty five yards out, it took a deflection off the wall and as much as the Hotspurs keeper tried to keep it out he lost his footing at the vital moment, 0-1 Rathangan.
An injury to Eoin McGrath slowed play hotspurs needed to make an early substitution. The game flowed end to end for the remainder of the first half with hotspurs having two corners at the end but to no avail. Hotspurs had to make another substitution early in the second half with the keepers as yet another injury occurred, but it started just as the first ended with end to end football and some very strong, but fair, challenges from both teams. Both teams had chances and both keepers were up for the challenge. The visitors then took the lead when along ball beat the home defence and Rathangan’s striker was on hand to collect and slot it past the keeper 0-2 Rathangan.
As time pushed on Hotspurs started to put pressure on the visitors but the defence held strong, on eighty minutes a red card saw Rathangan down to ten men and the home team tried to take advantage of the extra man and finally got their breakthrough on ninety minutes when Chris Higgins scored to make 1-2, with about seven minutes of injury time to be played hotspurs tried and tried again but no joy, final whistle came, and after a very well fought out game, Rathangan have come out the winners 2-1. Best for hotspurs were Eoin Walshe and Chris Higgins in goals.
Clonmullion FC 3 Old Fort Celtic FC 2
Old Fort Celtic were the visitors to Micheál O Neill Park for their last league game of the season. The home side almost took an early lead after three minutes when Cody Mulhall took the ball down and fed the overlapping Mark Wolfe. The winger skipped past Lee Talbot before pulling the ball back to Chris Chanders but Eoin Carroll just got a foot in to block the effort and deflect it out for a corner. Mulhall was again involved as he received a great ball on the half turn from Rickie Moriarity and rolled it into the path of the on running Ceilum Maher who's first touch was immaculate before shifting the ball onto his left foot and coolly slotting the ball low into the corner, giving keeper Dean Bland no chance. The visitors almost levelled ten minutes later when Talbot floated a corner kick over everyone to the back post where centre half Carroll was unmarked, but he could only guide his header into the side netting. With twenty five minutes gone Clonmullion were awarded a free kick thirty five yards out after Jake Nicholl was taken down by David Costigan. Mulhall stepped up and whipped in a vicious shot that looked to be heading to the bottom corner but Bland got finger tips to the ball to push it out for a corner. Five minutes later Fort were awarded a direct free kick when Robbie Farrell was fouled on twenty yards out by Moriarity. He took the free himself and as Lee Day tried to block the effort he was adjudged to have handled the ball inside box and the referee pointed to the spot. Brian Smith stepped up and drilled it low down to Michael Lawless 's right to level the sides. Straight from the kick off The Mull went back into the lead as Nicholl picked out the outstanding Mulhall who cushioned the ball beautifully into the path of Nathan Robinson who curled the ball into the top right hand corner. Just before half time Mulhall who was forced off with an ankle injury.
Five minutes into the second half Wolfe could have made it 3 1 after great interplay between Chanders and Jody Dillon down the right wing but he pulled his effort across goal and just wide. He again went close after Nicholl and Garry Comerford combined to set him up but was denied by keeper Bland with a fine save. Comerford’s influence was growing by the minute and when himself and Dillon played a neat one two the midfielder should have had a shot himself but he squared it and Carroll cleared the danger. However the same duo combined again on the hour mark and this time Dillon picked out Maher who's right footed effort flew into the top corner to make it 3 1. The visitors did manage to pull one back with a quarter of an hour remaining when Farrell floated a free kick onto the head of the unmarked Costigan who headed home from close range. Best for Old Fort were keeper Dean Bland, centre half Eoin Carroll and David Costigan and Robbie Farrell. Best for the home side were Moriarity and Foley at the back Nicholl in midfield and Maher up front. While Mulhall was brilliant for the forty plus minutes he played The Mull management team will be crossing their fingers that his injury is not as serious as it looked as they plan ahead for next Sunday’s Lumsden Cup Final.
Naas United FC 4 Kilcullen AFC 1
The sun disappeared for an autumnal Sunday morning kick off when Kilcullen AFC travelled the short distance north to face title chasing Naas Utd Utd. Naas Utd were desperate for three points having dropped all three to Coill Dubh and were looking to stay in touch with treble chasing Clane Utd at the top of the Senior Division.
The game started off with a fast tempo with both teams looking to try secure 3 points today, Naas Utd started off the better team keeping possession, but Kilcullen defended very well with Adam Lavin and the returning Shane Higgins from serving overseas both defending very well. Naas started the stronger and the kilcullen goalkeeper pulled off two good saves from Niall Faherty and Rox Higgins efforts. Daragh Faherty and Sheldan Mbala were causing the away side lots of problems down the left but the Kilcullen back four defended staunchly. The home side kept pressing and finally took the lead when Niall Faherty finished smartly after a great run and shot from Jordan Martella .Two minutes later Naas were stunned into silence when Kilcullen’s Paddy Deering equalised with a ball delivered in towards Niall Flynn who made no mistake with the finish to leave the game 1-1 at half time,
The second half started with Naas much more determined after a number of substitutions and they retook the lead when a Daragh Faherty cross was deflected into the Kilcullen goal an own goals by a Kilcullen defender. Naas continued to press and got their third goal when Victor Oladapo broke through from the heart of midfield to beat three players after great work from Cian McDonnell and finish brilliantly leaving the away keeper with no chance. The home side wrapped up the points when the silky Daragh Faherty went on one of his mazy runs beating a number of players before finishing clinically. Best for Naas were Keith Higgins in goal , Jordan Martella,Daragh Faherty, Cian Mc Donnell and man of the match Victor Oladapo. Best for Kilcullen were Stephen Coyne, Niall Flynn but best by far was young Adam Lavin at the back with a great performance from the young man and an important player from our under 20 side.
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