KDFL SENIOR DIV TEAM FOCUS
Karina Donnelly Senior Cup Semi Final.
Clane United FC 1 Clonmullion FC 7
Senior Cup holder Clane United had home advantage in this KDFL Senior Division Cup Semi Final on
a wet and windy evening at Doctors Road. Clane coming into the game ravaged by unavailability saw
them field missing seven regulars. The visitors were first to threaten in the fourth minute and some
good approach play out on the right wing between Keane Cully and Lee Doyle saw the winger fire in a
cross to Cody Mulhall but he volleyed over. Five minutes later Garry Comerford won the ball in the
middle and picked out Doyle with a slide rule pass but full back Rhys Cunningham got back to deflect
his effort and keeper John Ball saved comfortably. With a quarter of an hour gone Cunningham turned
provider when he swung in a cross from the left which fell invitingly to Sean Connolly but he fired
over. Doyle and Cully were proving a threat down the right and when they combined again the cross
was met by Jodie Dillon but his header was deflected out for a corner by keeper Ball. From the
resultant Nathan Robinson corner Clane failed to clear their lines and in an almighty goalmouth
scramble the ball fell to Cully who looked destined to score but for a great block by Niall Hannify.
However on the twentieth minute Mark Hughes won the ball back in defence and passed to
Comerford who’s defence splitting pass picked out Danny Thompson on the right who’s first time
cross was swept home by Mulhall to put the visitors one up.
Buoyed by this Hughes started to spray passes for the back and a beautiful diagonal ball from the
centre half picked out Thompson who pulled his effort just wide. Clane continued to battle and Hannify
won the ball in the middle and slid a ball down the channel to Eoghan Maguire but Michael Lawless
was quickly off his line to smother the danger. With twenty five minutes gone and Comerford’s
influence growing in the middle he won the ball back with a sliding tackle and got to his feet to slide a
beautiful through ball to Thompson who still had a lot to do but managed to fire home from a tight
angle to make it two nil. Clane refused to lie down and the hard working Sean Brennan battled to win
the ball out wide right and passed to Maguire who shot first time but again Lawless was equal to it.
Ten minutes before half time Comerford again won a 50/50 ball and laid it off to Mulhall who in turn
fed Thompson who was brought down in the box by Hannify and the referee pointed to the spot.
Mulhall made no mistake to make it three nil. However
Hannify was to be the saviour a couple of minutes later as Thompson was bearing down on gaols
after a brilliant through ball by Robinson, he came out of nowhere to divert the ball out for a corner.
Robinson was again the provider with another quality delivery from the set piece which seen Cully rise
highest to power home with a bullet header to make it four nil at half time.
The second half started much in the same vein with The Mull rampant and when Hughes rolled a
pass back to Lawless he hit a long pin point pass to the head of Dillon who flicked it on to Mulhall
whose volleyed effort was brilliantly saved by keeper Ball. On the fiftieth minute Robinson and
Comerford worked a clever short corner which saw the latter hit a great shot but Ball dived full length
to save. However from his throw out the ball landed at the feet of Comerford who tried an audacious
effort from all of thirty five yards out which crashed back of the crossbar. Five minutes later Mulhall
completed his hat trick after a great run and cross by Johnny Fennell picked him out in the box and he
volleyed to the roof of the net to make it five nil.
Clane sub James Ralph went on a great individual run down the right and whipped a great ball
towards Maguire but just as he was eyeing up his effort the majestic Hughes intercepted and strode
out of defence to set up another attack through Dillon who just failed to get on the end of the pass. On
the hour mark Clonmullion sub Ross Cardiff won a great tackle in the middle of the park and passed a
great ball to Mulhall who bagged his fourth of the night. To be fair to Clane they never stopped trying
and the dangerous Brennan hit a great long range effort which Lawless had to tip over after great link
up play by Maguire and Commiskey. Then came the goal of the night when Hughes and Comerford
combined to set up Dillon who dribbled and weaved his way past three Clane defenders before
crashing the ball to the roof of the net to make it seven nil. Clane did pull one back with fifteen
minutes left with a wicked free kick from Andy Brogan. An emphatic victory for the League & League
Cup holders against a very youthful Clane side. Clonmullion were best served by Hughes and Cully at
the back Robinson and the impressive Comerford in the middle and while Thompson and Dillon were
always dangerous up front it was the ruthless four goal Mulhall who must take the man of the match
plaudits. Best for a hard working Clane side were keeper Ball, Cunningham and Karl James at the
back, Brennan and Hannify , Commskey and Maguire up front. A special mention must go to sixteen
year old Rhys Vaughan who acquitted himself well and also James Ralph who is the top goalscorer’s
in the KDUL ranks and showed enough tonight to suggest he is a player with great promise.
Clonmullion now take on Coill Dubh AFC in the Final of the Karina Donnelly Senior Cup next Sunday.
KDFL League Shield Semi Final
Athy Town AFC 2 Caragh Celtic FC 1
Senior League runners up Athy Town AFC did just about enough to see off Premier side Caragh Celtic
in their League Shield Semi final tilt. They now play Straffan AFC who were victorious over
Newbridge Town AFC Over 35s in the other semi, in the final next Sunday.