KDFL SENIOR DIVISION FOCUS 04/05/2025

CLONMULLION FC 4 COILL DUBH AFC 1

Coill Dubh were the visitors to Micheál O Neill Park on this beautiful Sunday afternoon in this Senior Division League tie. The home side enjoyed the lions share of possession in the first half hour without really testing keeper Ryan Bagnall. With thirty three minutes on the clock Joe Bowers fouled Nathan Robinson on the right wing. Cody Mulhall whipped in a vicious free kick which was difficult to defend and Emmet Donoghue headed into his own goal. The lead didn't last long as Craig Lenehan combined well with Bowers to play the ball to Jack O Brien who's powerful low shot deceived Evan Grattan and found the back of the net. Jake Nicholl and Robinson were dictating things from the middle of the park and the front line of Tom Nolan, Con Murray and Ceilum Maher had the Dubh defence penned back allowing Mulhall to drop into the pocket where he was wreaking havoc. With ten minutes remaining in the first half the excellent Johnny Fennell was rolling back the years with his underlapping runs, one of which allowed him to play the ball to Mulhall who again whipped in a vicious cross where poacher Maher was lurking at the back post to knock home and restore the lead. 

The home side started the second half as they had finished the first, dominating possession and playing some lovely flowing football with Robinsons influence growing. Two minutes into the half Corey Moore drilled the ball into Tom Nolan who's hold up play was outstanding and he laid a perfect pass off to Robinson who's beautifully struck shot was brilliantly saved by Bagnall at full stretch. In the 55th minute Bowers and Lenehan combined well on the edge of the Clonmullion box with the latter bringing a fantastic finger tip save from Grattan. The central defensive partnership of Mark Hughes and Keane Cully was solid with both of them comfortable on the ball and a lovely pass out of defence by Hughes picked out Mulhall who jinked past MacMahon who brought him down just inside the box and he picked himself up to give Bagnall no chance from the spot. With twenty five minutes remaining it was 4 1 when a hand ball by a Dubh defender twenty five yards out led to a direct free kick just to the right hand side of the box. Who else but the outstanding Mulhall stepped up to curl a delicious left footed effort into the corner of the net to bring his tally to two goals and two assists and ensure his team took all 3 points. Best for Coill Dubh were Sean MacMahon, Aaron Lelehan and scorer Cian MacMahon.

NEWBRIDGE HOTSPURS FC 3 CLANE UNITED FC 2

An entertaining game ensued at Snigs Brogan Park on a cool but bright May morning. Within the first few mins, Hotspurs did have an early chance when Niall Flynn headed just wide following a Ryan O’Donoghue cross. Hotspurs were dealt an early blow when Tommy Walsh was forced off with a knee injury within the first five minutes. Tomas Hennessy came on to replace the injured Tommy Walsh. On the 8th minute, Hotspurs had a chance to make it 1-0, it came via a good pass from Sean Higgins to Eoin McGrath who nodded on to the path of Robbie Higgins, Higgins took the ball to inside the box and struck with his right foot but the shot went agonisingly wide. Following this, it was all Clane, they created several chances and caused problems for the Hotspurs defence. Clane got their breakthrough on the twentieth minute when they were awarded a penalty. Aidan Ralph subsequently slotted home to make it 1-0 to Clane. At this stage of the game, Clane were on the ascendency and were causing Hotspurs problems in midfield and in defence. On the twenty seventh minute, Reece Winders pulled off a good save to deny Clane a second. However, Hotspurs did get an equaliser and it came on the thirty first minute. It came following good individual play from Niall Flynn on the left. Flynn crossed the ball in and with the keeper unable to hold on to the cross, Mikey Murphy was on hand to take advantage to fire home from close range, 1-1. Just three minutes later however, Clane made it 2-1 following a good finish from J Ralph. On the fortieth minute, Hotspurs went close when Chris Higgins shot just went over the bar. Hotspurs injury crisis deepened on the forty second minute when Mikey Murphy was forced off with a shoulder injury. Mark Wolfe replaced the injured Mikey Murphy. The game went in at half time 2-1 to Clane United.

A few tactical tweaks were made by Hotspurs management at half time. Almost immediately, this had the desired effect and Hotspurs came  out with much more intent. Hotspurs got the equaliser five minutes in. It came via a Robbie Higgins pass to Chris Higgins, Chris Higgins ran at the defender and was then able to cross the ball low into the box, Niall Flynn was on hand then to strike home from close range, 2-2. After ten minutes Hotspurs went close when Ryan O’Donoghue shot just over the bar. Just one minute later, Niall Flynn went close when his shot hit the side netting following good link up play with Mark Wolfe. Four minutes later Scott O’Donoghue replaced Chris Higgins. The effect of the change was almost immediate, Hotspurs were awarded a corner on the hour, it was Scott O’Donoghue who stepped up to take the corner. He whipped in a sumptuous cross with pace and the ball ended up in the top corner, 3-2 to Hotspurs. Hotspurs continued to press and almost made it 4-2 when Eoin McGraths bicycle kick on the sixty fifth minute when just wide of the post. Just two minutes later, Niall Flynn had a shot well saved by the Clane United keeper.  Following this, the game  turned into a midfield batter with Keith teams created much in the way of clear cut chances Hotspurs made another change with fifteen minutes to go when Eamon Doyle  replaced Eoin McGrath. The energetic Eamon Doyle providing just what Hotspurs needed at this point and Doyle, along with Eoin Walsh and Mark Wolfe were doing lots of pressing and closing down of Clanes midfield. Hotspurs managed to see the game out and collect all 3 points.  Best for Hotspurs were Sean Higgins, Mark Wolfe, Niall Flynn and Hotspurs man of the match Eoin Walsh. Best for Clane was Cillian Patchell. 

ARLINGTON FC 3 RATHANGAN AFC 0

Both teams came in to the match looking to pick up their first points of the season. Arlington started brightest and scored from a corner after 20 minutes from Pheilim O’Kane. The game became a bit scrappy with both teams conceding fouls and most chances in the first half coming from set pieces. Oisin Dempsey on the wing for Rathangan had to come off injured at the 28th minute mark. The half time whistle brought an end to a close first half.

Rathangan came out in the second half with a renewed sense of purpose and started to get the ball down and play. Iain Doyle and Nathan Cullen were particularly impressive, Arun Doyle moving from left to right wing was now really getting in to the game and looked most likely to create something for Rathangan. But then a deep cross from Arlington in to the box was fumbled by the young Rathangan keeper and resulted in a second goal for Arlington this time through Ben Slevin. Rathangan to their credit reacted positively but an error in their own box in the 80th minute resulted in a third for the home side, Thobela Nazo’s work rate paid dividends. His aggressive pressing forced a mistake from the Rathangan centre-half, and he calmly slotted home to make it 3–0 and secure all three points. Best for the winners were Pheilim O’Kane, Alex Dunne, Ben Slevin, and Ben McEvoy. While for Rathangan Iain and Arun Doyle were best. 

OLD FORT CELTIC FC 0 NAAS UNITED FC 2

Naas United with 4 wins from 4 in their early defence of last years title, travelled to Portlaoise to face an Old Fort Celtic side who have had a mixed bag of results so far with a win on the opening day followed up by a draw and 2 defeats. A heavy defeat last time out saw the home side concede 7 against Clane United, so they were always going to be a lot tighter today and Naas knew they were going to have to be at their best to come away with a result. United were unveiling a brand new kit, sponsored by DOORS AND FLOORS of Newhall retail park and they knew this was a game as Vernon Nolans side seek to close the door on relegation as quick as possible and this 3 points today should surely secure that. Naas began the brighter of the 2 sides as they forced a couple of early corners, Old Fort keeper Dean Bland looked nervous as he fumbled both attempts to catch, but his defenders got him out of trouble, Bland had to be lively to make a save in the 8th minute as Paul Ometeso struck with his left foot from 20 yards out. Moments later Keith Higgins made his first save when Byron McGuirk tried a very ambitious shot from distance, but he found the door slammed shut as Higgins was never going to be beaten from that range. Naas United winger Joe Murray was opening doors down the right side and had already caused problem, but when he swung in a brilliant cross in the 11th minute, Bland yet again fumbled, and Dylan Hannon Latched onto the ball to head past the keeper and Paul Ometeso sprinted in to Slam the ball home to put Naas ahead. Old Fort put a lovely move together in the 23rd minute when Tyler Dempsey showed good skill to slip the ball around Dylan Malone at Right Back for Naas and Dempsey found Ntumba with a neat pass, Ntumba laid the ball of perfectly for McGuirk, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by John Paul Higgins. Naas matched that attack 2 minutes later when Paul Ometeso laid a long ball off perfectly with his chest to midfielder Liam Marshall who volleyed the ball first time out to Murray on the wing who unlocked the defence again and he zipped past the full back and swung in a perfect cross that flew past everyone, but Owen Moran came in the back door to finish brilliantly at the back post. United’s defence were very strong today and yet another powerful display in goal from Keith Higgins saw him catch every single cross that came his way. Owen Moran had the ball in the net yet again with an almost identical Murray cross but the referee judged it offside and Old Fort blew a sigh of relief as the first half came to a close.  Old Fort began the second half bright and won an early corner, but the away defence did well to clear their lines as John Paul Higgins started to assert his presence in the air. United had their first second half effort on goal when Scott O’Neill struck a daisy cutter that was saved well by Bland. Old Fort had a few chances after this as Shinners and Carroll went close. John Paul Higgins was on the floor with an injury on 68 mins but the home side played on and had a good chance to score but they were well wide of the Frame as Carroll failed to hit the target. From here on in it was all about Naas United’s defenders as Jamie Dunne and John Paul Higgins began to show their experience.  Naas did have the ball in the net again with another good move but Owen Moran was again judged offside. On another day Moran would have had a hat trick but the calls were tight and Referee Alan Sherlock was having a very steady game, so no complaints could be made from the away side. Higgins was on the floor again on 75 mins as he took another heavy challenge, but he was never going to be unhinged and played on for a man of the match display. Naas brought on Stephen Tilly and Jack Conway to add more arial stability to the defence and the door was firmly shut now despite some late old fort attacks as Both Higgins brothers were incredible for their side. Naas had a great chance in the final attack of the game when Joe Mills found himself with a chance to lob the keeper, but he just missed the target and the referee blew the final whistle as Naas United make it 5 wins from 5 and went top of the table as Clane Utd were defeated 3-2 by next week’s up coming opponents Newbridge Hotspurs.

Naas were best served by Man of the Match John Paul Higgins who even when injured carried on right to the end, his brother, Keith Higgins keeps another clean sheet with another commanding display. Dunne, Malone, Nulty and Stephen Tilly also played their role in that clean sheet, while in the forward areas Liam Marshal was once again top class, Murray and Moran were unplayable out wide and Ometeso scored the opening goal in all 3 games he has played so far this year. Best for Old fort Was Byron McGuirk and Tyler Dempsey.