KDFL SENIOR DIVISION FOCUS.

Coill Dubh AFC 1 Naas United FC 2

Naas Utd’s first away game of the season saw them put on a fantastic team display with a well earned 1-0 victory over a Coill Dubh side who were ravaged with illness and injury this time out. Its 2 wins in a row now for this new look Utd side as they set out to defend last season’s Senior Division title win. A lovely evening in Cusack Park saw both sides keeping the ball well in the opening stages. The first real chance of the game fell to Naas as Dylan Malone got up from right back to whip in a dangerous cross to Paul Ometeso, who headed narrowly wide with the keeper left flat footed. The away side were already set out well in defence as John Paul Higgins and Peter Kerrigan won 2 early battles in the air and this was to set the tone for the rest of the game with the mixture of youth and experience beginning to gel into a fine partnership. Naas had 2 more chances on 17 and 19 minutes as first Travis O’Neill and Joe Murray did well to set up a half chance for Jay Boyd, but his header went just wide again and 2 minutes later Murray saw his shot blocked by Adam McLoughlin after some neat play out wide. 

Coill Dubh’s first shot on target came in the 27th minute as Keith Higgins was forced to show good hands to hold on to Jason Devine’s shot from 30 yards out. After that Naas took over and had really strong hold up play from Ometeso, the midfield duo of Scott O’Neill and Liam Marshall began to get on top of their battles and Jack Conway began to get into the game at left full. On 36 minutes O’Neill hassled his man to win the ball back in the middle before Liam Marshall played a fantastic ball in behind the full back for Joe Murray to run on to, he showed nice skill to get past Aaron Lenehan on the end line to cut inside the box and shooting low, forcing a good stop by Bagnal with his feet. 2 minutes later it was left to the other winger Travis O’Neill to get in on the act as he zipped past his man and swing in an early cross towards his cousin Scott O’Neill who headed just over the bar. Coill Dubh had a good opportunity for a shot from a free kick 25 yards out after a Jay Boyd foul, but Keith Higgins set his wall up perfectly as he ran out to smother the breaking ball, It was 0-0 going into the break. 

The sun had now gone down and the lights came on for the beginning of the 2nd half as Cusack Park shone brightly as one of the best facilities in the county. An excellent turn out of supporters too for both sides really made for a great atmosphere as the 2nd half began with both teams having early chances. A superb volley from Jack O’Brien forced Higgins into a very good save before he set up a counter attack with some excellent distribution as Marshall, Boyd and Murray combined before Paul Ometeso struck a powerful shot well over the bar. Coill Dubh gathered a bit of confidence and No.3 Cian MacMahon got a couple of chances to cross the ball and they lead to 2 fine saves from Keith Higgins as first Ryan Grace headed on target, before Jack O’Brien got on to a breaking ball, but he found Higgins in superb form. Naas had a tactic to press Coill Dubh and cut out the quick passing from deep and it Almost worked as Ometeso closed down the defender to force the mistake as Liam Marshal was gifted the ball 25 yards out but just as he was about to strike, Joe Bowers nipped in with a good interception. The away side didnt learn from that though as 3 minutes later they tried it again and this time Ometeso did get the block to win possession for himself 10 yards out, he faded to shoot with his right foot but a beautiful Cruyff turn left 2 defenders in his wake and he struck a left footed effort low past the home keeper to open his account for the season as the away sideline erupted in celebration. From here on in Naas looked so solid in defence and Substitute Jamie Dunne was allowed acres to run into as got forward unchallenged from right back before seeing a great strike scrape off the post and wide. Jack Conway had a lovely free kick saved well by Bagnall on 70 minutes before Higgins had to pull off another good save from Devine. But that was to be the last of the home sides efforts because they found a solid wall of Dunne, Kerrigan, John Paul Higgins and Conway all marshalled perfectly by there Goalkeeper and Captain Keith Higgins, who caught every single cross that came near him. Naas swapped Scott O’Neill for Leon Doyle by this stage too and Doyle was full of energy as he pressed and harried like a man possessed and gave the team a great boost. Dylan Hannon and Ruban Maher also came off the bench for 2 solid debuts for Naas, with Hannon getting a couple of heavy tackles as he faced his former side (both players look very exciting as they have excellent vision and touches) and Naas then had another boost when Adam Colton came on for the final 15 minutes as his strong frame and pace gave Naas another outlet. Colton broke away down the right on 80 minutes and whipped in a lovely low cross for Ometeso but his strike was closed down just in time by Lenehan, and Liam Marshall almost finished off a fine evening as he tore away but for another fine tackle by Bowers. Naas didn’t over commit in the dying stages and showed great composure to see out the clock with Ometeso and Colton using their strength and experience in the corners as the final whistle blew for an excellent 3 points and a perfectly coached game by Vernon Nolan, Paul Lawlor and Schawn Monteiro.

Naas were best served by Man Of The Match Paul Ometeso with a great centre forward display and a fine goal to seal the game, Liam Marshall was outstanding in Midfield, side kicked perfectly by Scott O’Neill, Kerrigan and John Paul Higgins were excellent at the back while captain Keith Higgins gets his first clean sheet of the season after a faultless and powerful goalkeeper display. Best for Coill Dubh was goal keeper Ryan Bagnall. 

Clane United FC 4 Rathangan AFC 0

Clane made a bright start with Rathangan happy to sit back and try play on break.  With the home side dominating the ball without creating much clear cut chances due to Rathangan’s effective low block.  Rathangan were forced into long balls but were dealt with by the backline of Stephen Leavy, Jack Kelly, Gavin O’Dwyer, Sean Sheridan and Calum Mooney making his senior debut in the clane nets.

On 24 minutes Clane took the lead as Eoghan Maguire played a perfect pass into Dean Comiskey to go through one v one with Craig Shannon to find the bottom corner.  It remained 1 0 going into the break. The second half started in the same vein as the home side looked to add a second goal which arrived on the 50th min as a Ryan Murran

free kick hit the post and the alert Killian Patchell converted the rebound.  5 mins later the 3 points were secured when Sean Sheridan scored his first goal since under 11 s from a Murran corner.  On the 70 minute mark, Maguire was rewarded for his fine performance upfront as his rounded Shannon to make it 4-0 via a Comiskey through ball.  Overall for the home side a solid team performance with standouts Jack Kelly, Dean Comiskey,  Eoghan Maguire & man of the match Ryan Murran.

Old Fort Celtic FC 2 Clonmullion AFC 2

Old fort Celtic Hosted Senior league Veteran's Clonmullion FC In their new home grounds This morning at Portlaoise Rugby Club.  Clonmullion started the game well on  top with Chances Falling to Mulhall and Chanders early on and we're lucky not to break the Deadlock.  Old fort had a chance themselves to take the league through Patryk Staniec who Failed to Convert His Chance. Clonmullion piled on the pressure and were rewarded on the 25 minute mark when a perfectly whipped in ball by Cody Mulhall found the head of Chanders who made no mistake to nod home to put the visitors 1-0 up. 

Clonmullion were hogging a lot of posession and working the home side created another couple of Chances but couldn't find the net. Half time came and went and Clonmullion started the second half pretty much the Same as the first and were once again Rewarded with a 2nd goal when Doyle played a pinch perfect pass across to Mulhall who converted to make it 2-0

Just when it seemed to be all Over for Old Fort they finally found some more gears and burst into life and were rewarded on the 60 minute mark when a Tyler Dempsey throw in landed to Jamie Shinners 25 Yards and he hit a rocket of a Volley into the far Corner to give Old Fort a Life line at 2-1.  Clonmullion Were Reduced to 10 men for a mistimed tackle and Old Fort took advantage of the extra man and half chances started to fall to them and they couldn't seem to Break the backline, until a free kick was awarded a few minutes before Full time. Old fort Vice Captain Lee Carroll Talbot stepped up and put the ball pin point into the top corner to steal a point in a game that seemed to be well over for the home side.   Best for Old Fort were Ben Doyle, Jamie Shinners once again, Scott Coyle But Lee Carroll Talbot nicks man of the match for them after a Relentless display. 

Arlington FC 0 Newbridge United FC 4

After last week's opening day disappointment and an idle week next it was imperative that united got their season started today with an early must win fixture away to Arlington who themselves suffered defeat last week out. From the off both sides went at  it with early chances for both sides but it was united who struck first on the 16th min when a James Mahoney corner was brilliantly met by Michael Fitzgerald who powered in the opener. That settled united and sparked Arlington into life who should have levelled when striker ran through beating the offside trap bearing in on goal and but for a fantastic stop by debutant keeper Shane Farrell sides would have been level, United saw out the first half  with control and in the middle with captain Brian Murphy dictating both the pace of the game and those around him.  Second half and with the words from manager Robbie Byrne in their ears United stepped it up and the half only 2 minutes old united went 2 nil up when man of the match Jamie Headon scored from outside the box for his first Newbridge United goal. The visitors added a 3rd on the hour mark when Niall Costigan smashed into the top corner after good work down united’s left,  Game was polished of when Denis Kave came of the bench and added a fourth with 20 mins to play united ran out convincing winners in the end. Clean sheet for united was built on a solid foundation defensively with stand out performances from Michael Fitzgerald and Glen Bracken today. Man of the match was Jamie Headon and he was ably assisted by Michael Fitzgerald and Glenn Bracken. 

Newbridge Hotspurs 3 Moone Celtic FC 1

Hotspurs got their season off to winning start on a bright but brisk spring morning at Snigs Brogan Park. It was however a relatively slow start to the game with neither side creating much in the way of chances though Eoin McGrath did have a shot saved on the second minute. Early on in this game, it was Moone Celtic however which had more in the way of possession but the Hotspurs defensive quartet of Shane Higgins, Robbie Higgins, Barry Doyle and Sean Higgins were on hand to deal with the threats coming their way, marshalled by the impressive Reece Winders in goal. About half way through the first half, Hotspurs began to get a foothold on the game with when the midfield trio of Ryan O’Donoghue, Mark Wolfe and Eamon Doyle began to pull strings in the centre of the park providing better combinations and link up play. Hotspurs went close on the 27th minute when fine play in midfield and between Eamon Doyle and Niall Flynn led to Flynn making a nice pass to Wark Wolfe whom shot just over the bar. On the 33rd minute, Hotspurs took the lead when a cross from the right hand side led to Flynn connecting but his shot was blocked and it fell to Scott O’Donoghue who shot low and hard from 8 yards out to find the back of net, 1-0 to Hotspurs. On the 36th minute, Hotspurs were unlucky not to make it 2-0 when Niall Flynn found the back of the net but he was adjudged to be offside. Hotspurs continued to play some nice football with Ryan O’Donoghue particularly impressive breaking up play in midfield but they were unable to get a second goal before half time.

The second half started with Moone Celtic pushing higher up the pitch and utilising a change of formation, this did have the desired effect for them. They created a number of chances but Reece Winders was on hand to make a couple of good saves. The first changes of the game for Hotspurs came on the 56th minute when Mikey Murphy and Chris Higgins entered the fray.  On the 58th minute, Hotspurs had two chances in quick succession when Mikey Murphy went close with his left foot shot which was well saved by the Moone keeper. From the resultant corner, Shane Higgins almost scored when his header was tipped on to the crossbar by the Moone Celtic keeper. On the 65th minute, Flynn went close again when his header went just over the bar. With Moone Celtic firing some warning signs at Hotspurs since the start of the second half, they got a deserved goal on the 68th minute when a well struck shot found the back of the net, 1-1. Hotspurs made their third change of the game on the 68th minute when Eoin Walsh replaced Mark Wolfe. On the 70th minute, Flynn again went close when his shot was cleared off the line. Just two minutes later, Moone Celtic were awarded a penalty. In what was to be a critical juncture in the game, Reece Winders brilliantly saved the penalty. The save galvanised the Hotspurs team. It was  on the 78th minute when Hotspurs took the lead for the second time in the game. It came via a Shane Higgins throw which was knocked on by Niall Flynn to Eoin McGrath took one touch and brilliantly finished from 15 yards out to find the corner of the net. On the 83rd minute, Tommy Walsh replaced Niall Flynn. Almost immediately, Tommy Walsh swung in a superb cross which was by met by Eoin McGrath whom headed just wide. On the 85th minute, the effervescent Eoin McGrath was replaced by Eoin Phillips. It was the 85th minute when Hotspurs got their third goal of the game. It came via a Shane Higgins headed pass into space to Chris Higgins, Higgins with still lots of work to do, took a good first touch to take it away from the defender ran towards goal and then calmly finished past the keeper, 3-1 to Hotspurs. On the 90th minute, Chris Higgins almost got his second of game when a Mikey Murphy pass found him on the left his shot went just over the bar.