Kilcock Celtic 0 Suncroft AFC 6
Suncroft had an impressive 6-0 victory over newly promoted Kilcock Celtic on Friday last which sees them in a mid table position. Both teams got off to a good start and it was Suncroft who took the lead early on with some nice one touch football in the middle of the park between Sheedy, Dylan Byrne and Niall Flynn and it was Niall who played and excellent cross field pass to Niall Costigan who found himself through on the Kilcock goal only to be brought down by the Kilcock defender. Up stepped Flynn who made no mistake putting the ball past the Kilcock goalkeeper to put the visitors 1-0 up.
Suncroft found themselves in the driving seat and soon after it was the ever running Niall Costigan once again found himself through on goal only for his shot to be saved by the Kilcock goalkeeper but the ball fell to the feet of the ever reliable Dylan Connolly who made no mistake and stroked the it into the Kilcock net to double the visitors advantage. Kilcock to their credit hadn't given up hope but unfortunately couldn't find a way past a strong Suncroft back line to leave the Croft going in at the break two goals to the good.
Kilcock came out of the traps fast in the second half and nearly pulled one back when the Kilcock forward shot past goalkeeper Colin Farrell only for Ryan Farrell to throw his body on the line and save what looked like a definite goal. This woke the Suncroft lads up and soon after the visitors grabbed their third when a corner from Connolly was cleared by the Kilcock back line only for the ball to fall at the feet of Josh Lee who settled himself and fired a rocket into the top corner of the Kilcock goal from 35 yards out.
Suncroft who travelled with a strong bench began to make changes on the hour mark when Gary Lowe and Patrick Coady replaced Niall Costigan and Dylan Byrne. The fresh legs immediately paid dividends for the croft when Patrick Coady crossed for Connolly who grabbed his second and Suncroft's fourth. Paddy Flood replaced Byron Reid with fifteen minutes to go and he made the most of it not long after being introduced Flood won the ball off the Kilcock back line and fired the Crofts fifth. With ten minutes remaining Sheedy played a great ball over the top Flood who found himself one on one kept his composure rounding the Kilcock Goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net to round off the scoring at 6-0. All credit to Kilcock who played some nice football throughout and never gave up.
Best for the Croft Ryan Farrell and Gary Scully at the back, Sheedy and Flynn who controlled midfield and man of the match Dylan Connolly.
Clonmullion AFC 4 Clane United FC 2
Clonmullion claimed all three points in this KDLF Senior Division clast at Michael O Neill Park on Sunday. The opening exchanges were played out between both penalty areas with very little goalmouth action until the fifteenth minute when Eoin McGuire somehow dribbled along the end line passed the home defence and pulled a ball back to Sean Connolly whose effort only found the side netting. It wasn't until the twenty fifth minute that either keeper had to make a save when Dean Commisky fired a shot straight at Michael Lawless from a headed clearance from Timmy Doyle, Ten minutes later the visitors opened the scoring when Clonmullion trying to play out from the back had the ball intercepted by Cathal Geoghan who passed to McGuire for the simplest of tap ins. McGuire then almost made it two only for a last ditch tackle by Shane Foley after the home side were again guilty of over elaborating at the back.
It wasn't until the thirty seventh minute that The Mull threatened the Clane defence when Johnny Fennell hooked a looping ball into the box and the excellent Jack Kelly headed clear only for the ball to fall at the feet of Lee Foley who's left footed effort was cleared off the line by Sean Sheridan. Clane went 2 up two minutes into the second half when Shane Foley lost his footing and the ever dangerous McGuire latched onto the ball and finished from an acute angle. Clonmullion came close to narrowing the margin when half time substitute Dean O'Sullivan Owens headed a Nathan Robinson free kick just over the bar.
The home side were piling on the pressure and in the fifty fifth minute and again came close when a Fennell corner was headed into the side netting by Jay Connell. The pressure finally paid off on the hour mark when from another set piece Robinson picked out Shane Foley who headed home from close range. Five minutes later another Robinson free kick was flicked on by Dean Fennessy but again Connell arriving unmarked at the back post seen his effort go just wide. Clane who were now playing on the break almost got a third when Geoghan had a shot just tipped over by Lawless after great approach work by Ciaran Kelly. From the resulting corner McGuire rose highest to win the header but his effort flew over. With fifteen minutes left the home side drew level after Jack Dooley picked out Lee Foley down the right and his cross was met beautifully by the head of Fennell who put the ball back across the goal into the far corner. Five minutes later Clonmullion went ahead when Owens flicked on a Connell throw in and Robinson arrived late in the box to volley home. Clane refused to lie down and after a great tackle by Kelly in midfield the ball fell to McGuire who lifted his shot over when through on goal. With only minutes left on the clock Clane got a corner and Keeper Ball made his way up the pitch but Corey Moore rose highest to head clear and the ball fell to Fennell who looped the ball from his own half over the defenders running back and in to an empty net to make it 4 - 2 to Clonmullion. A great game of football by both sides and best for Clane were Jack Kelly and Sean Sheridan at the back, Ciaran Kelly and Sean Connolly in the middle while McGuire caused the home defence real trouble all day with his pace and clever runs. Best for the home side were Timmy Doyle and Jay Connell in defence Lee Foley and Nathan Robinson in the middle, while Dean Owens made a huge impact off the bench and the evergreen Fennell was outstanding throughout with two very well taken goals.
Rathangan AFC 2 Kilcullen AFC 2
Rathangan and Kilcullen played out a breathless 2-2 draw in a great game of football in Rathangan on Sunday morning.
Rathangan dominated the early exchanges and created two early chances. The first from a lovely Arun Doyle cross that just missed the foot of Alex Conlon at full stretch. The second from a long ball over the top which was tapped narrowly wide by Conlon. The goal did come on ten minutes from an excellent corner. Alex Conlan taking it to land the ball on the head of Sam O'Loughlin who made no mistake to header the ball into the net to put the home side 1-0 up.
The goal woke Kilcullen and Brian Murphy,Ryan Dick, Darragh Kelly and Dean O’Toole began to find holes in the home side's midfield and created a few half chances.
Kilcullen should have been level after twenty minutes. Darragh Kelly hit a brilliant first time pass to Dylan Aulsberry who tiptoed past the first defender and his shot was met by the hand of a Rathangan defender, Penalty. Colin Scanlon stepped up to take but his driven effort just scraped the wrong side of the post.
Both sides battled hard for the next twenty minutes in an absorbing contest played at a frenetic pace you would expect from the top division but neither side could get past the two quality goalkeepers for both teams.
Five minutes before half time Kilcullen drew level courtesy of Ryan Dick from the penalty spot after a clumsy handball in the Rathangan box 1-1.
It looked like that would be the halftime score but from a Kilcullen corner deep in injury time Alex Conlan in his own half gave a superb long-range ball to Arun Doyle who had a bit of work to do when he managed to cut the defence in two to slot a long-range strike into the net to put the home side 2-1 up going into the break.
The second half was a little tamer then the first with both sides finding it hard to keep the pace up in the midday sun.
On twenty minutes Kilcullen were reduced to ten men and that looked to hand the impetus to Rathangan but a combination of staunch defending by the away team and careless shooting by the home side kept the minimum between the sides.
That was until the eighty fifth minute when Nathan O’Reilly bolted down the right wing burned the Rathangan left full and pinged a cross to the feet of Dylan Aulsberry who finished with ease 2-2
Both sides had chances to win it but a draw was probably a fair result after a ding dong battle
Best for the home side were Alex Conlan, Ton Byrne, Lee Moore and Tommy Power
while Kilcullen were best served by Keith Scanlon,Brian Murphy,Daragh Kelly and Dylan Aulsberry
Naas United FC 0 Coill Dubh AFC 0
A very rare scoreless game in the Senior Division was played out in sweltering conditions at United’s Jigginstown pitch. The Naas side were depleted through injuries and illness from the start and also had to make three substitutes before the half hour mark. They showed a real team bond to perform so well against a Coill Dubh team who remain unbeaten in their return to the top flight. Naas were best served today by Robert Heavey, Abdul Karim, Captain John Paul Higgins and will hope to have injuries clear up in time for an away trip next time out against Suncroft. Best for the visitors were Luke Anderson in goal and Sean Hannon.
Ballycane Celtic 3 Kildare Town AFC 2
Ballycane came into this game looking to bounce back from two defeats in as many weeks. The home team started much the better with Leon Doyle, keelan Noone and Niall Herbert all tormenting the kildare right wing. On ten minutes Herbert went on a mazy run up the wing and crossed for hazard who couldn't find the net. With twenty two minutes gone the ball fell to Leon Doyle at right back who's pin point through ball found hazard who calmly stroked the ball past the Kildare keeper.
The cane were now piling in the pressure and Kildare buckled again when some delicious work from the veteran Noone in the middle of the field ended up with a beautiful chip over the defence for hazard (the fox) to once again put the ball in the back of the net. 2-0
Kildare to their credit didn't back down and six mins later found themselves back in it when a free kick from the right hand side ended up at the feet of AJ Enright who couldn't miss from close range.
The second half saw Kildare come out with their tails up and they started the better. A couple of half chances fell there way but nothing much to trouble Kevin McDonald in the cane goal. On sixty five minutes Kildare got their equaliser when Adam Gilligan latched onto a deflected shot and passed the ball into the net. 2-2
Ballycane rallied and introduced a couple of subs who with the fresh legs were starting to get the cane back into the game. Some teasing balls were being played into the Kildare Box but to no avail. Eventually with time ticking away the cane got wat turned out to be the winner. In the dying seconds Some dazzling footwork from keeper McDonald who chipped a pin point ball over the Kildare defence and into the path of the on rushing Josh Brennan who squared a beautiful ball back across goal for Stephen Durney to slide in and send the big home crowd wild. 3-2 full time.
Best for ballycane today were Leon Doyle and Craig Byrne in defence, Herbert, Preston and Callum o Reilly in the midfield and man of the match Ross (the fox) Hazard. Best for an unlucky Kildare were Adam Gilligan, Conor Walsh and Lorcan Young.