KDFL Senior Division Focus

Rathangan AFC 1 Coill Dubh AFC 1

This game got off to a flying start with both teams strong in the tackle with Rathangan getting an early lead when on eleven minutes an Iain Doyle Corner was headed home on the back post by Lee Moore. 1 nil Rathangan. Coill Dubh didn't learn anything from an earlier Corner when Lee Moore climbed highest to power a header on goal but Ryan Bagnall made a great Save. Coill Dubh got hold of the game and attack after attacks were twarted by a stubborn Rathangan Defence. However on thirty four minutes Sean MacMahon played a perfectly weighted pass into Jay Devine path and he finished excellently under Phelim Doyle in the Rathangan goal to level matters. 

While Coill Dubh continued to have the better of position they never really fashioned another real chance in the 1st half.

The second half continued in the same vein with Coill Dubh probing at the Rathangan defence. The home side without a result this season dropped off to protect their draw and done a really good job of it limiting Coill Dubh to a few long range shops. With the game getting away from Coill Dubh Jack O'Brien broke through the Rathangan defence only for Rathangan Keeper Phelim Doyle to bring him down. Doyle Made up for his mistake when he pulled off a save from a Joe Bowers penalty. The game finished Soon after with Rathangan happy with their point and Coill Dubh disappointed to only get the draw.

Naas United FC 0 Newbridge Hotspurs FC 0

With both teams coming into this game unbeaten, it was perhaps expected to be a tight and tense affair. In the end, both teams drew blanks and came away sharing the spoils. The game itself lacked any real flow and was very much a stop/ start game for much of the match. That said, there were some chances for both teams. First of these came on the second minute when Mikey Murphy shot just wide. Six minutes later, Niall Flynn went very close when his excellent shot just shaved the outside of the post following a good Ryan O’Donoghue pass. Niall Flynn went close again just two minutes later when his shot went over the bar following a Scott O’Donoghue pass. On the quarter hour mark, Tomas Hennessy’s shot went narrowly wide. Naas had a brilliant opportunity to open the scoring soon after when a lovely pass from Dylan Hannon picked out Joe Murray who cut inside his man brilliantly to leave himself 1 on 1, but Winders was out quickly to narrow the angles and made a good save. Naas had the next chance on twenty nine minutes when Paul Ometeso headed a corner down for Dylan Hannon on the edge, but his effort zipped wide of the post. On the 30th minute, Hotpsur’s Eoin Walsh following good footwork in the middle of the park opened up some space for himself and took a shot at goal but it went over the bar. Two minutes later, Mikey Murphy’s shot went just wide. On the 44th minute, Mark Wolfe almost made it 1-0 but the Naas Utd keeper was on hand to make a fantastic save. 

The second half saw Naas keeper Keith Higgins make 2 great saves when Niall Flynn looked like he was going to put the away side in front and Eoin Philips found him 2 hard to beat moments later. Naas woke up and made 2 good chances themselves when Joe Murray failed to connect properly at the back post and just a few seconds later Paul Ometeso struck the post as Owen Moran swung 2 great crosses into the box.. Both sides defences were in good form today and Naas despite dominating possession on what was a very warm day At Jigginstown couldnt break down a well drilled Hotspurs, while Naas were again excellent at the back as they make it 4 clean sheets from 6 games so far. The home side had a couple of corners to defend but Jamie Dunne and John Paul Higgins were perfectly placed to clear there lines and it was a similar story at the other end as Naas couldnt get any joy from set pieces with Hotspurs stallworths Sean Higgins and Robbie Higgins having outstanding games for their team. Both sides don’t have much time to dwell on this draw though as theirs a quick turn around as the first of the midweek games return on Tuesday as Naas Utd Travel to play another in form Newbridge side (Newbridge United) while Hotspurs are on tour again when they travel to face a dogged Coill Dubh side who dont make it easy for opponents at Cusack Park. Best for Hotspurs were Reece Winders, Tomas Hennessy, Ryan O’Donoghue, Niall Flynn and Hotspurs man of the match Sean Higgins.

Moone Celtic FC 1 Arlington FC 2

Arlington AFC secured their first win of the season with a well-deserved 2–1 victory away to Moone Celtic on a warm Sunday morning. With both teams missing regular starters, this was poised to be an evenly contested game. Played on a bright, sunny and warm morning, both teams were giving as good as they got in the opening period. Despite Arlington having the upper hand on possession in the opening twenty minutes, Moone could’ve and should’ve struck not once but twice before the water break but Like McEvoy denied Kian Lawler to keep the scores level. These misses would come back to haunt the home side as Arlington opened the scoring on the twenty second minute. A well-delivered corner from Ben McEvoy found Alex Dunne, who finished confidently past Cian Flood in the home goal to give the visitors the lead. Moone regrouped at the break and equalised through a Garry Carroll free kick. On the change of ends, both teams continued in the same vein, effort not in question despite the energy sapping morning. Mark Ugochukwu was the main man for Arlington in midfield along with Matthew Cassidy while Olumide Solanke was a danger upfront. Moone’s defence were kept on their toes with Aaron Dunne being the stand out performer. While Moone has the upper hand in most positions, Arlington’s midfield was the sector this performance was built on. Arlington struck the killer blow with fifteen minutes to go when Solanke latched onto a hesitant clearance and Moone try as they could, didn’t recover. Arlington closed out the game at 2-1. Moone will be frustrated with this loss but played to the end to try rescue the game but unfortunately fell short. Aaron Dunne at left full was Moone’s best player with Tadgh Phelan, Owen Fox and Cian Flood being the other stand out players. Best on the day for Arlington were Alex Dunne, who impressed throughout with his energy and goal, and Matthew Cassidy, who was outstanding in the middle. 

Newbridge United FC 3 Old Fort Celtic FC 0

United came into this game of the back another idle week having requested to be idle last week and where chomping at the bit on a warm morning in Corrigan park, United started the brightest with James Mahoney, Ryan Kearney and Niall Costigan linking well together to create chances which on the ninth minute paid off when Costigan found the back of the net to give united an early lead. That lead was doubled on the eighteenth minute when a handball in the box gave James Mahoney the chance,  which he tucked away with ease,

Old Fort regrouped and instantly went about getting back into the game, good play down the left from Patryk Staniec and as he drove into the box, the newbridge defender stuck out a leg and the referee awarded a penalty. Lee Carroll stepped up and struck his shot to the bottom corner which struck the bottom of the post and rolled across the goal line to hit the other post and bounce out. Newbridge cleared their lines and maintained their 2-0 lead.

The second half was hard fought as temperatures and conditions played their part but on the hour mark United wrapped up the three points with a second from Costigan.  

Uniteds clean sheet was kept in tack with hard work from Fitzgerald, Glen Bracken and man of the match Shaun Walsh, Best for Old Fort Celtic on the day were Daniel Harty and Jamie Shinners at the heart of the defence who can feel hard done by losing today.