KDFL SENIOR DIVISION TEAM FOCUS

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Clane United FC 1 Clonmullion FC 4

Clane United’s home grass pitch was in great shape to host this eagerly awaited clash. The visitors had a great chance to open the scoring after Mark Hughes clipped a beautiful ball over the home defence for Cody Mulhall to run onto and volley first time but Ryan Comeau spread himself well to deflect the ball out for a corner. Three minutes later the visitors went close again when Lee Doyle passed to Chris Chanders who flicked the ball to Ceilum Maher who crossed to the back post where Chanders had continued his run but he headed just over. With 10 minutes gone Clane won a throw in which was fired in by Aidan Ralph which was headed clear Keane Cully but it fell to the unmarked Ryan Murran who pulled the effort just wide. 

Clonmullion Full backs Johnny Fennell and Lee Doyle and wide men Bryan Byrne and Chanders were combining well and forcing Clane back. Clonmullion took a well-deserved lead in the 23rd minute when the hard working Chanders won the ball back in the centre circle and laid off to Garry Comerford who's chipped pass was hammered passed Comeau by Mulhall to put his side in front. It was 2 nil on the half hour mark after a fantastic move involving the excellent Jake Nicholl and Chanders who laid off to Maher and again continued his run into the box and as he rounded the keeper he was taken down for a penalty which Mulhall coolly slotted low to the keeper's right. Clane upped the tempo and pulled one back 4 minutes before half time after Ralph beat the offside trap and picked out Eoghan Maguire who made no mistake from close range. 

The Mull started the second half without the influential Hughes who had picked up an injury and manager Timmy Doyle and his coaches were forced to shuffle their pack by introducing the combative Lee Day into the middle of the park and pushing Comerford back in to the centre half position. With 50 minutes on the clock a Comerford free kick picked out Chanders who's header crashed back off the crossbar and fell to Cully who's effort was charged down by Niall Haverty. Ten minutes later Michael Lawless hit a pinpoint pass from inside his own box to Mulhall who killed the ball beautifully as it dropped and instantly squared it to the in rushing Maher who side footed home to make it 3 1. Clane were reduced to 10 men when Dean Comiskey was shown a second yellow but they pushed on looking to pull one back but Comerford and Cully marshalled their defence superbly and their distribution from the back was always a threat. Tom Nolan was unlucky not to score on the 75th minute when Haverty’s last ditch tackle deflected his volleyed effort. Ten minutes from time Doyle and Con Murray combined down the right to set up Mulhall but he curled his shot just wide. With just a minute remaining came a contender for goal of the season. Chanders won a kick out from Comeau in the centre circle and seen the keeper off his line, took one touch and hit a brilliant effort which the back pedalling keeper could only get finger tips to but couldn't prevent Chanders from scoring a fantastic goal that his overall performance richly deserved. 

Arlington AFC 1 Newbridge Hotspurs FC 1

This was a game which Newbridge Hotspurs rued their missed chances and were made to pay the price. Hotspurs played some scintillating football in the first 30 minutes. First chance fell to Mark Wolfe on the first minute when he shot just over from an Eoin McGrath pass. On the 5th minute, Arlington had a good chance which was well saved by Sean Higgins, however, on the counter attack, Eoin McGrath almost made it 1-0 when his shot was saved by the Arlington keeper. On the 9th minute, Ryan O'Donoghue went close from a Mark Wolfe cross. On the 12th minute, a Mark Wolfe strike was well saved by the keeper following an Eamon Doyle cross. On the 15th minute, Eoin McGrath got that the breakthrough with a cool finish following a Shane Higgins pass. 1-0 to hotspurs. On the 18th minute, Niall Flynn nearly made it 2-0 but his strike went narrowly wide. On the 28th minute, Mark Wolfe almost scored when his shot went just over following an Eoin McGrath pass. On the 36th minute, Niall Flynn went close again following a Mark Wolfe pass. Just a minute later, Eoin McGrath nearly got his second of the game following good play from Chris Higgins and Ryan O’Donoghue, however his shot was blocked on the line. Just before half time, a Ryan O’Donoghue header was saved by the Arlington keeper. 

Hotspurs tempo in the second half didn’t match the first. Hotspurs did have some chances. On the 48th minute, Chris Higgins went close but his shot was saved by the Arlington keeper. On the 61st minute, Arlington got an equaliser with a well taken goal. Hotspurs failed to up the tempo but they did have a golden opportunity to take all three points when on the 86th minute, Eoin McGrath volley just over the bar following a fine Niall Flynn cross. The game ended 1-1. Best for Hotspurs were Eoin McGrath, Tomas Hennessy and Hotspurs man of the match Barry Doyle 

Newbridge United FC 4 Rathangan AFC 1

United were pushed by a spirited and well drilled disciplined Rathangan side but in the end United claimed all 3 points,  It was Rathangan that struck the first blow when a driving run on the left from Rathangan winger get a shot in which looped over united’s Kevin McDonnell hitting the bar but the ball rebounded perfectly for the on rushing Rathangan captain and he slotted the away one up only at 8 mins,

United woke up and responded within two mins through Ben Loakman when United passed through the middle of the park with one touch passing and ball played in Loakman who clinically volleyed past the Rathangan keeper, United enjoyed majority of possession without really flexing their attacking threat but just before the break after head tennis in the Rathangan box following a corner Ryan Kearney was on hand to sweep in his first of yet another hattrick today,

Second half saw the home side control the game better and created more chances through James Mahoneys tireless running and  Denis Kave and Nial Costigan linking up well, Rathangan where not shy in creating chances and wasn't until the 82nd minute utd put the game to bed with another free kick by Ryan Kearney curling ball over the wall beyond the keeper,  His hattrick and utd’s fourth came in stoppage after good work from United down the left found Nathan Pender storming in his shot was well saved but the ball fell kindly for Kearney who slotted home for his third, United made honest and worked for the three points today. Best for United on the day were Ryan Kearney, Ben Loakman and Callum Sinclair.

Naas United FC 2 Old Fort Celtic FC 1

Naas Utd returned to winning ways as they came from behind to win 2-1 today. 2 draws and a defeat in recent weeks made this a crucial game for the home side, who have had to deal with the loss of 10 players in that time due to injuries and a suspension for experienced defender John Paul Higgins. This meant that Player Manager Vernon Nolan was in the starting 11 at the age of 44 and he still continues to look as sprightly as a player in their 20’s. Old Fort were quick out of the gates and had the first shot at goal in the 2nd minute when Eoin Carroll found himself high up the pitch, but his volley was well over the bar. It wasn’t a very easy on the eye game for the first few minutes but the crowd were gifted to a brilliant save on 14 minutes as Keith Higgins showed his quick reactions to fly back and get a good hand onto a great strike from Shane Brophy. Naas had a few half hearted attempts after that as Scott O’Neill, Adam Colton, and Owen Moran all failed to hit the target as the Old Fort Celtic backline of Robbie Farrell, Eoin Carroll and Jamie Shinners held firm they were ably assisted by Tyler Dempsey and Byron McGuirk playing Either side of the Centre halves. 

Naas had almost been caught with 2 short back passes on 21 and 27 minutes which they got away with, but on the 3rd occasion Shane Brophy read it brilliantly as Scott O’Neill was left red faced when his pass was intercepted and Brophy did well to finish past Higgins to put the away side in front. Naas weren’t getting into any flow and another poor effort on 37 minutes never caused the Old Fort keeper any trouble and the 1st half ended 1-0 to the away side. Naas came out of the dressing room a very different team in the 2nd half though as they brushed off the cobwebs of recent weeks and returned to the Naas Utd seen in the opening weeks. They made it 1-1 in the 50th minute when Nolan drove forward from right back forcing Old Forte back, a ball into Scott O’Neill’s feet saw him play a one-two with his cousin Travis O’Neill, Scott’s cross/shot wreaked havoc and the away keeper Dean Bland couldn’t hold onto it and Owen Moran did what a winger should do and got himself in at the back post to blast home the equalizer as Naas tails were up. 

Moran almost made it 2-1 just a few minutes later as he found himself on the end of a great cross from Adam Colton, but his header was just over. A double substitution on the hour mark, saw both O’Neill cousins come off as they were walking a tight rope on yellow cards and Joe Mills and Dylan Hannon came on. This change gave Naas a further boost as they both looked lively in possession. Owen Moran was a real handful and he forced another good save from Bland with his feet on 65 minutes as Naas turned the screw. They didn’t have to wait too much longer though as a corner dropped inside the box on 67 minutes, Old Fort couldn’t get it out, Paul Ometeso’s strength saw him hold it off, his strike was blocked, Owen Moran’s rebound was blocked and from the crowded area Adam Colton spring to life to smash the ball home as the support erupted for a goal that erased some demons all over the park. There was still a few late chances for the home side as Joe Mills struck well from distance and Paul Ometeso beat 2 players brilliantly inside the box but his powerful strike saw Bland save well again with his feet. Naas saw out the game very well with Pierce O’Neill and Jamie Boyd also coming off the bench and playing their part as Naas Utd move back up into 2nd place in the table.

Naas Utd had Man of The Match in Jamie Nulty who was full of energy today at left back, but Adam Colton’s 2nd half display was outstanding as was Liam Marshall, Jamie Dunne, Stephen Tilly and on another day Owen Moran could walked away with a hat trick as Naas move into a big week as they travel to face Clane Utd next Friday Evening under the lights at Doctors Road.  Best for Old Fort Was Eoin Carroll, Jamie Shinners, Byron McGuirk, Ogie Brown, Lee Carroll Talbot, Ben Doyle and their man of the match Scott Coyle Nicks.