KDFL Senior Division Team Focus

League Shield !

Coill Dubh AFC 3 Newbridge United FC 5 (AET)

Coill Dubh AFC 3-5 Newbridge United FC 

(After extra time)

A thrilling encounter at Cusack Park saw Newbridge progress to the next round of the KDFL Lumsden Shield, overcoming Coill Dubh 5–3 after extra time in a match packed with drama, momentum swings, and late heartbreak for the home side. Coill Dubh started brightly and nearly went ahead early when Jason Devine was played through but couldn’t convert. 

Devine made up for that miss shortly after, albeit in bizarre fashion. A misjudged kickout from Newbridge ‘keeper Kevin McDonnell ricocheted off Devine’s back and fell kindly for the forward to tap home his fourth goal of the season. However, the lead was short-lived. Within a minute of the restart, Cian Kennedy finished clinically to bring Newbridge level, leaving the game finely poised at 1–1 at the break. The second half followed a similar pattern – open, end-to-end, but lacking a finishing touch.  That changed around the hour mark when Ryan Kearney, who would go on to earn Man of the Match honours, produced a sublime assist for James Mahony, who coolly slotted home to put Newbridge in front.

Coill Dubh responded once again through their creative spark Jack O’Brien, whose mazy run and clever finish drew the sides level at 2–2. Joe Bowers came agonisingly close to winning it in normal time with a long-range effort that flew just past the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Extra Time Drama, Newbridge struck first in extra time. Ryan Kearney, a constant threat throughout, unleashed a powerful 20-yard strike that beat the Coill Dubh goalkeeper, who got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out. Just when it looked like Newbridge might hold on, Coill Dubh battled back again. Joe Bowers turned provider this time, slipping a lovely ball into the path of Faolán Hayden, who made no mistake to level the game at 3–3.

As penalties loomed, Newbridge made one final push – and it was Kearney again who delivered. A slick passing move ended with the midfielder arriving late in the box to score his second of the night and break Coill Dubh hearts. There was still time for one more twist. A defensive mix-up saw Adam McLoughlin head past his own goalkeeper, sealing a 5–3 victory for Newbridge. A true cup classic ended in disappointment for Coill Dubh, who showed heart and quality but were undone by a relentless Newbridge side and a masterclass from Ryan Kearney. Extra time football at its finest in Cusack Park. Standout Performers for Coill Dubh were Lennon O’Shaughnessy & Cillian Casey. Newbridge We’re  best served by James Mahony & man of the match Ryan Kearney.

Rathangan AFC 4 Newbridge Town AFC (O35s) 0

On a rainy Sunday morning at Canal Road, Rathangan drew first blood just before the half hour mark when Lee Moore set the ball for Iain Doyle to strike first time from twenty five yards. Newbridge followed with a couple attempts but just couldn’t beat Feilim Doyle in goal. Just before half time, some excellent hold up play from Oran McDonnell saw Rory Burke find himself cutting in just inside the box and finding the top left corner with a great finish. 

After the restart, Rathangan started how they finished the first half with a tidy finish from Lee Moore. Newbridge came close multiple times but Feilim Doyle was on fire in the Rathangan nets. On the eighty first minute, Lee Moore got his brace to cap off a great Rathangan performance. Best on the day for Rathangan were Feilim Doyle , Lee Moore, Iain Doyle and Rory Burke.

League Action !

Naas United FC 1 Clonmullion FC 1

Clonmullion continued their unbeaten run with a hard earned away draw to Naas United. The visitors started extremely well with Keane Cully winning the ball back in the centre circle and passing it back to Mark Hughes who fed Rickie Moriarity who's superb first time pass put Chris Chanders free down the right. Chanders passed into strike partner Cody Mulhall who still had a lot to do but a lovely drop of the shoulder sent JP Higgins the wrong way before curling a beautiful left footed effort into the corner of the net giving keeper Keith Higgins no chance in only the third minute. Twenty minutes later Clonmullion thought they had doubled their lead when Mulhall and Bryan Byrne a deft one two with the latter chipping a pass to Chanders who's first time volley found the back of the net but was ruled out for offside. Five minutes later a Cully shot from the edge of the box was deflected out for a corner which was swung in by playmaker Nathan Robinson where the returning Jay Connell rose highest but headed over the bar. With thirty five minutes gone the brilliant Mulhall showed some unbelievable skill wrong footing the Naas defence with his close control and a jinking run before side footing the ball to Byrne who's shot was palmed back out by Higgins and fell to Lee Doyle who's shot was blocked by Jamie Dunne. A minute later the home side created their first real chance of the game when Paul Omoteso went on a mazy run before laying the ball to Owen Moran just inside the box who's first time effort just clipped the outside of Evan Grattan’s post. Just before the break a well rehearsed free kick routine saw Hughes pick out Mulhall loitering on the edge of the box who fired the ball to Cully who's effort was saved and bounced out to Doyle who blazed over from close range. 

Ten minutes into the second half Mulhall continued to test out keeper Higgins with a  direct free kick from an acute angle which the keeper did well to hold onto in very very difficult conditions. However only a minute later it was all square when Owen Moran clipped a free kick into the Clonmullion box where Ormoteso was quickest to react to nod home from close range. On the hour mark Naas had a lucky escape when the industrious Byrne stole the ball from Higgins and squared to Mulhall who’s first time effort was brilliantly blocked by Dunne. With twenty five minutes remaining a Mulhall corner kick was flicked on by Robinson to Cully at the back post but his header went just wide. In the seventy fifth minute Doyle went into a 50/50 tackle with Dunne and appeared to win the ball but the referee adjudged it to be worthy of a red card. Despite the numerical disadvantage the visitors continued to press for a winner but had to settle for a very well earned away point which preserved their impressive unbeaten run. 

Old Fort Celtic 1 Clane United FC 5

Old Fort welcomed Clane United to Portlaoise on a fine Sunday morning in the Senior Division Clash. Clane were looking to bounce back to form after a few inconsistent performances and results .  The away side started strong and nearly took the lead the lead in the opening few mins through Aidan Ralph .  On the seventh minute Clane did open their account as Ralph fired against the crossbar which Dean Comiskey kept the ball alive and laid in on for incoming Ryan Murran to finish superbly from the edge of box .  Two minutes later Comiskey was the provider again as Aidan Ralph made it 2 0 for the visitors . The home side enjoyed a bit of possession before clane made it 3 with twenty minutes gone through Comiskey to give Clane plenty of breathing space .  Aidan Ralph grabbed his second on the half hour mark and a Mark Kelly free seven minutes later virtually secured the three points for clane .  The home side pulled on back just before half time through Patryk Staniec to go in 5 1 to Clane at the break .  Clane failed to add any further goals in the second half despite going close on few occasions through Eoghan Maguire and Rasdi .  Best for the winners were,  Dean Commiskey, Ryan Murran and Sean Sheridan. Best for Old Fort were Lee Carroll, Ogie Brown, Byron McGuirk, Ashby Bermeo and Dan Gorman.