KDFL SENIOR DIVISION TEAM FOCUS

League Action !

Clane Untied 3 Moone Celtic FC 1

Clane United produced a commanding performance to see off a spirited Moone Celtic side 3-1 in a lively encounter at Clane Park. The home side came flying out of the traps, dominating possession and territory in the opening exchanges.  Their early pressure nearly told on seven minutes when Stephen Leavy delivered a pinpoint corner that found Dean Comiskey, who could only fire over the bar. Moone’s goalkeeper, Cian Flood, was quickly called into action, reacting superbly in the 13th minute to parry a snapshot in a crowded box after a goalmouth scramble.  His saves became a recurring feature of the first half, denying Clane on several occasions and keeping his side in the game.

Clane’s left-sided duo of Stephen Leavy and Dean Comiskey were linking up to great effect, while Rashdi Nsimba and Mark Kelly were equally dangerous on the opposite flank. Ryan Murray impressed in midfield, distributing well and setting the tempo for the home side. Moone’s defence, marshalled by Garry Carroll, Scott Flood, Cormac Burke, and Evan Farrell, battled gamely to keep Clane at bay, but the pressure eventually told. 

In the twenty second minute, Clane’s Noel Haverty was brought down in the box, and Aidan Ralph stepped up to calmly convert from the spot to give the hosts a deserved 1-0 lead. Flood again came to Moone’s rescue just minutes later, saving a powerful free kick and taking a knock in the process, but showing great resilience to continue.  Despite Liam Horan and Ryan Murray trying to establish a foothold for Moone in midfield, Clane’s Ryan Murran and Aeneas Murphy were proving a tough pairing to break down. Dean Comiskey doubled Clane’s lead in the 38th minute, latching onto a clever flicked header from Aidan Ralph before coolly slotting past the onrushing keeper.  Just before the interval, Rashdi Nsimba came close to adding a third, but his deflected effort flew narrowly wide.

Clane continued to push forward after the break. Aidan Ralph and Aeneas Murphy combined well early in the second half, though the latter fired just over.  Despite Moone earning a couple of set pieces around the fifty minute mark, Clane’s backline, particularly Jack Kelly, stood strong. Rashdi Nsimba nearly got his name on the scoresheet in the 57th minute, finding space only to hit the side of the post.  Just moments later, he made no mistake, rounding Flood after another smart flick-on from Aidan Ralph to make it 3-0 on the hour mark. Aidan Ralph continued to torment Moone’s back line, forcing yet another fine save from Flood in the 66th minute. Comiskey threatened again shortly after but couldn’t keep his shot on target. Despite the scoreline, Moone never dropped their heads. Their persistence was rewarded in the 85th minute when Tadgh Phelan pulled one back with a fine strike from outside of the box. Callum Kelly then rattled the post moments later, giving Clane a brief scare. However, Clane’s earlier dominance ensured they comfortably saw out the game to take all three points. Best for the winners were Dean Comiskey was a constant threat in attack, while Aidan Ralph’s assists and penalty were crucial. Aeneas Murphy impressed in midfield, and Jack Kelly was rock solid in defence.

While for Moone Celtic,  Cian Flood kept the scoreline respectable with several key saves. Evan Farrell was composed at the back, and Ryan Murray showed creativity and fight in midfield. A deserved win for Clane, who were sharper and more cohesive on the day, though Moone can take heart from their battling second-half display.

Clonmullion FC 5 Newbridge Hotspurs FC 2

After last weeks dramatic win against local rivals Newbridge Utd, Hotspurs were looking to keep up their title challenge against in form Clonmullion. In what was a game of two halves, Hotpurs failed to capitalise on their first half dominance and were left to rue this dominance with Clonmullion punishing Hotspurs in the second half. This game was on fire from the very beginning with two goals in the first ten minutes. The home side were first off the mark when Cody Mulhall delivered an excellent corner into the mix and as the ball bobbled around in the box Keane Cully was quickest to react to put his side one up. Hotspurs reacted well to the early set back as Mark Wolfe raided down the right wing and crossed for Chris Higgins to tap home at the back post. Only two minutes later the home side should have retaken the lead after Jake Nicholl picked out Danny Thompson who beat Shane Higgins and keeper Reece Winders could only parry the shot into the path of Ceilum Maher who looked destined to score but the keeper got across his goals to make another fine save. The game was end to end and Niall Flynn put the dangerous Higgins through the middle but keeper Evan Gratton tipped the effort round the post for a corner. In the twenty fifth minute Higgins turned provider and picked out Wolfe who had raced in behind the defence and he lifted the ball over the advancing Gratton but Cully ran back to brilliantly clear the ball off the line and out of danger. Joe Doran and Thompson were causing the Hotspurs defence all kinds of problems and the duo combined to set Thompson on his favourite left foot only for Winders to deny him again. 

The second half began in the same attacking fashion as the first and after only two minutes the brilliant Chris Chanders who seemed to be everywhere put Mulhall in and as he rounded the keeper the ball just ran away from him allowing Eamonn Doyle to clear the danger. Five minutes later a quick Mulhall throw in to Thompson caught the away defence napping allowing him to pass to Doran who shot from an acute angle put Winders again denied him. With fifty eight minutes on the clock The Mull finally regained the lead after Thompson was fouled and a Mulhall free kick picked out Mark Hughes at the back post and he headed powerfully to the back of the net. Two minutes later Nathan Robinson picked out Thompson with a superb pass and the winger chipped the ball over the advancing Winders but the retreating Doyle managed to miraculously lift the ball over the bar from virtually on the goal line. Robinson stung the keeper's hands five minutes later with a superbly struck effort from all of twenty five yards. Mulhall brought the best out of Winders again with twenty minutes left with a beautifully curled free kick that looked destined for the bottom corner. From the resulting corner Doyle rose highest to head clear but it fell to Mulhall again who picked out Doran to score with a neat half volley to give Clonmullion a two goal lead. His second goal followed a minute later as himself and Mulhall played some great intricate one two's but Doran kept close control of the ball despite being pushed away from the target to go back across the keeper to make it 4 1. With five minutes remaining Ceilum Maher was picked out with a fantastic ball by Rickie Moriarity and as he rounded the keeper he was taken down for a penalty. Chanders stepped up to take the set piece to score the goal his performance so richly deserved. Scott O Donoghue scored a consolation goal with a sweetly struck volley right on the stroke of full time. Best for Hotspurs were Reece Winders, Chris Higgins, Mark Wolfe and Hotspurs man of the match Sean Higgins 

Arlington AFC 0-0 Coill Dubh AFC

A fiercely contested encounter between Arlington AFC and Coill Dubh AFC ended in a goalless draw, with both sides battling hard but ultimately unable to find a breakthrough in a game defined by strong defensive displays and outstanding goalkeeping. Despite being without eight regular players—many of whom were attending the Longtitude festival Coill Dubh AFC came away from Arlington with a hard-earned point, thanks in part to a remarkable appearance by 46-year-old player-manager Trevor McLoughlin. 

The game sparked into life early on, with Coill Dubh threatening inside two minutes. A corner from Jack O’Brien was met by Joe Bowers, but the striker couldn’t keep his effort down. Arlington responded with tidy build-up play on 11 minutes, involving Mark Ugochukwu, Pheilim O’Kane and Sean Bennett, the latter firing just over the bar. The front duo of Ryan Grace and Jack O’Brien for Coill Dubh looked sharp, linking well and pressing Arlington’s defensive quartet of Jason Conlon, O’Kane, Alex Dunne, and Chris Hoskins. However, Arlington’s back line held firm.

Midway through the half, Matthew Cassidy tried his luck from distance, but his shot was comfortably dealt with by Michael Behan in the Coill Dubh goal. Behan was called into action again in the 27th minute, holding onto Ugochukwu’s low drive after an impressive Arlington move. As the half wore on, both midfields engaged in a relentless battle. Joe Bowers, Sean MacMahon, Jason Devine, and Jamie Gartland were industrious for Coill Dubh, while Arlington’s Cassidy, Bennett, Ayomide Olotu, and Thobela Nazo matched them in intensity. Arlington nearly grabbed the lead just before the break, Bennett and Ugochukwu combining well to set up Cassidy, whose effort was saved by Behan.  At the other end, Devine had a low shot well saved by Luke McEvoy before volleying just wide from a Cian MacMahon cross in the final action of the half.

The second period continued at the same  tempo. Just six minutes in, McEvoy tipped a long-range strike onto the bar, with the rebound ruled offside to spare Arlington.  Moments later, Bennett and Solanke combined at the other end, only to be denied by a vital block from Cian MacMahon. Coill Dubh looked dangerous from set-pieces, with Ryan Grace heading over from a MacMahon corner on 55 minutes. Arlington responded with Solanke surging down the right and forcing Adam McLoughlin into a crucial headed clearance. Just before the hour mark, O’Brien fed Grace, who ran at the defence and earned a corner. The initial delivery was cleared, but the ball fell to Sean MacMahon whose follow-up strike flashed just wide. Coill Dubh had a golden chance in the 70th minute when Jamie Gartland released Devine through on goal, but McEvoy came out bravely to smother the opportunity.  Arlington pushed back, with Solanke firing wide on 75 minutes before Ugochukwu had two efforts denied by superb saves from the ever-alert Behan. As the game neared its conclusion, a defensive mix-up at the back for Coill Dubh allowed Ugochukwu in, but Behan produced yet another top-class save to maintain the stalemate. 

In the 84th minute, Sean MacMahon fired a free kick straight at McEvoy before Arlington were reduced to ten men in the final five minutes. The last notable action came in the 89th minute when Ugochukwu’s free kick drifted just wide. Despite both teams’ efforts, the defences held firm to secure a point apiece. Best for the home side were Mark Ugochukwu, Matthew Cassidy, Jason Conlon, Phelim O Kane and Luke McEvoy.  Coill Dubh were best served by Mikie Behan in goal, Jason Devine out wide, and the imperious Craig Lenehan in defence.

League Cup Action!

St Anthonys Youths (Prem Div) 1 Old Fort Celtic FC 5

Old fort Travelled to a well familiar surrounding of  St.Anthony's In round 2 of the Lumsden Cup in search of a quarter final spot. Antos got the better of Old Fort last year as they Knocked them out On penalties. Old Fort Started the game very well and moved the ball well out wide. A couple of chances both sides and old fort Looking the Brightest of the 2 teams early on and got rewarded for their efforts with a perfectly placed over the Top through Ball from The centre half Jamie Shinners found Patryk Staniec As he ran though and placed the ball in around the keeper to put the Visitors 1-0 Up

Pretty much right from tip off the Old Fort back line fell asleep and the inform Tom Healy converted with a very neat finish to put the Score 1-1. Daryl Ntumba Was causing absolute chaos to the Antos back line and proved to difficult to handle as he was brought down in the box after turning 2 defenders inside out, penalty To Old fort to restore the lead, up steps the inform midfield man Ogie Brown, perfectly placed penalty bottom left to put Old fort 2-1 Up and they didnt slow down there as the Antos backline couldn't seem to catch a break when 2 minutes later a free kick was given away once again to Old fort,  whipped in By Lee Carroll Talbot and met by the head of Eoin Carroll to put the away side 3-1 up. Both Teams had Chances before the half with Antos coming close on 2 occasions from set pieces but The old fort Captain Dean Bland had other ideas proving whys he’s the Number 1

The second half started pretty much the same as the first half ended, Old Fort Midfield of Lee Carroll, Ogie brown and Ben Doyle putting In a shift covering every inch of the field. Daryl Ntumba and Patryk Staniec Working Well together linking up Resulting in Half chances and not long later a corner awarded to Old fort was once again whipped in by the Inform Lee Carroll as It Scrambled and fell to Jamie Shinners and he Struck well right into the bottom corner to make it 4-1 To The Visitors. A few introductions for the away side Seen Ashby Bermeo, Brian Smith and Dan Gorman enter the field and added some levels to Work the tired legs of antos. Bland was called upon once again and proved to hard to beat for a 2nd time, alot of stand out performances From the away side but Daryl Ntumba was running the show and was rewarded  on the stroke of full time when he made a darting run through the center and was found by The substitute Ashby, and slotted home calmy to Make it 5-1 Old Fort.  Best for Old fort Was Eoin Carroll, Byron McGuirk, Lee Carroll Talbot, Ogie brown, Patryk Staniec But Man of the match goes to Daryl Ntumba who's Performances have stepped up Leaps and Bounds over the weeks.