KDFL Senior Division Team Focus.

Senior Cup Action 

Newbridge Hotspurs 0 Clonmullion FC 4

Clonmullion took only three minutes to open the scoring on a sweltering morning in Snigs Brogan Park. The pacy duo of Brian Byrne and Lee Doyle combined beautifully down the right wing with the latter passing a perfectly weighted ball into the path of the in rushing Nathan Robinson who fired an unstoppable the ball into the back of the net. Two minutes later Doyle won a corner with another overlapping run which was whipped in by Robinson. Garry Comerford rose highest to win the header which was well defended by Shane Higgins but as the ball bobbled around in the box Comerford was first to react and crashed the ball home right footed from close range to put his side two up. The visitors continued to dominate in all facets of the game with KDFL June Senior player of the month Cody Mulhall dictating the tempo of the game and Joe Doran linking well with him and Keelan Lacey and Byrne threatening down both flanks. The home side had their first attempt on target in the 40th minute when Mark Wolfe hit a powerful free kick from 30 yards out which keeper Evan Grattan parried wide enough to make it difficult enough for Niall Flynn to skew his effort just wide. 

The second half began in much the same fashion with the visitors on top and a great interchange of passes between Mulhall, Doran and Doyle saw the full back pull the ball back into the path of Robinson who dragged his effort just wide. Ten minutes into the second half Chris Chanders yet again won the ball in midfield and sprayed his pass out to Mulhall who skipped past two defenders before flashing a great effort across keeper Reece Winders goals and hitting the outside of the post. With 25 minutes remaining Clonmullion made sure of the victory when Jake Nicholl picked out Mulhall with a pinpoint pass and he laid the ball off to Doran who stroked the ball home. Five minutes later it was 4 nil after Lacey passed to Robinson who put in a first time cross which Doran reacted to first to give Winders no chance. With five minutes remaining a foul on Gary Lyons led to a direct free kick just outside the box which was taken by Eoin McGrath who's effort scraped the crossbar. Finishing strongly Keane Cully’s long diagonal ball picked out Tom Nolan who looked certain to score but Winders advanced quickly off his line to tip the ball just wide. Best for Hotspurs were Shane and Sean Higgins in defence Tomas Hennessy and Barry Doyle in midfield with Mark Wolfe always dangerous from open play. Clonmullion were best served by Comerford and Nicholl in defence Chanders and Robinson in midfield and Mulhall, Doran and Byrne up top, while Doyle’s pace out of defence was a threat all game. 

League action !

Naas United FC 4 Clane United FC 6

Clane made the short trip to near neighbours Naas United in a game that could go a long way in deciding who will finish runners up in the Leinster Heat Pumps senior division this season. On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning both teams started missing some of their more experienced players and consequently the attacking players were to the fore in what was an entertaining game for the crowd in attendance.

Naas were first out of the block in the 6th minute when Clane's defence failed to react to a ball from the right and Owen Moran put the home side 1-0 up with a smart finish past Ryan Comeau in the Clane goal.  It didn't take long for Clane to get back when Andrew Leavy brought the side level on 9 minutes following a swift sweet counter attack. Clane started to take control in the middle with a youthful trio of Ryan Murran, Nathan Carr and Leavy combining well to cause Naas some problems. However on 21 minutes, somewhat against the run of play Naas went in front with Jamie Dunne heading powerfully into the Clane net following a sublime cross from Joshua McDonald. Clane reacted positively and equalised on 27 minutes with Cathal Geoghegan applying the finish from a Clane corner to level things up.  Clane were on the front foot now and on 38 minutes took the lead with Liam Deane applying the poachers finish following great work form Mark Kelly.  2-3 to Clane at halftime.

The 2nd half started slowly as players tried to conserve energy in the high heat. The Clane frontline of Eoghan Maguire, Deane and Leavy coming from deep were keeping the Naas backline busy and on 56 minutes Maguire broke down the left, cut inside and finished smartly as Naas scramble defence tried in vain to keep the shot out. At 4-2 in front Clane kicked on and three minutes later Maguires shot from the edge of the area produced a sharp save from Naas Keeper Jamie Nolan only for Leavy to tuck the rebound away to make it 5-2. Clane were dominant at this stage and had several opportunities missed before Leavy completed his hattrick on 70 beating the offside trap and tucking the ball into the corner to make it 6-2 and cap a fine individual performance.  Both sides rang the changes and Naas sub Colton applied a very tidy finish to a flowing move to get a goal back on 82minutes before McDonald made it 4-6 in injury time to put more of a gloss on the scoreline. Clane will be disappointed to have conceded two late goals but were the deserving winners against a Naas side that kept going to the end. Best for Naas were KDFL July Senior player of the month Paul Omoteso, Joshua McDonald and Jamie Dunne while for the winners Nathan Carr, Adam Hinds, Ryan Murran and MOTM Andrew Leavy all excelled.