League Cup Action!
Clongorey FC 1 Celbridge Town FC 3
Celbridge Town over 35s progressed to the next round of the KDFL Lumsden Cup with a 3-1 win away to Senior Division Clongorey on Friday night.
Although Clongorey started the brighter of the two sides, Celbridge soon began to find their feet and hit the front after twenty minutes when a deflection diverted a cross from the Celbridge right-flank past the reach of Adam Doyle in the home goal.
Looking much hungrier and sharper to the second ball than their younger counterparts, the visitors bossed the remainder of the half but could have found themselves pegged back on level terms with Sean Carter, Marvin Mbala and Reece McLoughlin all going close to levelling matters before the break. Indeed very much the opposite was to happen before the interval as a miscommunication in the Clongorey rearguard from a throw-in gifted Celbridge a second.
The home side upped their game considerably in the second period and pulled themselves back into contention on the sixty minute mark as Sheldon Mbala swept home after Adam Byrne's low driven cross broke to him on the edge of the box. Danny Callan and Cian O'Connor were introduced to the fray to give Clongorey something different in attack and both went close to grabbing equalisers, but with five minutes remaining the men from the north of the county broke on the counter and sealed victory with a crisp finish that nestled in the bottom right-hand corner of Doyle's goal. Best on the night for Clongorey were McLauglin, Sheldon Mbala, Dave O'Callaghan and Leigh Baldwin.
Rathangan FC 3 Straffan AFC 2
Rathangan took on Straffan in the second round of the Lumsden Cup in Canal Road. The home team were hoping to get back to winning ways. Straffan broke the deadlock after twenty two minutes with some nice play that split the Rathangan defence and slotted the ball in the back of the net. Rathangan controlled the first half but found themselves behind at the break. Five minutes before the break it was 2-0 after a well taken corner which found Eoin O’Reilly who put the visitors 2 - 0 up. Then Rathangan got into the game. Their skill and passing were impressive, Rathangan looked comfortable. Keith Scanlan was causing problems on the wing. The same player got his well-deserved goal in the seventy first minute. Keith Scanlan got his second goal of the night when he powered a bullet of a header into the Straffan net to give the Straffan goalie no chance and we had a game. Iain Doyle was controlling midfield along with Stefan Lawlor who was superb throughout the game. With ten minutes remaining Rathangan were looking for something to stop the game from going to extra time. It was a game of two halves and gave great entertainment. The home side seemed to be really getting into the game and fitness really stood when in the ninety second minute Iain Doyle showed what a talented player he is when Doyle was causing problems, Straffan could only manage to foul Doyle thirty five yards out hoping for the free to go wide. Doyle showed leadership and class when he stepped up and scored an absolute screamer of a free kick thirty five yards to make it 3-2 to the home side. Best for Rathangan were Keith Scanlan, Stefan Lawlor and Iain Doyle
Naas United FC 2 St Anthonys Youths FC 1
Senior Division side Naas Untied FC progressed to the quarter finals of the KDFL Lumsden League Cup on Saturday evening when they overcame Division 1 side St Anthony’s youths FC by the odd goal in three. A depleted Naas side were to be complimented on the preparation of their grounds following torrential rain, in fact the rain never abated throughout the ninety minutes, making underfoot conditions very difficult to navigate.
It was the Division 1 side who struct first when the impressive Ross O Brien struck a beautiful volley following a corner to the top corner of the Naas net after ten minutes, making it four goals from four outing for the player. Following the visitors goal Naas laid siege to the Antos half and only some solid defending from Aaron Ngai and Colin O Brien kept the home side’s target men Ross O Callaghan, Daragh Faherty and Richie French at bay to protect their slender lead.
With Naas peppering the Antos danger area it was only a matter of time before they eequalised and they did so in fashion just ten minutes before the break when French struck a corner which was parried by Antos’s Keeper Martin O Tootle, however Robbie Garvey was on hand to fire home Naas’s equalizer from the loose ball. Both side’s went in deadlocked at 1-1 at the break with all to play for.
Naas again creating a huge amount of chances in the second half but again wayward finishing was costing them untill Daragh Faherty struck a wonder goal from thirty yards leaving Anthony's keeper with no chance. The visitors continued to create chances but somehow a third goal eluded them .The game finished 2-1 to United and they can look forward now to the quarter finals and getting a large number of their players back .Best for Naas were Matthew Drewitt, Jordy Martella , Daragh Faherty and man of the match Keith Higgins. Best for St Anthonys were Ross O Brien, Martin Sullivan with their captain Ben Merrins being their man of the match.
Newbridge Hotspurs FC 2 Clane United FC 4
The Lumsden Cup second round tie between Hotspurs and Clane Utd took place during a deluge of rain that fell on Saturday, despite the rain and inclement conditions, Hotspurs pitch was in good condition. The game itself was scrappy at times but supporters were treated to a deluge of goals. Hotspurs started the game brightly and had the best of early chances. On the seventh minute, Scott O’Donoghue had a chance but his shot went just wide of the post. On the tenth minute, Scott O’Donoghue again had a chance that went agonisingly close when his free kick struck the crossbar. Following the early chances created by Hotspurs, Clane grew into the game and on the sixteenth minute they took the lead. A corner whipped in low by Eoghan Maguire managed to deflect off the Hotspurs defender and ended up in the back of the net to make it 1-0. Clane at this point were on the front foot but Reece Winders managed to make a couple of good saves. That said, Hotspurs did manage to get themselves back in the game. On the twenty sixth minute, Shane Smith went close when his header from an Eoin Walsh cross went narrowly wide. On the thirty seventh minute, Hotspurs were awarded a penalty. Mikey Murphy took from the spot but the shot was well saved by the Clane keeper Adam Mazur. Five minutes before the break Hotspurs Shane Smith had a goal disallowed for a perceived offside, despite the protestations of the Hotspurs players, the goal was ruled out. On the forty third minute, Hotspurs got their equaliser. Greg Kelly provided a pin point cross from a free kick which was met by the head of Scott O’Donoghue, 1-1. The game went in at half time 1-1.
Clane started the second half strongly and took the lead three minutes in with a fine counter attack finished by Dean Comiskey and five minutes later Clane were awarded a penalty following a foul on Liam Deane and from the subsequent kick they made it 3-1 through Dean Cominskey with his second. This however seemed to kick Hotspurs into action, two substitutions were made when Eoin McGrath and Anthony Durney entered the fray and Chris Higgins a short time later. This change had the desired effect and Hotspurs took the game to Clane and upped the tempo of their play. Eoin McGrath, Robbie Higgins and Scott O’Donoghue were linking up well. In quick succession, Eoin McGrath, Chris Higgins and Scott O’Donoghue had chances. On the seventieth minute, a Hotspurs free kick by Mikey Murphy was met by the head of Eoin McGrath at the near post to make it 3-2 to Clane. Hotspurs continued to press and a few minutes later were awarded a corner. The corner was whipped in and dropped in the penalty area, the Clane defender in his attempt to clear the ball clearly also played his hand. Despite appeals from the Hotspurs sideline and players, the ref did not award the penalty. On the seventy fifth minute, a fine Sean Higgins pass to Anthony Durney led to his header going just wide. Hotspurs continued to press and had chances by Chris Higgins and Eoin Walsh. However, as Hotspurs continued to press, Clane Utd were alert to their counter attacking opportunities. With two minutes remaining following a counter attack, they were awarded a corner. From the subsequent corner, they made it 4-2 following a header from close range from Jack Kelly. Best for the winners were Dean Comiskey, Stephen Leavy, Killian Patchell and Eoghan Maguire. While best for Hotspurs were Robbie Higgins, Sean Higgins, Mikey Murphy and Hotspurs man of the match for their second game in a row Scott O’Donoghue.