League action
Ballycane Celtic FC 1 Naas United FC 4
Splendid weather at Ballycane for this local Derby. The home side really stretched bodies wise with a host of injuries to contend with presently. Naas started well and were having some joy down the flank but couldn't find a clear opening. Ballycane asserted dominance of midfield with Bubba Doyle and Dean Preston putting their stamp on game orchestrating anything creative for the home side. Naas found the opening goal after Ballycane failed to clear their lines sufficiently and Stephen French pounced to give Naas the lead following good work by Samson Omoteso. Ballycane should of grabbed an equaliser after Stephen Durney headed an Keelan Noone freekick just wide on the half hour mark. Naas slightly edged possessing with Guzzer Nolan and Omoteso coming close. Ballycane were also creating changes of their own with the home side working another opening moments later after a quick ball out by Higgins to Bubba Doyle who played a quick one, two with Preston and Doyle split the Naas Rearguard with clever ball to the on rushing Callum O Reilly who was forced wide and sustained an injury in the process. Ballycane with the last decent chance of the half after Mick Doheny found himself a yard of space in the Naas box and bent a shot around a host of player's and had Keith Higgins beaten, but the effort came off the post and harmlessly away to end the half.
Ballycane forced down to ten men through injury were really up against in the second half and Naas took control of the game they added further goals when a Jamie Dunne cross come shot eluded Kevin Higgins in the Cane goal to give Naas the cushion they deserved. With fifteen minutes remaining two superb strikes from Brian Nolan and Sanson Omoteso put Naas 4-0. Ballycanes did grab a late consolation with a long throw by Lee Short put Dean Preston away and he raced through and finished well past Keith Higgins. Best for the winners were Samson omoteso, Jamie Dunne and Jack Conway Best for Ballycane were Mick Doheny In defense and Dean Preston and Bubba Doyle were immense in midfield.
Suncroft FC 2 Coill Dubh AFC 3
A valuable 3points for dubhs who have shown good form recently, with
Ryan Murran back from injury and the return of Sean McMahon from international duty, paved the way for dubh’s against a very strong Suncroft side. The game started at frantic pace in high under extreme heat. The home side took an early lead when Dylan Connolly found the net from a free-kick with twelve minutes played. Soon after Croft’s Craig Durney appeared to double the lead but saw his headed effort ruled out.
Coill Dubh not wanting to be outdone equalised on the twenty fourth minute when Cian McMahon whipped in a telling cross for the onrushing Conor Comiskey to give the Croft keeper no chance with a bullet of a header to make it 1-1.
The midfield battle was titanic with Coill Dubh’s Marron and Donoghue breaking up a lot of play to put the Dubh’s on the front foot however Suncroft regained the lead soon after with Connolly grabbing his second from just outside the area after Eamon Doyle’s effort crashed back off the crossbar. A lead which Suncroft held to the break.
In the early stages of the second half Suncroft came close to grabbing the third and killer goal they needed on several occasions, Connolly forcing a great save from the away Kilgallon, Josh Lee having a goal ruled out for offside and Shane Higgins coming close with two headed efforts. At the other end Coill Dubh were dangerous on the break and on the sixty eight minute got a deserved equaliser through Comiskey from corner.
This seemed to have a negative impact on the home side and Coill Dubh went all out for a winner. Dylan Hannon and Evan Moore’s introduction gave the visitors the edge forcing the Croft into defence mode for the final quarter. The visitors were the likely winners at this stage with the winner coming in the eighty third minute through Evan Moore to see them go home with all three points. Best for the winners were Adrian McNamee and Joe Bowers playing centre half positions. Ryan Murran and Emmet Donoghue in midfield, Conor Comiskey with two goals and the McMahon brothers. The home side were not at their best but had some good individual performances, Connolly with his 17th and 18th goals of the season with Shane Higgins and Craig Durney also in good form.
Clongorey United FC 0 Clane United FC 3
Clane United kept their hopes of a KDFL Senior Division title alive on Sunday with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Clongorey at Old Bog road.
The men from Doctor's Road started the better of the two sides with early changes from Cathal Geoghegan who had a shot block down after only seven minutes. One minute later Clane’s Sean Connolly was also unlucky to see his effort whizz slightly over the crossbar. Clane were in control at this point and Any Brogan missed a gilt edged change to put his side ahead on the eleventh minute when his free kick smashed off the crossbar.
The north Kildare men eventually broke the deadlock on the seventeen minute when the impressive James Ralph did well down the right hand side to cross for Cathal Geoghegan to fire home past stand in goal keeper Bill Irish from close range to put the visitors 1-0 up.
The Old Bog Road outfit steadied themselves after Clane's opener and on the twenty seventh minute almost drew parity through Sheldon Mbala after Reece McLoughlin, Lee Baldwin and Jamie Headon linked well to set him through on goal only to see his finish well saved by the Clane netminder.
Just as Clongorey were beginning to look like they might claw a way back into the game they were hit with a sucker punch on thirty eight minute as Clane doubled their advantage when Andy Brogan did well on the left and sent a through ball to James Ralph who in turn found Dean Comiskey free and he shot past keeper Irish to make it 2-0.
Sean Casey and Fintan Kenna's men looked lively in the early stages of the second period with McCloughlin, Baldwin and Danny Callan going close. However they again had the wind taken out of their sails just as it looked like their fortunes might turn when a Clane cross from Karl James from the left deceived Irish and found its way to the net.
Clongorey made some substitutions with Tosin and seventeen year-old Josh Finan – who was making in his debut at senior level, both gave Clongorey renewed impetus in the latter part of the second half as they went in search of a consolation goal but in the end Clane held on to put extra sheen on their victory by maintaining a clean sheet. Indeed they could have extended their lead with a late effort from Liam Deane which was tipped over the crossbar. Best for Clane were Dean Comiskey, Cathal Geoghegan, Killian Patchell and James Ralph while for Clongorey Baldwin and Callen shone.