Leinster Heat Pumps Senior Division Focus

Kildare Town AFC 1 Clane United FC 2

Clane United made the visit to Kildare Town on Sunday morning in a game that saw two teams that have title ambitions go head to head on a perfect morning for football. Clane came into the game in good form on the back of two wins but it was the home side that started the stronger and were dominant for the first fifteen minutes. Clane struggled to settle and were pushed by a well drilled physical home side. Chances were at a premium and having weathered the early storm the visitors came into the game with Ryan Murran and Gavin Denton working hard up front to create chances while Jack Kelly and veteran Thomas Hyland had to be on their game to keep Kildare’s attack at bay.

0-0 at half time was a fair reflection on the game but Clane manager Paul Kelly rang the changes at the break introducing both Rosss Murphy and the returning Cathal Geoghegan to great effect. Geoghegan's experience brought solidity to the Clane defence while Murphy offered the Clane attack something different going forward. Both sides' defensive structure were to the fore but as the game wore on Denton and Murran up top started to make things happen. The deadlock was broken on seventy five when Murphy finished smartly to give the visitors the lead. Sensing a big win Kelly enhanced the Clane forward line with the introduction of Andrew Hyland and Eoin Doyle. Hyland showed the Clane supporters what they had been missing with a quality display for the fifteen minutes he was on the park and Doyle showed his quality on eight one picking out the ever alert Denton to double the Clane advantage. Town to their credit continued to flow forward as their tried to get back into the game. On eighty ninth minutes Kelly was adjudged to have fouled in the box and Kieran Sheedy made no mistake to make it a nervy final seven minutes for the visitors. The game finished 2-1 and was just about the right result for both teams who will be fighting for honours come the final stages of the season. Best for Clane ; Gavin Denton, Ryan Murran and MOTM Mark Kelly. While Josh Burns, Dean Hill and Adam Downes worked tirelessly for Kildare

Arlington FC 1 Caragh Celtic FC 1

Arlington AFC earned a well-deserved point at home to Caragh Celtic in a hard-fought contest, showing great character despite being short a number of players. The game was competitive throughout, with Arlington well organised and working hard against a strong Caragh side. Despite missing several players, the team showed great commitment and discipline to stay in the game.

Caragh eventually took the lead in the 69th minute. Arlington switched off down the right-hand side, allowing a cross into the box which was finished from close range by an unmarked attacker. To their credit, Arlington responded brilliantly. Rather than letting their heads drop, they dug deep and pushed forward in search of an equaliser. That moment came late on, with Sudaysi producing a fantastic strike to bring Arlington level, a goal that reflected the team’s effort and determination throughout the match. Arlington continued to battle and looked the more determined side in the closing stages, but had to settle for a point. Standout performers on the day included Alex Dunne, Phelim Okane, and goalscorer Sudaysi, who all played key roles in a strong team performance. A very positive result considering the circumstances, and a performance that showed resilience, character and togetherness.

Newbridge Hotspurs 4 Coill Dubh AFC 1

Both teams have not had the greatest of starts to the season, so this game was always going to be a crucial one so early in the season. Hotspurs started off like a house on fire in the first 15 minutes of the game, a front 3 of Niall Flynn, Chris Higgins and Eoin McGrath had the Coil Dubh backline retreating to their own box as they applied a lot of pressure.

The first chance of the game fell Hotspurs way, when the ball was played out by Eamon Doyle to the right hand side where Niall Flynn was located. Flynn took one touch and whipped an excellent ball into the box which was just missed by the on rushing Ciaran Glynn from Midfield.

Five minutes later and the first goal of the game arose and it went the way of Hotspurs. A long free kick from Keeper Sean Higgins found the feet of Chris Higgins. Higgins then drove at the Coil Dubh defence and slipped in the on rushing McGrath who took a touch and finished past Ryan Bagnall in the Coil Dubh net. Two minutes later and Coill Dubh level matters when a ball was whipped into the box and wasn’t dealt with and Aidan Gormley finished excellently past the Hotspurs keeper. The rest of the first half petered out and it remained 1-1 at half time.

The second half was only thirty seconds old when Hotspurs took the lead again. A ball played down the line to Scott O Donoghue was then whipped in by O Donoghue to the on rushing Chris Higgins who finished past Bagnall in goal. 2-1 Hotspurs. The second half was all Hotspurs and it showed as they made it 3-1 fifteen minutes later. A ball played out to the left to Niall Flynn in space. Flynn then slid a ball into the on rushing O’Donoghue who scooped the ball past Bagnall in goal.

Hotspurs then made it 4-1. Robbie Higgins played a lovely ball in behind the defence to Niall Flynn. Flynn took a brilliant first touch and laid the ball off to O Donoghue who struck it first time into the top corner. 4-1 Hotspurs. While the attackers did the damage up front, the defence of Shane Higgins, Scott O Connor and Tommy Walsh along with Higgins in Goal dealt with everything Coil Dubh threw at them. Best for Hotspurs were Robbie Higgins, Scott O Donoghue, Tomas Hennessy and Hotspurs Man of the Match - Shane Higgins. Bagnall in goal, Sean McMahon and Jamie Mooney excelled for Coill Dubh.

Old Fort Cetlic FC 3 Newbridge Unted 3

Old Fort welcomed Newbridge United to Portlaoise this morning with both teams looking to bounce back from defeats in their previous outings.

It was Old Fort who started the brightest, Elson Vezo picked up the ball on the right hand side and after some tidy footwork picked out Scott Coyle with a lofted bass in behind the Newbridge defence, Coyle took control and slotted it calmly past the on rushing visiting keeper to put old fort 1 nil ahead after five minutes.

Newbridge responded well and levelled things up after twelve minutess, a stray pass from the Old Fort keeper was picked up by James Mahoney and he chipped the ball goalwards from thirty yards out finding the back of the net.

It didn’t take old fort long to get back ahead, after some good work down the left, Coyle delivered his cross into the Newbridge box and it was met by the head of Vezo to find the back of the net, 2-1.

The second half started similar to the first, both sides were seeking the next goal but neither could really trouble the keepers at either end. Newbridge did find themselves level on the hour, a good defensive clearance after an Old Fort set piece found Ryan Kearney on the half way line, he ran through on goal and finished into the bottom corner past Dean Bland. Soon after Newbridge struck again, good play down the left hand side and a ball across the box found Sam Rooney coming on the edge of the box. Rooney’s first time finish into the bottom corner gave Newbridge a 3-2 lead after 70 mins. Old fort made a couple of changes and within minutes found themselves level, Coyle creating havoc in the Newbridge box seen his effort saved by the keeper but it was parried into the path of Aaron Rafter who made no mistake to make it 3-3 after 73 mins. Neither team could find the winner in the final 15 minutes and the points were shared. Best for Old Fort was Elson Vezo, Lee Carrol and Ogie Brown but it’s Scott Coyle who takes the man of the match after another standout performance claiming a goal and an assist.