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League action !

Coill Dubh AFC 6 Old Fort Celtic FC 3

Old fort Made the Trip to Coil Dubh on Friday Night with a heavily depleted squad and although The Result didn’t go their way there was lots of positives to take from the encounter. 

Both team went for it from start to finish and Coil Dubh drew first blood through a fine strike before they Doubled their lead after a few minutes. Old Fort clawed one back through Eoin Carroll soon after. The home side just piled on pressure and added a third four minutes later. 

Just before the half Ash Bermeo was delivered a super ball from Scotty Coyle and he dinked the oncoming keeper to make it 3-2 with all to play for going into the second half. 

Old Fort were forced into an early change which seen under 18’s Jonathan Pukuta make his senior debut. The second  half saw Coill Dubh take the initiative and they added two more goals without reply.  The viistors had a chance through a penalty but to no avail. Coill Dubh added a sixth late on. With time almost up Old Fort were awarded another penalty which was converted by Patryk Staniec.  Best for Old fort were Dan Harty, Eoin Carroll, Byron McGuirk and Lee Carroll Talbot. 

Newbridge Hotspurs 6 Arlington FC 2

A highly entertaining game at Snigs Brogan Park despite both teams been short a number of key players. Hotspurs came out of the traps immediately and it was Niall Flynn who went close when his shot went just over following a Shane Higgins pass. On the 4th minute, an Eoin McGrath header went just wide following a lovely cross from Gary Lowe. The breakthrough came on the 5th minute. Following fine build up play by Robbie Higgins, Gary Lowe and Chris Higgins, the ball fell to Niall Flynn who played a neat pass Eoin McGrath who struck to make it 1-0. On the 15th minute, Hotspurs made it 2-0 and it came via a long cross field pass from Shane Higgins to Chris Higgins who took a deft touch and played a pass to Niall Flynn, Flynn then finished to find the back of the net, 2-0 to Hotspurs. On the 22nd minute, Gary Lowry nearly made it 3-0 but his shot was saved by the Arlington keeper. Almost immediately after this, Niall Flynn nearly scored when he rounded the keeper but his shot was cleared off the line. 

After the blistering start, the game settled down somewhat. It was on the 44th minute when Hotspurs got their third. It came via a pass from Mikey Murphy who found Niall Flynn, Flynn took it on his right and rifled home from 25 yards, 3-0 to Hotspurs. Just a minute later, Hotspurs made it 4-0 and it came via Niall Flynn (to claim his hat-trick), he ably assisted by the excellent Chris Higgins. The game went in at half time 4-0 to Hotspurs.The second half started and almost immediately Hotspurs got their fifth goal of the game and it came via another Niall Flynn goal. His shot passing the keeper following a Sam Rooney pass. 5-0 to Hotspurs. On the 60th minute, Arlington were awarded a penalty and it was converted to make it 5-1. On the 64th minute, Chris Higgins made it 6-1 when his header found the back of the net following a fine Gary Lowe corner. Hotspurs continued to press forward and on the 71st minute were denied a seventh goal when Sam Rooney’s shot was blocked and a follow up Chris Higgins shot saved. On the 81st minute, Arlington got their second of the game following a fine finish from outside the box by Cian Byrne. Just a minute later, Sam Rooney nearly scored but his shot went just wide. The game finished 6-2 for Hotspurs.Best for Hotpurs were Chris Higgins, Mikey Murphy, Gary Lowe with Eamon Doyle and Peter Higgins also excelling. Hotspurs man of the match goes to Niall Flynn. Best for Arlington were

Phelim O’Kane, Iain Higgins, and Cian Byrne stood out with strong individual performances despite the challenging circumstances.

Newbridge Utd FC 4 Naas United FC 5

Both teams observed a minutes silence before the game as a mark of respect to Jane Dunne from Naas, mother of Naas Player Jamie Dunne. Newbridge took the lead after two minutes with a free kick from No.9. The visitors squandered a chance to level it two mins later when Leon Doyle was through one on one and passed to Paul Ometeso in an offside position. Newbridge went 2-0 up on 13 minutes through No.3. Naas made it 2-1 with Paul Ometeso finishing brilliantly after great play out wide from Travis O Neill on 19 minutes. On the half hour mark John Paul Higgins made it 2-2 with a header from Daragh Faherty’s corner. 3-2 to Newbridge 7 minutes later through No.10. And on 42 mins it was 3-3 when No.3 scored an own goal after the excellent Leon Doyle crossed. The same player scored another own goal after 65 minutes. It was 4-4 five minutes later when Newbridge got a penalty despite a call for offside from Naas. No.11 sending Naas Keeper Keith Higgins the wrong way. And with Just two minutes left on the clock Naas finally took the lead in the game when man of the match Scott O’Neill powered his way through midfield, nipped the ball off Murphy and with a great chance to score himself, he unselfishly squared to Paul Ometeso who smashed home from 5 yards out. Best for Naas today were Man of the match Scott O’Neill, Paul Ometeso scores 2 more crucial goals, Travis O Neill and Joe Murray. Leon Doyle was outstanding at right back for the 2nd game in a week, While Jamie Dunne was outstanding at the back as he showed unbelievable courage to play today after the loss of his mother earlier this week.

Moone Celtic FC 2 Rathangan AFC 2

In a game where points were crucial for both teams, this game was played with intensity in good conditions in Fortfield Park. Following on from a narrow defeat to Newbridge United, Moone set about exacting revenge for the narrow loss in the previous meeting between the sides.

Moone as they have been in most games were quick out of the blocks and Owen Fox was unlucky not to give Moone the lead in the opening minutes when his chip over Felim Doyle looked goal bound but unfortunately went over the crossbar. Moone continued to press and with Nathan Parr making himself busy upfront, his run at the Rathangan defence caused problems and his shot on seven minutes was finished to the net by Liam Horan.

Rathangan settled into the game and the trio of Cullen and the two Doyles in midfield started to pull the strings but they had Felim Doyle to thank with a fantastic save on 15 minutes for keeping the score at 1 nil. Cian Flood in the Moone goals got in on the act then with a top quality save himself a minute later. 

Rathangan’s equaliser came on 18 minutes from a free kick which Moone will feel harsh about considering Scott Flood won the ball. However Iain Doyle stepped up and buried the ball to Floods left side. Following the challenge for the ball that led to the free, Moone were forced into their first substitution when Liam Reynolds came on for Scott Flood. A change in line up saw Lar Wall slot into full back and Reynolds take up his midfield slot beside Dylan Dunning and Liam Horan. With Moone applying serious pressure on Rathangan, Dylan Dunning rattled the crossbar from 10 yards when all thought he had restored Moone’s lead.

Both teams were giving a good entertaining game to the onlooking crowd and while Rathangan were getting chances. In the centre of both defences, Beresford and Burke for Moone and Power and Scanlon for Rathangan were uncompromising and anything that came in went straight back out.

On the change of ends, Moone gave away a penalty when a mistimed challenge gave Rathangan the opportunity to take the lead and Arun Doyle made no mistake from the penalty spot on 48 minutes. Following the penalty, Cian Flood was replaced in the Moone goals by Jamie Dillon. 

Moone were not going to lie down and kept plugging away with Dylan Dunning, Liam Reynolds and Liam Horan dominating in midfield now and with Moone playing some of the best football of the game, they found the Rathangan defence hard to break down. However Moone would not be denied an equaliser and the influential Dunning laid on the assist for Parr to equalise. Both teams pushed for the winner but it didn't come and the game finished out 2-2. Rathangan were best served by Doyle in goals, Scanlon and Power in defence and Cullen and Doyle in midfield. Moone have been unfortunate not to bring games home but this result will give encouragement as they go into the remaining games of the season. Today they were best served by Taylor Beresford, Cormac Burke and Evan Farrell in defence, Liam Reynolds Liam Horan in midfield and Nathan Parr upfront but Dylan Dunnings performance wins the MotM award, His grit, determination and game management was on another level today, starting many Moone attacks and being the first line of defence as Rathangan attacked.

Clonmullion FC 1 Clane United FC 0