Leinster Heat Pumps Senior Team Focus.

League action

Clonmullion FC 2 Newbridge United FC 1

Newbridge United were the latest visitors to Micheál O Neill Park on a glorious Saturday evening in perfect conditions. The first real effort on goals came in the tenth minute from a Jake Nicholl throw in that was cleverly flicked on by Cody Mulhall to Chris Chanders but his shot flew just over the bar. United were next to threaten when Ryan Kearney put Kennedy through but Michael Lawless saved comfortably. The home side had two free kicks in quick succession and Mulhall drilled both under the defensive wall but the keeper Coffey was well positioned to make the saves. In the 26th minute Kearney hit a great shot from 25 yards out but Lawless was able to parry it and Keane Cully cleared the danger. On the half hour centre half Mark Hughes strode out of defence and advanced to the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a left footed shot that flew just over. However it was the visitors who took the lead a few minutes later after a great run and cross by James Mahony to Kennedy who slotted home from close range. In the 35th minute Hughes once again advanced out of defence and cleverly scooped the ball over the advancing defence to Chanders who squared to Danny Thompson who fired over the bar from inside the box. United almost doubled their lead when Kearney and Kennedy played a great one two with the latter shooting from the edge of the box but Lawless made a great save. Two minutes before the half time whistle Nathan Robinson freed Lee Doyle down the right and as he cut inside onto his left foot Shaun Walsh tripped him and the referee pointed to the spot. Mulhall expertly slid the ball to the corner of the net sending Coffey the wrong way. Coffey was called into action again on the stroke of half time as he finger tipped a Robinson shot over the bar. 

Five minutes into the second half Doyle hit a beautiful diagonal pass to his brother Nathan who laid the ball into the path of Chanders who's stinging effort was well saved with his feet by Coffey. Just before the hour mark Keelan Lacey and Nicholl combined well down the left flank and the full back drilled a low ball into the box where poacher Joe Doran was lurking to side foot home from close range. The Mull dominated possession for the next ten minutes and really should have increased their lead but a combination of wasteful final balls and sound defending by Michael Fitzgerald and Glen Bracken kept the minimum between the sides. Coffey advanced well outside his box to clear the ball but Mulhall blocked the clearance and the ball fell to Chanders who cleverly shot from the centre circle but it floated just wide. Five minutes later the hard working Mulhall intercepted the ball from James Headon but his shot was deflected wide by Bracken. With ten minutes remaining substitute David Murphy jinked inside the full back and laid the the ball into the path of Mulhall who's first time shot was well saved by Coffey. United never really threatened in the final stages of the game and the home side will feel they should have added to the score line. Best for United were keeper Coffey, Fitzgerald and Bracken at the back and Kearney and Mahony in the middle and Kennedy up front. For the home side Lawless made a great save at a crucial time in the game with Hughes commanding in the middle of the defence and his distribution and runs from deep were outstanding. Doyle and Nicholl were always available out wide while Chanders and Robinson controlled midfield. Doran and Mulhall never stopped working hard up front and were a constant threat. 

Old Fort Celtic FC 5 Caragh Celtic FC 3

Old Fort produced a superb second-half comeback to defeat Caragh Celtic 5-3 in an entertaining encounter on Sunday morning, with the eight-goal thriller providing plenty of excitement for the home supporters.

Caragh made the perfect start and took the lead after 10 minutes when Dean Heavey reacted quickest to a loose ball before finishing confidently past Dean Bland. Despite enjoying the majority of possession in the opening stages, Old Fort struggled to break down a well-organised Caragh defence. The visitors doubled their advantage after 20 minutes. Eoghan Merriman threaded an excellent through ball into the path of Heavey, who kept his composure to slot past Bland and make it 2-0.

Old Fort refused to let their heads drop and continued to push forward. Their persistence paid off after 35 minutes when Liam Brown switched play to Dan Gorman, whose dangerous cross into the box was turned into the Caragh net to reduce the deficit to 2-1. The equaliser arrived deep into first-half stoppage time and was worth the wait. Ashby Bermeo showed tremendous determination to keep the ball in play before weaving past three defenders and firing an unstoppable finish beyond Cassidy to level the scores at 2-2. However, Caragh responded immediately. A corner caused problems in the Old Fort penalty area, and after the home side failed to clear their lines, Eamon Dunne reacted quickest to restore the visitors’ lead just before the interval.

Old Fort emerged for the second half with renewed intensity and gradually took control of the contest. Their pressure was rewarded in the 65th minute with an excellent team goal. Lee Carroll’s pinpoint pass picked out Daryl Ntumba, whose looping header from 20 yards sailed over the Caragh goalkeeper to make it 3-3. Ntumba continued to cause problems down the wing and played a key role in Old Fort’s fourth goal. His inviting cross found Byron McGuirk arriving at the back post, and the defender made no mistake with a powerful finish to put the home side ahead for the first time in the match in the 77th minute.

Old Fort sealed a memorable comeback in stoppage time with the pick of the goals. Liam Brown found Lee Carroll on the edge of the penalty area, and the midfielder curled a superb strike into the top corner to cap off an outstanding attacking performance and secure a deserved 5-3 victory. Daryl Ntumba, Liam Brown and Ashby Bermeo were all excellent for Old Fort, while Lee Carroll earned the Man of the Match award after contributing a goal and two assists in a match-winning display. For Caragh Celtic, Dean Heavey was a constant threat throughout and deservedly finished with two well-taken goals.

Coill Dubh AFC 2 Newbridge Hotspurs FC 3

Coill Dubh AFC went into this game at the bottom of the Senior Division against last season’s runners-up, Newbridge Hotspurs. Once again, they came away with no points, but it certainly wasn’t for lack of effort.

The first half was dominated by Coill Dubh, who created seven excellent chances. However, the story of their season continued—missed opportunities at this level could prove costly and may ultimately lead to relegation. The first real chance came in the 3rd minute when Jamie Mooney squeezed between two defenders. As the ball broke kindly to him, he attempted to lob Hotspurs goalkeeper Shane Higgins, but his effort drifted over the bar. Just two minutes later, Barry Noone found himself clean through on goal, but Higgins produced a fingertip save to push the ball around the post. From the resulting corner, Cillian Casey volleyed into the side netting. In truth, Hotspurs never really got going in the opening half, but Coill Dubh simply couldn’t find the breakthrough.

That changed when Jamie Mooney, who was driving everything from midfield, latched onto a superb pass from Ryan Bagnall. Mooney pushed the ball past two players and this time made no mistake, firing Coill Dubh into a deserved 1–0 lead. Coill Dubh continued to pepper the Hotspurs goal, but Higgins dealt comfortably with efforts from Jack O’Brien and Barry Noone.

In the 35th minute, Cillian Casey found space between the right-back and centre-half after a beautiful pass from Lennon O’Shaughnessy. Casey’s first touch was excellent, and he lobbed Higgins, leaving the keeper stranded. Somehow, the ball bounced on the line and over the bar.

That proved to be the turning point Hotspurs needed as they began to grow into the game. Mark Wolfe started to take control in midfield, spraying passes all over the pitch and giving Hotspurs a foothold. On the 40th minute, Hotspurs finally tested Mikie Behan, with Wolfe forcing the Coill Dubh keeper into action. Consternation followed in the 42nd minute when Coill Dubh’s Aidan Gormley collided with Danny McGrath. McGrath’s knee struck Gormley in the face, leaving him motionless on the ground. Despite this, play continued, and Hotspurs took full advantage, scoring the equaliser to make it 1–1. Gormley was unable to continue after being knocked unconscious and was replaced by Jason Devine.

Hotspurs came out stronger in the second half in what became a much more evenly contested game. Unlike Coill Dubh, they took their chances and raced into a 3–1 lead by the 63rd minute.

Two goals in two minutes changed the game completely. Mark Wolfe scored Hotspurs’ second goal—and arguably one of the best goals ever seen in Cusack Park. Robbie Higgins delivered a cross, Wolfe brought it down brilliantly, and before the ball hit the ground, he tucked it past Mikie Behan with his weaker right foot. Coill Dubh were still reeling from that stunning strike when Eoin McGrath got on the end of a Scott O’Donoghue cross to make it 3–1. To their credit, the young Coill Dubh side refused to give up. They pulled themselves back into the game in the 68th minute when Jack O’Brien played a wonderful pass into space for Barry Noone. In a repeat of his earlier chance, Noone made no mistake this time, reducing the deficit to 3–2.

Coill Dubh changed formation and introduced Will Carroll for his first-team debut. They continued to push hard for an equaliser. Higgins produced important saves from Cian MacMahon and Will Carroll, while Jay Devine also came close, seeing his effort flash just wide of the post. Hotspurs remained dangerous on the counterattack, and Scott O’Donoghue forced Mikie Behan into another fine save low to his left. The final whistle blew with Hotspurs leaving Cusack Park with all three points. It was a terrific game played in a sporting atmosphere, and any neutral supporter in attendance certainly got their money’s worth.

Best for Coill Dubh AFC, Lennon O’Shaughnessy was outstanding at centre-half, while Craig Lenehan delivered another excellent performance and continues to deserve more recognition for his recent displays. Coill Dubh Man of the Match: Jamie Mooney who covered every blade of grass and was exceptional throughout. Best for Newbridge Hotspurs, Scott O’Donoghue caused problems all night, while Eoin McGrath made a big impact. Hotspurs Man of the Match: Mark Wolfe. Wolfe’s overall performance, capped by a sensational goal, made him the standout player for the visitors.