Naas United FC 0 Coill Dubh AFC 3
Coill Dubh’s first team travelled south to Naas with a tough task on their hands not having won in Naas for quite some time knowing the opposition always put up a tough fight. The game started with a fast pace, with both sides threatening with set pieces but both Luke Anderson and the Naas keeper dealt with them well. The first half was closely contested with both sides fighting for every ball but there were not really any clear-cut chances of note.
The second half started much the same, Naas did have chances but a combination of some good stops from Coill Dubh keeper Anderson and some woeful last touches in front of goal from Naas prevented them from opening the scoring. It was the visitors who drew first blood, scoring through Dylan Hannon who went one on one with the Naas keeper and slotted home to make it 0-1. Both sides pushed for the next goal making for an exciting finish to an end-to-end game, but thankfully for the Dubh’s it was Barry Noone who got it with a brilliant, volleyed strike off the Naas post to make it 0-2. Barry Noone added to his tally shortly after as he broke away on the counterattack and blasted the ball past the Naas Keeper making it 0-3.
A great team performance from everyone in the Coill Dubh colours. Best for Naas was Victor.
Clongorey FC 1 Arlington FC 2
Arlington travelled to Clongorey on Sunday on the back of a tough 4-4 draw with Suncroft last weekend needing the three points to keep the pressure on the Senior Div front runners. The visitors started brightly and came close to opening the scoring after two minutes through Jake Nicholls when he unleashed a shot from distance which went narrowly wide.
The home side had early chances of their own and were unlucky not to draw level when when new recruit Tosin teed up Dave O'Callaghan inside the box only for the ex-Newbridge Town man to fire over from close range. It was end to end mid way through the half and the visitors had a shot cleared off the line from Oleg Shiskarev when the ball looked to be heading for the top corner,
Arlington kept the pressure on and were awarded a penalty in the 11th minute, up stepped Ceilum Maher and cooly slotted past Adam Doyle in the home goal to put the visitors ahead.
This goal sparked Clongorey and they drew level soon after when Sheldon Mbala cushioned a header into the path of Lee Baldwin who volleyed home from the edge of the box to make it 1-1. Arlington got back on track and had two good chances later on it the half when a lovely ball from the left found Ceilum Maher in the middle , Ceilums glancing header was flying towards the net only for Clongorey keeper Adam Doyle to pull out a world class save to keep the sides level. Just before half time Arlington’s Jake Nicholl tried his luck from the right only for the ball to crash off the crossbar and Collins Ugochukwu followed up only for the ball to go wide and the sides went in deadlocked at the break.
Clongorey pressed higher up the pitch at the start of the second half and tried to get their number 9 in behind as best they could but Jason Colon and Pheilum O Kane kept him under wraps as best they could .
Both sides had a number of set pieces dealt with well by the defences ,
As the game went into the last twenty minutes Arlington got a corner on the left after good pressure from Robbie Mc Neill and Olu Solanke high up the pitch,
Ceilum Maher took the corner and he found Craig Fleet at the back post to nod home to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
Clongorey applied pressure again and had a great chance to level only for Evan Grattan to make a great save down low to his left from a Danny Callan effort.
Arlington nearly got a third when Olu Solanke cut in from the left and unleashed a great strike which looked like it was heading for the top corner only for the ball to whistle past the post with the Clongorey keeper beaten.
Best on the day for the winners were Ceilum Maher, Robbie Mc Neill, Olu Solanke , Collins Ugochukwu and Jake Nicholls while best for the home side were Tosin, Emmet O Brien and Marvin Mbala.
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Ballycane Celtic FC 0 Clonmullion AFC 7
League leaders Clonmullion made the trip to Naas to take on a depleted Ballycane this morning and took only two minutes to open the scoring. Wayne Doyle handled the ball just outside the box and Nathan Robinson pulled the free kick back to the edge of the box where an unmarked Lee Doyle coolly slotted home to the keepers right. A minute later Robinson was almost the provider once again when he whipped in a curling corner kick and mark Hughes rose highest but his effort went just over. With fifteen minutes gone Lee Doyle was fouled twenty yards out and Robinson stepped up to whip a brilliant free kick to the back of the net. The home side went close after great approach play between Eric Byrne and Darren Larkin who squared the ball dangerously across the box but centre half Jay Connell averted the danger. However five minutes later The Mull made it 3 after fantastic interplay between Lee Foley and Lee Doyle set up Robinson to cross low to the in rushing Ross Cardiff to tap home. On the hal hour mark a brilliant run and cross by Lee Day saw him pick out debutante striker Chris Chanders who struck a superb shot but the keeper Shane Herbert pulled off a great save. Herbert was again the saviour with five minutes left in the half after a great build up between Hughes, Chanders and Dean Fennessy which seen the latter’s strike tipped round the post. In a rare foray up field Larkin passed to Keelan Noone who’s long range effort was comfortably save by stand in keeper Timmy Doyle. Just before the break Doyle had to be on his toes as he dived full length to save a Noone free kick.
The second half began as the first half had with the visitors on the attack and it only took three minutes for Clonmullion to make it four as Chanders unselfishly pulled the ball back into the path of Fennessy who hit a sweet curling shot to the back of the net. Ten minutes later Robinson was again the provider as his corner kick found the head of Hughes to make it five. A minute later came the move of the match after Hughes fed Fennessy who neatly tipped the ball on the Chanders who in turn eased the ball back into Fennessy who lobbed the advancing keeper only for his effort to come back off the bar. With twenty minutes left Jay Connell made it six from another Robinson corner. Lee Foley had a great log range effort which just went barely over after he ran on to a Lee Day cross field pass. Robinson inevitably was to have the final say as he fired home a superb free kick from thirty yards out to make it a comprehensive seven nil to Clonmullion. Best for the home side were Herbert in goals, Eric Byrne in defence, Larkin and Noone in midfield, Jonathan Sullivan up front Lee Short and Dean Preston who tried hard in midfield and the classy Bubba Doyle stood out in Defence. Best for Clonmullion were Connell and Foley at the back, Hughes and Fennessy in midfield, Chanders who despite not scoring put in a superb display up front while Robinson turned in a man of the match performance with 2 goals and 4 assists.
Suncroft AFC 2 Clane United FC 4
Suncroft's struggles this season continued with a home defeat to Clane on Sunday morning. The home side did take the lead with an early Dylan Connolly goal, Willy Hayes with a strong run down the left and his pass inside found Kieran Sheedy who in turn found Connolly in space inside the area and Connolly fired home to make it 1-0 with five mins played. After that early goal Clane were by far the more dominant team for the remainder of the half with Killian Patchell hitting the crossbar and James Ralph brining the best from the home keeper soon after. The equalising goal coming with twenty mins played, a neat 1-2 on the edge of Suncroft box resulting in a one on one between Dean Comiskey and the Croft keeper the Clane striker dispatched with ease. 'Croft 'keeper Kieran Brennan made a number of saves to keep the sides level but couldn't do anything about the goal that gave Clane a deserved lead just before the break through Andy Brogan following good approach work by James Ralph.
The home side looked to find a way back into the game and applied some pressure early in the second half. Paddy flood twice coming close to grabbing an equalising goal. Clane made it 3-1 with just over an hour played, a swift counter attack starting with a save from a Flood effort on goal and resulting in a 1v1 with Comiskey and the 'Croft 'keeper only seconds later. The third goal took the wind out of the sails of the 'Croft having improved considerably from their first half performance. Clane scored a fourth not long after and killed the game as a tie, Clane’s Andy Drogan cutting inside and finding the far bottom corner of the net. Flood won his side a penalty with ten mins remaining which was slotted home by Connolly but despite a late rally from the home side Clane ran out deserved winners. For Suncroft, Connolly was in good form grabbing his side's two goals and Flood impressed having been introduced as a half time substitute. Best for clane were Dean Comiskey with another fine performance also Jack Kelly Killian Patchell and Cathal Geoghegan.