KDFL Under 20 Cup.
Newbridge Rovers 9 Newbridge United FC 0
Newbridge Rovers overcame their local rivers Newbridge United with ease on Saturday in the quarter final of the KDFL Under 20 Cup. It was a game Rovers had been looking forward to since the draw was made. The home team where ready from the get go starting the game with great intensity and getting they’re reward with an early lead through Harry Callaghan with a neat finish following some good approach work.
After going ahead Rovers never looked like looking back creating chances at will, their second came from the boot of Murray Pender after ten minutes. This was followed by a second from Callaghan soon after to see Rovers cruising at 3-0 nil on the half hour. The home team added another two goals without reply before the break when Harry Callaghan completed his hat trick and JJ fitzgerald added his first. Any resurgence by United was hampered by the retirement of their influential midfielder Liam Gorman and striker ILja Ambrovas. Rovers went in at the break 5-0 to the good.
The second half started the same way that the first half finished with Rovers on top and arguably creating even more chances than the first half . At the other end Oisin Fletcher, who makes his 20s debut with the club, looked assured and had next to little to do in goals for Rovers. The game finished 9-0 with goals from Harry Callaghan, Jay Fitzgerald, grabbing a brace each and Murray Pender along with Callum Rogers who pop up with a brace each themselves aswell and Captain Jack McCormack popping up with a goal to add to his tally for the season . Great win in the cup quarter finals against local rivals Newbridge United and we wish them well for the rest of the season. Best for the winners were Harry Callaghan and JJ Fitzgerald. While for United Midfielder Joshua Ajiboye was best closely followed by captain and keeper Shane Farrell.
Other Feature
Leinster Football Association Junior Cup (Fifth Round)
Match report by Jamie Connolly
Clonmullion FC 1 2 Evergreen FC
Clonmullion FC welcomed Evergreen FC from Kilkenny to Micheál O’Neill park for the LFA Junior Cup fifth round tie. Both sides boast ex League of Ireland players in their squad, so this game was always going to be a good footballing battle. Clonmullion started the game off a little sluggish, with being in preseason wouldn’t help things. Evergreen we’re getting the better of the opening exchanges.
Three minutes in a lovely paced through ball was well read and cleared by Michael lawless in the clonmullion goal. Two minutes later Evergreen opened the scoring when Lee Costello and Ethan Phelan linked up and played a neat one, two with Costello whipping a dangerous cross into the box, Lee Day got to the ball first but could only turn the ball into his own net to put the Kilkenny side 1-0 up.
Again moments later lawless was called into action when Phelan played in to David Grincell who had his shot well saved by Lawless in goal and the ball was eventually cleared by Mark Hughes. The home side started to get into the game now and with Hughes, Day, Lee Doyle and Keane Cully now standing firm and cutting out any danger, it allowed Nathan Robinson, Jake Nicholls, Chris chanders and Garry Comerford get onto ball more. The backline of Sam Hickey, Lee Costello, Adrian Cleere and Lee Delaney were also hard to get the better off at the other end for Evergreen.
On the quarter hour mark, Mark Hughes fed the ball to Captain Nathan Robinson who sent in a cross but Cian Rowe in the Evergreen goals was equal to the task. Robinson and Cody Mulhall then linked up to try to send Celium Maher through on goals but the ball was just too far and keeper claimed the ball well. Sam Hickey in defence for the visitors made a lung busting run and drove at the heart of Clonmullion but was tracked all the way by Ceilum Maher, who made a great tackle to snuff out the attack.
David Grincell of Evergreen seen a shot from distance trickle to Lawless who comfortably saved. Andrew hall, Ify Nzewi, Dean Cornally and Ethan Phelan in midfield for Evergreen we’re going toe to toe on every ball and it made for a great game for the supporters. Grincell up top with Michael Drennan we’re always making themselves available but we’re being well marshalled by Cully and Hughes. Moments later a cross by Phelan landed at the feet of Grincell who shot low wide of the post.
On the twentieth minute a free kick for Evergreen saw Drennan float the ball in, Lee Delaney flicks on but Lawless gathers comfortably. Delaney landed awkwardly and had to be replaced by Tommy Earls in an early change that Evergreen would have liked to avoid. On the half hour Michael Drennan dragged a shot just wide. Four minutes later the visitors won a corner, and a well headed effort went just over from the impressive David Grincell.
On thirty eight minutes Ceilum Maher was played through and brought a good save from Rowe.
Straight down other end Michael Drennan got through on goal only to see his shot hit off post and out for throw in. Three minutes before the break Maher laid the ball off to Cody Mulhall, his shot was tipped over by visiting custodial Rowe in the Evergreen goals, the resulting corner was punched away by keeper. Just before the half time whistle, the ball was played in to David Grincell, who chipped Lawless in the home goal, but the flag went up for offside, much to the dismay of travelling support. Evergreen went in at the break 1-0 up.
The second half was only four minutes old when a run down the line by Lee Doyle whose cross was dangerously swung in, seen his cross deflected into net by Sam hickey. 1-1 and game on. Six minutes later Evergreen’s Nzewi and Andrew Wall link up and Wall crossed to dean Cornally whose wild shot went well over the bar. Moments later the lively Lee Costello shots just wide for the visitors. Just after the hour mark a double substitution worked a treat when the introduction of James Kearney and Mikey Clifford produced dividends when Clifford played the ball into Kearney who smashed the ball past Lawless to put Evergreen into the lead at 2-1.
With fifteen minutes remaining Evergreen’s Sam hickey shot from close range but Lawless saves and palms ball out for a corner. On eighty two minutes Clonmullion’s Nathan Robinson had a chance at edge of the box but shot agonisingly over. The remaining minutes of the game were stop start, with Evergreen doing a great job of holding off a dogged Clonmullion side.
Best for Clonmullion on the day we’re Jake Nichols, Mark Hughes, Cody Mulhall and Lee Doyle.
Evergreen had great performers in Ethan Phelan, Michael Drennan, David Grincell and man of the match Lee Costello.
Clonmullion squad:
MICHAEL LAWESS, LEE DOYLE, LEE DAY, MARK HUGHES, KEANE CULLY, GARRY COMERFORD, CHRIS CHANDERS, JAKE NICHOLS, CODY MULHALL, NATHAN ROBINSON, CEILUM MAHER, BRENDAN LAWLOR, BRIAN BYRNE, COREY MOORE, CON MURRAY, ROSS CARDIFF, RYAN LEONARD, ROCKY MORIARTY, TIMMY DOYLE
Evergeen squad:
CIAN CROWE, SAM HICKEY, LEE COSTELLO, ADRIAN CLEERE, LEE DELANEY, DEAN CORNALLY, ANDREW WALL, IFY NZEWI, DAVID GRINCELL, MICHAEL DRENNAN, ETHAN PHELAN, DECLAN MCQUILLAN, JAMES KEARNEY, JOHN DUNLEAVY, TOMMY EARLS, BEN HICKEY, MIKEY CLIFFORD, JAMIE BYRNE
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