KDFL Under 20 Division
Newbridge United FC 2 Monasterevin AFC 5
The only Saturday game to survive Storm Éowyn was the meeting of Newbridge United FC and Monasterevin AFC in the KDFL Under 20 Division. For Newbridge United FC Having a full squad for the visit of Monastervin they were more confident of a better performance than their last encounter. Monasterevin on the other hand were looking to build on their 3-0 home victory to BBC last week.
The visitors got off to a better start and Sean Bennett was the first to test the home defence, however he was unlucky not to capitalise. It didn’t take the visitors long however to open their account when the impressive Bennett score from close in after ten minutes. The home side were dealt a blow soon after when they lost their influential centre back Simas Sapalas due to an eye injury.
Soon after United found themselves 2-0 down when Bennett double his and his sides tally. To their credit the home side kept attacking and won a penalty which could have put the minimum between the sides however visiting keeper Mick Derrin made a brilliant save to maintain Monasterevin’s clean sheet. The visitors made it 3-0 through when Paddy Murray scored his first and his sides third.
Newbridge were determined to get something from the game for their effort in the first half and they managed to pull one back through the ever present Ryan Kearney, which saw Monasterevin go in at half time defending their 3-1 scoreline.
Monasterevin started the second half as they did in the first and took the game to United. Matthew Sullivan added their fourth on the fifty fifth minute when he rounded two defenders to drive the ball low to the bottom corner of the home net it leave it 4-1 to the visitors. Soon after the home side were awarded another penalty and for a second time in the game Mick Derrin made another fantastic save to deny the Newbridge side. Minutes later another penalty as awarded this time to Monasterevin and O Sullivan made no mistake to make it 5-1. Monasterevin were reduced to ten men following a dismissal which allowed Newbridge in for a consolation second to leave the final score 5-2 to the visitors. Best for the winners was their keeper Mick Derrin while for Newbridge Caolan Maguire was their man of the match closely followed by Josh Finan and substitute Conor O Donovan when introduced.
Other Feature game
Leinster Football Association Junior Cup (Fourt Round)
Clonmullion FC (KDFL) 4 New Ross Celtic (WX) 0
Clonmullion progressed to the next round of the LFA Junior Cup after a tough encounter with New Ross Celtic in very difficult conditions at Micheal O Neill Park on Sunday following storm Éowyn and Storm Herminia. The home side were the first to threaten after five minutes when some great interplay between Keane Cully and Jake Nicholl who drilled a great ball through to Ceilum Maher who's lovely lay off found Cody Mulhall, he cut onto his right and shot low the right hand corner but keeper Tankur Graiz got down well to touch it around the post for a corner. The home side went close again on the quarter hour mark when Mark Hughes picked out Chris Chanders with a lovely free kick but Graiz was again on his toes to tip the headed effort over the bar. Celtic were always dangerous on the break and the dangerous Eryk Borowiel was brought down twenty five yards out, a powerfully struck free kick by Dylan Wickham was expertly handled by the well positioned Michael Lawless.
With ten minutes left in the first half the visitors created their best chance after good approach play by Stephen O Leary and Wickham set up Borowiel who's effort was again superbly handled by Lawless. Five minutes before half time Nicholl clipped a great ball down the right wing with the ever dangerous Mulhall jinking past Sean Lennon before holding off Jack Foran to allow him to strike a thunderous effort which Graiz managed to save with his feet despite diving the wrong way.
The Mull finally made the breakthrough ten minutes into the second half when Mulhall was fouled out wide on the right and he took charge of the free kick himself and picked out Hughes at the back post who guided the ball home from close range. Now totally in charge it took only another ten minutes for Clonmullion to double the lead with a sweeping move that began at the back with Jack Dooley who found Cully who in turn found Nathan Robinson who fed Maher who pushed it wide to Lee Doyle who whipped in a cross which found Robinson who had continued his run from midfield to complete a fantastic team goal. With twenty minutes remaining it was 3 nil to the home side when Nicholl hit a lovely diagonal ball to Mulhall who’s first touch was exquisite and he drilled a right footed cross to Chanders to make no mistake. The fourth goal came with fifteen minutes left and it was a route one ball from keeper Lawless which was misjudged by Lennon and the ever alert Mulhall latched on to the bouncing ball to control and finish from the edge of the box. In very difficult conditions Celtic were best served by the excellent keeper Tankur Graiz, central defender Jack Foran while Borowiel was always a threat up front. Hard to single out anyone for the home side as it was a brilliant team effort which seen some beautiful flowing football that belied the extremely difficult conditions.
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