Karina Donnelly Senior Cup Final.
(Report by Wayne ‘Bubba’ Doyle)
Clane United FC 2 Naas United FC 2
(Clane United FC win 5-3 on penalties AET)
Both these teams have been engaged in a close and competitive race all season for Senior Division silverware. For the first time in four years, there will be new champions of both the Senior Cup and the league, breaking Clonmullion's recent dominance in the Senior ranks, at least for this year.
Naas United is the only team to have defeated the high-scoring Clane United not once, but twice during the league campaign. However, this statistic may not carry much weight in the context of cup football, where unpredictability often reigns, especially in the finals. Clane United has been more active leading up to the final, having participated in competitions beyond the KDFL level, which might give them an advantage in terms of sharpness and momentum. Conversely, Naas United, with a significant break before the final, will be well-rested and eager to get straight to business.
It's a game that pits the best defensive team Naas United against the most prolific scoring team Clane United for the Senior Division Cup a tactical matchup that has the best players in the KDFL going head-to-head with it all on the line
Naas started on the front foot, looking to push the tempo early on when Victor Oladado had a driving run straight through the middle and was halted by an excellent Stephen Leavy interception. Clane United looked compact and well-organised in the opening exchanges and were content to concede possession without being under and serious threat. The first-half chance fell to Clane after Liam Deane whipped in a brilliant corner that flew across the six-yard box and begged to be converted, but it somehow evaded everybody. Daragh Faherty drew in a host of Clane players as he glided down the right flank before Sean Sheridan made the vital tackle to halt his progress with eight minutes played. Naas with a high defensive line trying to condense Clane into their half of the pitch, a tidy move sprung the offside trapped when Andrew Hyland set Dean Comiskey away down the right flank, Keith Higgins in the Naas goal sensed the danger and rushed out, bundling Comiskey over in the process, the result a yellow card and freekick in a threatening area. Again, Liam Deane, the provider delivered another precision ball, that was headed clear by the indomitable JP Higgins.
The game started to open up, and both teams worked tirelessly to carve out a real clear-cut opportunity. JP Higgins, Jordan Martella and Sheldon Ebala Matans made some well-timed interceptions for Naas, whilst Jack Kelly, Gavin O'Dwyer, and Sean Sheridan were in terrific form in the Clane Rearguard. The midfield battle was evenly contested with Hyland and Geoghegan getting through a colossal workload in the opening thirty minutes for Clane. Victor Olapado, Paul Omoteso and Marvin Mbala with some quality link-up play, keeping Naas on the offensive. The breakthrough came with ten minutes remaining in the half. A miss-queued clearance by Jordan Martella found the feet of the impressive James Ralph, he showed immaculate control as he prodded the ball beyond the Naas Rearguard, Keith Higgins rushed out getting a vital touch, that forced Ralph wide the Clane talisman was poised to pull the trigger to an open goal when Jordan Martella made an outstanding recovery tackle to prevent a certain goal. Naas cleared the resulting corner kick and it found the feet off Daragh Faherty the pacey winger showed great acceleration as he drove through the middle committing a host of Clane players in the process, before slipping a pass into Victor Oladado who had plenty of work still to do holding off Jack Kelly before finishing pass John Ball to break the deadlock with thirty-five minutes played with a devastating counterattack. Far from being a deterrent conceding that goal
released the shackles off the Clane as they bombarded the Naas goal for the remaining ten minutes of the half with, James Ralph and Dean Comiskey going close before Leavy and Geoghegan forced saves from Keith Higgins. Clane pushed the pace before half, but Naas had the vital lead at the break.
Clane showed more attacking impetus at the start of the second half, as Gavin O'Dwyer pinged a route one ball to James Ralph who controlled brilliantly before getting a quick shot off a minute into the second half. Clane continued to exert pressure on the Naas backline, but Danny Philips and Jp Higgins were having stellar games and looked impervious thus far. Naas did find their feet again after a well-crafted move that started with Marvin Mbala and Involved both Niall Faherty and Daragh Faherty before Paul Omoteso got a long-range effort away that was well-watched by John Ball, who gathered it in without much fuss. Naas United were sitting extremely deep and looked content to defend their lead, whilst trying to catch Clane on the counterattack. It was a dangerous game for Naas as they were starting to look a little susceptible. Clane made the necessary adjustments and was edging closer to that breakthrough. Sheldon Mbala Matans and James Ralph were embroiled in a brilliant matchup that swung to and fro all game. It was James Ralph, though, who illuminated the game with just over an hour played, with an extraordinary piece of individual brilliance, and he picked the ball up wide right and weaved his way through two defenders before finishing with a low drive past Keith Higgins to square this game up.
Naas made some changes as McDonell made way For Leon Doyle, Paul Omoteso for Manny Philips, and Niall Faherty for Richie French, which gave Naas a much-needed boost as Manny Philips used his physicality to disrupt the Clane monument, With Richie French and Leon Doyle added an injection of energy into that midfield. Clane also made some changes with the Andrew Hyland taking a well-earned break and the influential young playmaker Nathan Carr introduced. Liam Deane was off and the pacey Aiden Ralph entered the game. Clane were well in control of possession throughout the second half and were looking more likely to score the next goal. Another precision corner kick from Clane bounced around the box before Dean Comiskey latched onto it with a wicked snapshot that produced a magnificent save from Keith Higgins that ricocheted out to Cathal Geoghegan who fired a thunderous effort goal-bound before Jp Higgins blocked bravely at the front post to prevent a certain goal, another top-notch piece of defending. Again, Clane were relentless on the set pieces, Naas defending fearlessly but were somewhat unlucky. As Marvin Mbala's clearing header struck his hand, the referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Mark Kelly who has proved himself a Deadball specialist the composed defender struck it well but Keith Higgins was more than equal, making another fine save, that man James Ralph showed true striker instincts as he reacted first to convert from the save from eight yards with just over twelve minutes remaining. Naas made their two remaining substitutions, with Marvin Ebala making way for Jamie Nolan and Jordan Martella making way after a brilliant performance for the esteemed Jamie Dunne. Naas United sensed that maybe this game was slipping away and that spurred Daragh Faherty into immediate action as he raced down the wing after a neat exchange with Sheldon Mbala, forcing John Ball into a vital save. It was Victor Oladado's turn to take up the mantle as he made a Seventy-yard bolt from deep In his own half that was scuppered by the veteran defender Gavin O'Dwyer with another well-timed challenge. It's was Naas asking the questions of the Clane rearguard now. Ball was forced into another save as he tipped over a shot come cross by Sheldon Ebala Matans. Manny Philips now spearheading the Naas attack was causing Clane havoc as his physicality was a handful to deal with. Two minutes into injury ,time Naas won a freekick thirty yards out ,up stepped Daragh Faherty and whizzed in a teasing ball ,Manny Philips rose highest with a looping header that beat Ball and found the back of the net to level it up at, 2-2 an extraordinary climax with extra time looming.
Naas Utd much more positive at the start of extra times ,with Richie French crashing a great effort of the crossbar from twenty-five yards that had Ball struggling in the open in three minutes; Clane had some joy themselves with Aiden Ralph and Mark Kelly testing Higgins from distance after good build-up play from Comiskey and Geoghegan. The game was played at a breakneck ferocious pace. Both sets of players were starting to wilt slightly under the exertion. Manny Philips with probably the best clear sight of goal after a clever pass by Victor Oladado, Philips dug the ball out of his feet and bent his effort just over the crossbar to the dismay of the Naas Supporters. Nathan Carr got through a considerable shift since his introduction around the middle, breaking up play for Clane with his energy around the midfield. A real war of attrition ensued for the remaining couple of minutes neither side conceding an inch. With the dreaded penalty kicks looming .Clane made a shrew tactical change right at the Death, bringing on Adam Mazur a goalkeeper for Sean Sheridan. Mazur played outfield for the remaining two minutes but would resume duty in goals for the penalty kicks, an astute change by the Clane management.
Clane were first up on the spot kicks, with Mark Kelly pitted against Keith Higgins , Higgins saved brilliantly but it had to be retaken again, Mark Kelly stepped up and remarkably again Keith Higgins saved ,but again Keith Higgins was adjudged to be off his line early. For the third time, Mark Kelly stepped forward, and this time he fired it past Higgins under massive protest from Naas.JP Higgins stepped up for Naas and hit an excellent penalty, but Adam Mazur produced a phenomenal save. Ralph, Comiskey and Geoghegan scored for Clane before Faherty, Oladado, and Leon Doyle converted for Naas, Leaving Stephen Leavy with the decisive spot kick for Clane to clinch the cup; He made no mistakes to the rapturous roar of the Clane supporters. An absolute exhilarating game of football a real advocate for the KDFL it had elements of everything brilliant attacking play unbelievable defending, great goalkeeping, passion, intensity and teamwork. Clane were tremendous today, and over the duration probably just shaded Naas in a classic. Naas certainly played their part and some breathtaking displays. And hopefully we'll see it all again next week
Best for Naas Keith Higgins, Jordan Martella, Daragh Faherty, Sheldon Mbala Matans, Victor Oladado and JP Higgins were phenomenal, Best for Clane were Jack Kelly, Gavin O'Dwyer, Dean Comiskey, Geoghegan and James Ralph were different class today.
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