FAI Junior Cup Action !
St Peters Athlone 0 Clane United FC 1
Clane started well and created numerous chances dominating the early exchanges .After five minutes Sean Connolly fired over from close range after a pull back from Cathal Geoghegan. Connolly again went close to opening the scoring only to be denied by the Peter’s keeper . On fifteen minutes the visitors took the lead as Comiskey found space and played Liam Deane in behind and Deane made no mistake . St Peter’s responded well to going behind and started to get into the game. John ball was called upon for the first time after thirty minutes and produced a quality save to keep Clane ahead . Peter’s pressured Clane with a series of crosses but were defended well by Sean Sheridan and Jack Kelly. Five minutes before the break James Ralph shot wide from close range which could have doubled Clane’s lead going into the break. Peters came out strong in the second half but Clane looked dangerous on the break with the lively trio of Comiskey Ralph and Deane looking dangerous. On fifty five minutes Deane was bundled over for what looked clear spot kick but the ref waived the play on. Geoghegan went close with a header which was well saved and Comiskey forced the Peter’s keeper into another smart save soon after. Clane held out late pressure for a deserved win. Best for Clane were Sean Sheridan Jack Kelly, Cathal Geoghegan and Dean Comiskey.
Coill Dubh AFC 2 Clonmullion FC 7
Clonmullion made the long journey early on a cool but dry Sunday morning in this FAI Junior Cup tie and were quickly out of the blocks. After three minutes a flowing move between Jake Nicholl and Cody Mulhall seen the latter chip a lovely ball to Ceilum Maher who's shot was half blocked by David Hanley but the ball bounced up in the air where Chris Chanders nodded home from close range. The home side were unlucky two minutes later when they went close twice in a goalmouth scramble that seen both Jamie Gartland and Ryan Grace have shots blocked by Lee Day and Ricky Moriarity respectively. However The Mull doubled their lead with ten minutes on the clock as Mark Hughes picked out Nathan Robinson who's first time ball to Maher took out two defenders and he fed Mulhall who clipped a beautiful ball to the back post where Chanders was hovering and headed home to make it 2 nil. Dubh were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box with twenty six minutes gone and even though Jack O Brien slipped as he struck the ball it deflected off the wall wrong footing keeper Corey Moore to make it 2 - 1, which is how it remained until half time.
The home side were playing on the break and almost got level just before the hour mark when Joe Bowers picked out Gartland in the middle of the park and he ran straight through to the edge of the box unleashing a great effort which Moore did well to tip around the post. Clonmullion went close a minute later when Bowers headed a Jamie Boyne pass clear only for it to fall to Keane Cully who's half volley was well handled by Luke Anderson. Soon after a bit of a goalmouth scramble left full Cian McMahon seemed to lose his bearings and attempted to pass the ball back to his keeper but Mulhall read his intentions and intercepted the ball and laid it on a plate for Maher to smash home and put his side 3 1 up. With twenty minutes remaining Chanders won another 50/50 ball just outside the box and laid off to Maher who pushed a lovely ball through to substitute Jody Dillon who beat the offside and made no mistake from just inside the box to make 4 1. Clonmullion’s fifth goal was an example of how they can mix it up when Robinson took the ball from keeper Moore on the edge of his own box and advancing a few metres before clipping a lovely ball over the top towards Nicholl and Anderson rushed just outside of his box to head clear but Dillon pounced on the loose ball to chip it over the stranded keeper and two retreating defenders to make it 5 1. With twelve minutes remaining the home side pulled one back when O Brien advanced quickly through the edge of the box where he passed to substitute Jay Devine who finished neatly off the inside of the right hand post. However with ten minutes left super sub Dillon completed his hat trick as The Mull played out from the back with Boyne feeding Garry Comerford who passed to Robinson who's beautifully weighted pass put the striker in to finish neatly down low to the keeper's left. The visitors seventh and final goal came with five minutes left when a Robinson throw picked out Cully who picked out young Ger Kenny to finish neatly with a left footed cushioned volley at the back post. Best for the Dubh were Joe Bowers and Hanley in defence Anderson could not be faulted for any of the goals while O Brien and Gartland worked hard in the middle. Best for The Mull were Moore who continues between the posts Lee Day who continues to impress at left full. The constant switching of positions by Mulhall, Maher and Nicholl along with the guile of Robinson and the solidity of Cully and selfless hard work and lethal finishing of Chanders was a pleasure to watch. Moriarity, Boyne and Hughes defended solidly and their distribution was varied and accurate.
Senior / Premier Shield Action !
Kildare Town AFC 1 Newbridge Hotspurs FC 3
Hotspurs travelled the short distance to Kildare for the semi final of the Senior/ Premier Division shield.
The game had a somewhat edgy start where both sides struggled to get a foothold on the game. That said, Hotspurs first chance of the game came on the tenth minute when Eamon Doyles shot was saved by the Kildare keeper. At the other end, it was on the thirteenth minute or so when Kildare had their first chance of the game. The shot was well saved by Hotspurs keeper Reece Winders. Winders was called into action again a few minutes later when he thwarted the advancing Kildare striker to smoother the ball and ensure the game stayed at 0-0. It was on the twenty fifth minute however when Kildare took the lead. It came via a corner which was half cleared by Hotspurs but it fell to the Kildare midfielder outside the box who delivered a fantastic volley to hit the top corner of the net, 1-0 to Kildare Town. On the half hour mark, Hotspurs nearly equalised when good build up play on the left from Eamon Doyle, Chris Higgins and Mikey Murphy led to Murphy delivering a delicious cross for it only to be deflected over the bar by the Kildare defender. The final fifteen minutes of the first half saw both sides created some chances with Murphy going close for Hotspurs. At the other end of the pitch, Kildare were testing the Hotspurs defence and keeper with high balls but Hotspurs keeper Winders was dealing brilliantly with them and commanding the penalty box area. Before the close of the half, Winders made two excellent saves when he got down low to stop what would have been an almost certain second goal for Kildare. The game went in at half time 1-0 to Kildare Town.
Hotspurs composed themselves at half time via a cool and calm team talk by Adrian O’Donoghue. Hotspurs started the second half well, it was on the fifty third minute when they were awarded a free outside the box. Up stepped Scott O’Donoghue who struck low and hard and it found its way to the back of the net, 1-1. Hotspurs continued to press and put pressure on Kildare Town with Ryan O’Donoghue and Tomas Hennessy beginning to control and exert influence in midfield. In quick succession, Hotspurs had some chances with the best falling to Scott O’Donoghue. On the sixty - eight minute, Hotspurs got their second of the game. It came via a press from Mikey Murphy who took possession of the ball and played it to Tomas Hennessy, Hennessy ran at the Kildare defence and with perfect timing played a neat pass to Eoin McGrath who took a lovely touch, rounded the keeper and slotted home, 2-1 for Hotspurs. On the seventy first minute, Scott O’Donoghue shot just wide from a Tommy Walsh pass. At this point Gary Lowe entered proceedings and immediately began dictating the game from midfield playing through the Hotspurs front three with some lovely passes, Hotspurs were unable to convert however at this point. Kildare Town weren’t finished and they had a number of chances in the final fifteen minutes but again Reece Winders was on hand pulling off two good saves. In addition, despite a lot of pressure coming on the Hotspurs left side, Chris Higgins and Sean Higgins was on hand to deal well with a number of attacks from that side. In what was the last kick of the game, Hotspurs made it 3-it came via a fantastic cross from Tommy Walsh which was met by Scott O’Donoghue whom headed home from close range. Game finished 3-1 to Hotspurs. Best for Hotspurs: Tomas Hennessy, Mikey Murphy, Tommy Walsh, Chris Higgins and Hotspurs man of the match, keeper Reece Winders
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