Clonmullion FC 4 Clane United FC 4
(RREPORT BY WAYNE ‘BUBBA’ DOYLE)
In one of the most closely contested Senior Division title races in over a decade, Clane United made the challenging trip to Micheal O'Neill Park to face current Senior League Champions Clonmullion F.C. in their final league fixture of the 2024 campaign. The outcome of this match had major implications for both Clane United and Naas United. A victory for Clane would secure their first Senior Division title, while a win for Clonmullion would mean the title returning to Naas after a seven-year absence. If the game ended in a draw, it would trigger a playoff between Clane United and Naas United for the title. This match promised to be compelling, with numerous scenarios at play.
Clonmullion F.C. had a proud home record that they were eager to maintain, especially with aspirations beyond domestic competition on the horizon. Earlier this year, they claimed the Lumsden Cup at Doctors Road in Clane, triumphing in a thrilling match. It would be ironic if Clane were to clinch the Senior Division title at Michael O'Neill Park, a venue where any Kildare team has historically found it difficult to earn points.
Clonmullion made several changes to their starting lineup and welcomed Timmy and Lee Doyle back after their absence. The visiting side faced a tense start, appearing somewhat hesitant. Without the burden of expectation, Clonmullion aimed to capitalize on their home advantage early, with Jamie Boyne creating two opportunities within the first four minutes.
The game was halted in the sixth minute due to a collision between Sean Connolly and Chris Chanders, leaving Connolly with a serious knee injury. Both teams showed commendable sportsmanship as they tended to the injured Clane player while waiting for an ambulance. After a twenty-minute delay, the match resumed, and Clane introduced Nathan Carr to replace the injured Connolly.
Clonmullion seized the initiative shortly after the restart. A clever pass from Ceilum Maher found Lee Doyle, who skilfully navigated past two defenders and took a shot. Although it initially looked harmless, the ball skidded off the wet surface and found the bottom corner, putting Clonmullion ahead ten minutes into the match.
Undeterred, Clane rallied and worked their way back into the game. Substitute Nathan Carr, along with influential midfielder Andrew Hyland, began to take control. Clane patiently built their play, trying to involve dangerous players like Liam Deane and James Ralph on the flanks. The next significant opportunity fell to Clonmullion when Kian Cully attempted a cheeky lob, but Adam Mazur made a fantastic save, tipping the ball onto the crossbar and away.
Clane equalized when Conor Comiskey won a header in midfield. The ball fell to Hyland, who quickly played it to James Ralph. Ralph demonstrated impressive pace as he bypassed Ricky Moriarty and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Michael Lawless to level the score after twenty-two minutes.
A fierce battle ensued in midfield as Jake Nichol and Chris Chanders clashed with Andrew Hyland and Cathal Geoghegan for dominance. Lee Doyle proved to be a significant threat on the wing, linking effectively with Mulhall and Maher, putting pressure on Clane's defence. Clane took the lead after a well-coordinated play initiated by Nathan Carr, who found James Ralph out wide. Ralph delivered a pinpoint cross that allowed Andrew Hyland to glide between two Clonmullion defenders and glance a header into the net, putting Clane ahead after thirty minutes.
Clane played with newfound confidence, moving the ball effectively, with Hyland, Carr, and Geoghegan playing pivotal roles in their buildup. However, Clonmullion, with their previous experience, did not lose composure. Timmy Doyle and Cody Mulhall stepped up to rejuvenate their team's attack. Clonmullion carved out decent opportunities, with Mulhall and Maher both forcing Mazur into long-range saves.
After Mazur collected a corner kick from Clonmullion, he quickly launched the ball forward to find Andrew Hyland. Hyland took an immaculate first touch past Kian Cully. As Lawless rushed out to challenge him, Hyland raced away and managed to evade Ricky Moriarty, scoring the decisive goal to double Clane's lead just two minutes before halftime in a classic counterattack.
As the second half began, the weather continued to worsen, creating a greasy surface for the players. Clane maintained their pressure, with Dean Comiskey looking particularly lively with some driving runs through midfield in the opening moments of the half. Clonmullion adjusted their tactics to adopt a more traditional formation, striving to regain control of the match. Jamie Boyne resuming his defensive duties, With Chanders and Mulhall spearheading the Clonmullion attack. A wide-open game with both sides cancelling each other out, some excellent defending by Gavin O Dwyer and Jack Kelly for Clane and Timmy Doyle and Lee Day also showed their pedigree for Clonmullion. Clane got a free wide right after Kian Cully nudged Comiskey, up stepped James Ralph and whipped in an excellent ball on the second attempt, Micheal Lawless got a strong hand punching it outside his penalty area, and it fell to Dean Comiskey who took one touch before setting himself and rifled a volley into the ground that skimmed off the surface and nestled in the bottom corner to put Clane 4-1 after sixty minutes played. From the resulting kick-off, Clonmullion immediately hit back after Jamie Boyne fired a ball into Cody Mulhall, who controlled brilliantly with one touch. He swivelled with a clean volley that left Mazur no chance in the Clane goal to reduce the deficit to two.
Clonmullion, sensing that this tie was far from over, started to go a little more direct in their approach as Clane were guilty of sitting deep, inviting the pressure. Cody Mulhall started to dictate the flow of the game out wide and was a constant danger with his direct running. Clane defended well, with Mark Kelly and Sheridan looking composed and trying to hit Clonmullion on the counterattack with Comiskey and Rasdi Nsimba the outlet. You just felt that there were more goals in this game. Clonmullion were starting to get the upper hand; Clane were still comfortable but starting to give some silly freekicks in dangerous areas, and that proved to be Clonmullion's lifeline back into the game. As Cody Mulhall did well to hold off Mark Kelly and win freekick wide right, Mulhall himself stepped up and struck a wicked cross that flashed across the box through a melee of bodies, with Chris Chanders getting the final touch beyond Mazur to cut the deficit to one with fifteen remaining. Clonmullion set pieces were extremely difficult to defend with that added zip off the surface. Clane introduced Aiden Ralph, who looked to use his pace to good effect as he bombed up the line at every opportunity. As we entered the final five minutes, it was evenly contested; Clane were well-organised and didn't leave many openings for the Athy outfit whilst looking dangerous on the counterattack. Clonmullion won a freekick wide right just inside the Clane half, Ceilum Maher fired in a thunderous ball that had plenty of movement on it, it took a wicked bounce at the feet of Adam Mazur the Clane keeper did well to adjust his body but couldn't prevent the effort from finding the back of the net to level the game up with a mere two minutes left. Both teams pressed hard for that elusive winner, but neither were able to carve out a telling opportunity. Clonmullion keep their unbeaten home record intact after a resilient second-half display showing great bouncebackability. Clane United played their part in a thrilling contest and will rightfully rue a missed opportunity to grab that Senior Division title today in a game that they had control over. Clane United's season is far from over though as they still have the opportunity to grab the League and the Senior Cup as they and Naas United will go head to head for the remaining silverware in the senior ranks. Best for Clane , Mark Kelly, Andrew Hyland, Nathan Carr James Ralph Dean Comiskey while for Clonmullion Timmy Doyle, Lee Day, Lee Doyle, Jake Nichol and Cody Mulhall with a MOTM display were outstanding.
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