Senior Cup Action !
Kilcullen AFC 2 Clane United FC 3
Perennial high flying Senior Division Clane Utd travelled to south Kildare to face Kilcullen AFC in front of another large crowd on a perfect evening for football on the Avondale.
The first twenty five saw both teams cancel each other out with a lot of the play in the middle of the park and no chances for either team. Clane United took the lead on twenty five minutes when the pacy Liam Deane broke in behind the kilcullen defence bearing down on the keeper but was taking down from behind by the last defender at the edge of the box . Deane dusted himself off and took the free himself and found the bottom corner to put the away side one up . With the goal settling Clane down they began to find a bit of a rhythm. In a good away move starting with Andrew Hyland switching the ball out to Deane and Hyland linking back up for the return pass to find Cathal Geoghegan twenty five yards from goal unleashing a unstoppable effort to put Clane 2 – 0 ahead going into half time .
The halftime break served and allowed the home side to regroup and pressurise the Clane defence. Kilcullen were rewarded on sixty five minutes when Niall Flynn won the free kick of the night from James Ralf when from thirty yards he curled the ball around the wall and under the post to reduce the deficit and bring Kilcullen back into the game. This kick started a Kilcullen revival and on seventy minutes Kilcullen skipper Dylan Aulsberry used quick feet and strength in the box to make it 2 all. All to play for, but alas Kilcullen just one minute later and on seventy first minute didn’t sit in and consolidate, went for the win and they restored their lead as Comiskey linked up with the impressive Clane sub Nathan Carr who finished brilliantly to put Clane 3 - 2 ahead . The last fifteen minutes were played out with little goal mouth action as Clane advanced to the semi final. Best for the Clane were Cathal Geoghegan with another relentless all action performance aided by Comiskey, Deane, Connolly and Jack Kelly. Best for Kilcullen were Niall Flynn, Cian Gilson but man of the match was class act, Luke McWilliams. Both sides meet again this Friday in the league on the Avondale and spectators will be looking for both teams to produce what was a great game of ball again.
Naas United FC 2 Clonmullion FC 0
The visitors started well and went close on the sixth minute when Jamie Boyne played a lovely ball out of defence to Mark Wolfe who cleverly flicked on to Nathan Robinson who's shot was saved by Naas keeper Keith Higgins but he only parried into the path of Jody Dillon who shot on the run but Higgins brilliantly saved again. Five minutes later Mark Hughes played a lovely diagonal pass to Garry Comerford who crossed first time and Dillon got his header on target but Higgins was equal to the effort. Naas gradually started to come into the game and brothers Niall and Daragh Faherty were starting to create openings for Paul Omoteso who went close from 15 yards The game remained scoreless at half time The second half saw Naas come out of the blocks with much more intensity and immediately put clonmullion on the back foot . The opening goal of the game came on the hour mark when a brilliant run from Naas midfielder Victor Oladapo crossed perfectly to Paul Omoteso who was never going to miss . Naas continued to dominate the second half and Niall Fatherty was denied a goal of the season contender when his volley crashed off the bar after a lovely one two with Omoteso. A few minutes later Clonmullion almost equalised when Robinson looked to be through when he rounded the keeper but was clinically brought down on the edge of the box. Comerford put the resulting free narrowly wide. With Clonmullion pushing for the equaliser they left themselves vulnerable to the break away and with ten minutes remaining Naas’s Daragh Flaherty was left unmarked out wide and pulled the ball back to his brother Niall who put his side 2 up. Despite the visitors laying siege to the Naas goalmouth they couldn't make the breakthrough.
League Shield Action !
Old Fort Celtic FC 1 Rathangan FC 2
Rathangan travelled to Portlaoise to play Old Fort in the Shield quarter final on a blistering hot morning. The game started at a fast pace with both teams looking to get on top early. Rathangan's play looked a bit frantic and they struggled to retain possession. A solid defence at each end meant that chances were hard to come by, as both sets of players started to find their rhythm. As the first half went on, Rathangan midfielder Arun Doyle was probing and testing the Old Fort back line, trying to find in-form striker Lee Moore in space. Old Fort did well to break the high press with some nice build up play and quick movement in the middle but found it difficult to get through the Rathangan defence, with Ryan Ivers in left back winning his battle with the Old Fort forward.
Rathangan started to spread the ball wide and use the space better, and when some sharp passing found Sam Horgan in a dangerous, the right winger's fantastic touch past the defender left him one-v-one with the keeper. Sam's placed shot in to the bottom corner was nearly saved but found the back of the net, putting Rathangan 1-0 up. Not long after that, great team play starting on the left wing with Jack Cannon, saw the ball moved through accurate passing from midfielders Jim Brennan and Conor Jamieson, to find Sam Horgan free on the right. His low powerful cross in to the area was turned in to his own goal by the unfortunate Old Fort defender to make it 2-0.
With no time left in the first half and Old Fort continuing to play with a high intensity, some poor decision making and a sloppy pass from Rathangan resulted in a free kick being conceded in a dangerous area for Old Fort. The resulting cross was not dealt with by the Rathangan defence and in flurry of poorly attempted clearances, a penalty was awarded to Old Fort. The spot kick was coolly converted and the half time whistle came straight after, with the score at 2-1.
The second half proved to be a proper battle between two hard working teams, with the heat and the astro pitch starting to take it's toll on both sets of players. Stoppages for injuries and substitutions meant that both teams found it hard to get some momentum. Old Fort were well on top for a long period but couldn't break down the solid Rathangan defence, with Colin Scanlon in centre back, using his physical strength and vast experience to command a back four that forced Old Fort to have shots from distance, without really troubling goalkeeper Craig Shannon.
As the final whistle approached in added time, a counter attack from Rathangan saw Lee Moore get in behind the Old Fort defence, but the ball wouldn't drop for him and his shot went sailing over the bar. The match ended 2-1, with both sets of players off their feet at the end. A close game with not too many chances and a hard fought win for Rathangan, sees them progressing in to the semifinal.Best for Rathangan was Sam Horgan, Arun Doyle, and Jim Brennan (player of the match). Best for Old Fort Was Lee Carroll, Daryl Ntumba, Dan Adeoye and Tyler Dempsey
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