League Shield Final
Bush Celtic FC 2 Rathangan AFC 1
Division 1 side Bush Celtic were crowned KDFL League Shield winners on Sunday following their narrow 2-1 victory over Senior side Rathangan AFC in a highly entertaining game played at Micheal O Neill Park, Clonmullion.
The game started with both clubs looking to bring back the second largest piece of cup silverware the league has to offer. It was the Bush who came out of the traps quickest and were causing the Rathangan rear guard some issues with their free flowing football. With twenty minutes on the clock the men in green got their reward when the ever willing Molloy beat two Rathangan players on the right and sent a beauty in off the keepers right hand post putting the Bush 1-0 up. Rathangan’s long ball attack wasn’t really causing too much of an issue for the rearguard of Whelan, King, Durkan and Fox who were immense again and were dealing with anything Rathangan threw at them comfortably. Dignam and King in midfield were dictating the play a pulling the strings.
On the half hour Bush were reduced to ten men when Harry Dolan received his second yellow card of the game however they defended their lead to the break and went in 1-0 up.
Bush knew they had a massive shift to put in, in the second half but they had done their home work and were determined to give it their best shot and knew they had every change to clinch the trophy from their more fancied opposition. The weather soon deteriorated with wind and rain and Rathangan equalised on the hour mark. Bush continued to play some fine football despite their numerical disadvantage, and they took the lead on the hour mark when Ben Coleman won a free kick just inside the Bush half. Dean King stepped up with his trusty right foot to send a pin point pass to centre midfield partner Dignam who flicked on to the ever reliable Liam knight. Knight made no mistake and buried it home, another huge goal from a diamond of a player to put his side 2-1 ahead.
Bush keeper Daragh Nolan had to be at his best to keep out an excellent effort from Rathangan to equalise with twelve minutes remaining. Rathangan were throwing everything at the Bush at this stage and were sure they had an equaliser with two minutes to go but Dean King who was excellent on the day came out of nowhere to clear the ball off the line. The Bush continued to see off the pressure and got the result they needed, bringing the League shield Curragh side for 2024. Best for the Bush in what was an all-round team performance were Liam Knight, Alex King, Daragh Nolan and Dean King. on this great day was our amazing support, our legends of players subs included.
LFA Junior Cup Action !
Caragh Celtic FC 1 Clane United FC 5
Clane United FC progressed to the second round of the LFA Junior Cup following their 5-1 victory over Caragh Celtic FC in this LFA all Kildare tie. Ben kirwan opened the scoring in for Clane after only one minute. Dean Comiskey made it 2 - 0 after 10 and Ben kirwan added his second to make it 3 nil going into half time . Caragh pulled one back with Clane giving away a sloppy penalty early in the second half. James Ralph and Andrew Hyland added 2 more goals to make it 5 -1.
Senior / Premier Shield Action
Moone Celtic FC 0 Clonmullion FC 6 (Aban 76mins player injury)
Senior League side Clonmullion FC put six past newly crowned Premier League Champions Moone Celtic before the game was abandoned with fourteen remaining following an injury to a Clonmullion FC player. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Jay Connell.
League Action !
Newbridge Hotspurs FC 6 Arlington FC 1
Arlington made the short trip to Newbridge to play Newbridge Hotspurs for the second time in a week, meeting last week in the Senior/Premier Shield where Newbridge came out 1-0 winners, Arlington looking to get one back maybe. It was Newbridge with the first chance, within the first minute, from a corner, there was a scramble and the Newbridge side went 1-0 up. Minutes later they doubled their advantage. It was 3-0 to Spurs after seven minutes. Not the start Arlington wanted. On the twentieth minute Hotspurs made it 4-0 leaving Arlington a mountain to climb.
Arlington continued to play ball and had a good chance to reduce the deficit soon after when
Robbie McNeil stuck from 25 yards out hitting the crossbar and rebounded to the feet of Thomas Kenny who shot just over. Straight from the goal kick Newbridge dispossess Arlington and break away, breaking the offside trap to tap it in their fifth. Going in comfortably at the half time break.
Arlington made a change at half time and a formation change and it seemed to work with them having most of the possession for the first fifteen minutes but on the twentieth minute the game was stopped due to an injury to two players one from each team, both players colliding in the air, the Newbridge player coming out the worse with a broken nose, and the Arlington player Robbie McNeil with a nice cut on his head, game resumed with Robbie wrapped up and the Newbridge player going off but it was Newbridge from the restart who struck first beating the offside again making it 6-0. Arlington did get a consolation goal through Pheilum O Kane from a corner. Arlington did push more towards the end and got in another two or three times but nothing from any of them. A bad day at the office for the Portarlington men whose best were Robbie McNeil in midfield and Pheilum O Kane
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