KDUL MATCH OF THE DAY – UNDER 14 JOE ROONEY CUP SEMI-FINAL
NEWBRIDGE TOWN 2 MOONE CELTIC 1
NEWBRIDGE Town squeezed into the Joe Rooney Cup final by virtue of their 2-1 defeat of Moone Celtic on a blustery morning in Station Road last Saturday.
There has been very little between these two sides all year and so it was once again on Saturday but it is Newbridge Town who now advance to the cup final on the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Newbridge Town raced into an early lead when Daniel Coughlan out jumped a static Moone defence to head home after only four minutes to put the Town in front.
Town were unlucky not to go further ahead after eleven minutes when Mark Hayden beat two defenders in the area and his shot beat Moone keeper Aaron Kennedy but just went the wrong side of the post.
Moone were under severe pressure at this stage but stout defending by Isaac Akinsate and Andrew Spain kept them in touch.
The second half saw Moone come more into the game as they had the advantage of the cross-field swirling wind.
Moone began to put pressure on the Newbridge Town defence and this time it was the turn of Mark Hayden to stand up the mark and his controlled play was a joy to watch.
A free kick inside Newbridgre’s own half after 13 minutes of the second half saw Moone push up a very high line and a ball over the top left Cian McHugh free and although his effort was palmed away by Aaron Kennedy, the Moone stopper could only push the ball into the path of the inrushing Sean Connolly who had the simple task of tapping into an empty net.
Moone could have, and should have, equalised a minute later when a hesitant Newbridge defence allowed them an opportunity and with Tadgh Hoey out of his goal Moone somehow managed to put the ball over an empty goal.
With time running out Moone managed to score a goal when a crossed ball was deflected into his own net by the unlucky Ben Scanlon to give Moone a consolation gaol.
This goal came too late for a Moone side who were well served by Andrew Spain, Cian O’Sullivan and Isaac Akinsate while a jubilant Newbridge Town advance thanks in main to a man of the match performance by Mark Hayden. Newbridge also had stars in Jack Casey and Daniel Coughlan.
Newbridge Town advance to the final of the competition where they now meet the winners of Monasterevin or Naas AFC Blue .
MOONE CELTIC: Aaaron Kennedy, Adam Griffith, Harry Kirwan, Felix Lawlor, Isaac Akinsate, Cormac Burke, Andrew Spai, Conor Mullen, Oisin Hott, Jack Fleming. Ciaran O Sullivan.Subs: Drew Moore, Michael Cassidy, Nick Jackman.
NEWBRIDGE TOWN: Hugh O Mahony. Adam Mc Hugh, Jack Casey, James O Neill, Lucas Moylan, Mark Hayden, Ben Scanlon, Emmett Donoghue, Sean Connolly, Andrew Farrell, Daniel Coughlan. Subs: Fionn Murphy, Shane Walsh, Cian Mc Hugh, Jamie Lyons, Tadgh Hoey.
