Double Derry delight for Klub Kildare
Paul Abankwah, brother of Irish international James, celebrates his goal against Derry City in Sunday's U17 game
League of Ireland football returned to Kildare following the break for Leaving and Junior Cert examinations, and if ever a game was worth the wait then it was this one.
A perfect day awaited the Under 20 team and visitors Derry City and they treated spectators to a hugely entertaining game that looked set for a win for the Ulster before a hugely dramatic injury-time period ended with a wonder-strike from Klub Kildare’s Jayden Parsons.
Things didn’t start well for the hosts as Derry City raced into a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Caolan O Donnell after 24 and 39 minutes.
Klub Kildare had a great opportunity to pull a goal back when they were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Evan Mearns was taken down in the box. Klub Kildare’s inability to score goal in phase one continued to haunt them as Zain Ali hit the crossbar, and ball went over the net for the a kick out.
However, they put their woes in front of goal behind them in a spectacular second-half. Zain made up for his missed penalty as he opened the scoring for Klub Kildare in the 50th minute and just two minutes later, Parsons, who had only been introduced as a half-time substitute, equalised with the first of his two goals.
Confidnce was flowing for Klub Kildare after those two goals and it looked only a matter of time before they took the lead but instead, it was the visitors who struck next. Derry City were never going to give up the chase and they went in front again on the hour when Ronan O’Donnell Buchanan found the Kildare net.
Although Kildare were pushing, time was running out and it looked like their efforts would be in vain but Ali popped up to equalise with his second goal of the game in the 92nd minute.
Klub Kildare would probably have taken a point at that stage but instead took all three when struck a wonderful free-kick to the back of the Derry net, a goal deserving a win of any game Klub Kildare are now away to Longford Town next Saturday.
Mark Butler, Evan Mearns, David Roddy, Ruben Marnell, Oisin Earley, Dylan Kelly, Stanis Kaleta, Catalin Munteanu, Zain Ali, Marven Chan, Oisin Irwin.
Nathan Powell, Ethan Omiagbo, Ethan Deegan, Owen Radford, Napolean Keeling, Jayden Parsons, Rhys Jones, Luke Neville.
Cole Smyth, Oisin O’Brien, Eamon Mc Bride, Cadhan Mc Kinney, Liam Kelly, Ronan O’Donnell Buchanan, Callum Downey, Terence Doherty, Caolan O’Donnell, Kyle McLaughlin, Peter Sweeney.
Cal Mc Glynn, Daniel Sweeney, Steven Coyle.
The Under 17 team continued the recent run of good form with an emphatic 6-2 win against Derry City in glorious conditions in FBD Hotels and Resorts Park Oisin Earley opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Jayden Parsons got up highest and headed goalwards, the ball was cleared off the line to Earley who made no mistake with his volley to Klub Kildare in front.
Two minutes later Jayden Bradley passed to Cian Reilly whose inch perfect pass found Paul Abankwah slotting home.
From the kick off Derry broke quickly and Jerry Coyle scored. Klub Kildare were not to be outdone and Cian Reilly scored after 26 minutes.
Klub Kildare were playing superb football and Parsons got their next goal after 45 minutes, making it three for the weekend after his brace on Saturday for the U20s.
Cian Reilly scored the best goa of the day as Lorcan Cronin set him up with a ball over the full backs head and Reilly clipped the ball over the keepers head in the first minute of the second half.
Zain Ali contributed a goal after coming on as a substitute – he was also making it three goals for the weekend.
Klub Kildare now look forward to an away game to Athlone Town next Sunday.
Nathan Powell, Fionn Kirby, Jayden Bradley, Rhys Jones, Oisin Earley, Lorcan Cronin, Ethan Deegan, Padraig Gleeson, Paul Abankwah, Jayden Parsons, Cian Reilly.
Nico Szlufik, Adam Whelan, Adam Maher, Zain Ali, Aaron Mooney.
Cal Mc Glynn, Ethan Deane, Eoghan Curran, Oliver Harte, Steven Coyle, Rossa Fleming, Jerry Coyle, Aedan Smith Cian Lafferty, Cadhan McKinney, Jack Keeney.
Daryl Meenan, Mark Gregg, Charie Mc Leary, Daire Herron.
