Extra-time penalty sends Kildare Town into Lumsden final
The Kildare Town team that won their KDFL Lumsden League Cup semi-final on Sunday.
Kildare Town are through to the final of the KDFL Lumsden League Cup after a penalty from Adam Downes in the dying seconds of extra time gave his side the win over Clonmullion on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Suncroft.
Both sides came through their respective quarter-finals with comfortable wins, as Clonmullion beat Coill Dubh 3-0, while Kildare Town beat Clane United 3-1.
New KDFL Senior Division Champions, Clonmullion came into the game as favourites, having beaten Kildare 5-2 in the sides' most recent meeting this season. But Fergal Finn's Kildare more than held their own across the 120 minutes to book their place in the decider against Newbridge United.
Kildare started much the brighter and created the first chance of the game after just three minutes, with Dylan Aulsberry prodding the ball into the side netting from close range.
Clonmullion steadily found their feet in the game and it was they who broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with a fabulous goal. Cody Mulhall whipped in a wonderful free from wide on the right, with centre back Mark Hughes climbing highest in the box to send a looping header over Daniel Crosbie and into the Kildare net.
Town had the chance to strike back almost immediately, with captain Ryan Farrell getting on the end of an in-swinging corner, forcing a good save out of Michael Lawless.
Kildare almost caught Clonmullion on the counter-attack in the 22nd minute when a beautiful ball from Robert Burke released Leon Tsang and Aulsberry, only for Lawless to charge off his line and smother the ball at Tsang's feet.
Clonmullion had a big chance to double their lead after half an hour when Stephen Donovan received the ball unmarked on the edge of the box, but he sent his shot sailing over the crossbar.
Neither side created much after that, with the two midfields cancelling each out; meaning Clonmullion went into the changing rooms with a 1-0 lead at half time.
Clonmullion had the first chance of the second half within minutes of the restart, with David Murphy slipping the ball inside to Mulhall, who struck just over the bar.
Kildare won themselves a corner moments later and made full use of the set piece. Clonmullion failed to clear their lines and when Dylan Connolly pulled the ball back to his captain, Ryan Farrell drove a shot towards goal before a deflection saw the net ripple.
The goal rattled Clonmullion, with Kildare suddenly looking the better team. Town had all the possession and territory midway through the second half, but the struggled to break Clonmullion down.
A long ball out from goalkeeper Michael Lawless gave Clonmullion just their second chance of the half with 77 minuteson the clock; it fell to the right man in Cody Mulhall, who turned the defender and fired a rocket at goal, only for the strike to come back off the rattling crossbar.
Kildare were in control in the last ten minutes, limiting Clonmullion to playing on the break. And they almost got in through Mulhall in the first minute of injury time, but he chipped the ball over the bar from six yards out, much to the disbelief of the Clonmullion supporters.
Mulhall's afternoon went from bad to worse when he was given his marching orders in the 94th minute for a second bookable offence.
That sent his team into extra time with a man disadvantage. The first period was a non-event until Kildare forced the ball over the line, only for referee Edward Sullivan to chalk it off.
The second half was a lot more lively, but the game looked to be heading for penalties. Then, with time almost up, Ross Cardiff fouled Jack Downes in the box, with referee Sullivan pointing to the spot before flashing a second yellow card to Cardiff as Clonmullion ended with nine men.
Adam Downes took the responsibility and rifled his shot into the top corner of the net to send Kildare Town into the final.
Daniel Crosbie; Adam O’Keeffe, Kieran Sheedy, Ryan Farrell (Sam Murphy, 83), Jordan Martella (Aaron McConville, 56); Adam Downes, Robert Burke; Leon Tsang (Jack Downes, 83), Dylan Connolly (Killian Hannon, 89), Ross Farrell (Brandon O’Keeffe, 69); Dylan Aulsberry. Colin Scanlon.
Michael Lawless; Baylie Foley, Mark Hughes, Shane Foley, Ross Cardiff; Jake Nicholl, David Murphy; Noel Kelly (Brian Byrne, 50 [Nathan Germaine, 105]), Cody Mulhall, Tom Nolan (Jay Connell, 50); Stephen Donovan.
Edward Sullivan assisted by Alan Sherlock and Robert Dowling.
