Fast start key as Clonmullion claim the cup
2025 KDFL Lumsden Cup Winners Clonmullion FC
Clonmullion are once again Lumsden Cup champions after a nervy, nail-biting and enthralling encounter with Kildare Town in Clane on Sunday. There wasa buzz around Clane United’s grounds before kick-off, and the side from Athy made an ultra-fast start. They were 2-0 up within 12 minutes, but the trailing team grew into the game and made an admirable attempt at a comeback in the second half. It wasn’t to be, however, and the Clonmullion crew headed back to the south of the county with yet another piece of silverware.
The first goal came inside two minutes. A Nathan Robinson corner came out to Daniel Thompson, whose curled effort hit the post and then bounced across the box to Robinson. Robinson then fired towards the bottom corner, with the ball appearing to just about squeeze over the line despite Kildare goalkeeper Ian McDonnell’s best efforts to save.
Kildare came into the game after the first goal, and tested Evan Grattan with an Anthony Durney header about five minutes later. However, Clonmullion continued to create chances and they doubled their lead in the twelfth minute. Star player Cody Mulhall picked up the ball on the edge of the box, twisted a Kildare defender inside and out before finding the space to dig an attempt on target. The effort was unfortunately deflected past McDonnell by one of his own defenders.
It looked at that stage like Clonmullion might run up a cricket score but Kildare, to their credit, showed a lot of resilience. Not long after the goal, Ceilum Coughlan Maher could have made it 3-0 after a cut back from Jake Nicholl but the forward saw his effort go over the bar. After that, Kildare solidified and were more assertive. Mulhall had a couple of chances around the half hour mark which both went off target, but besides that the rest of the half was low on danger in front of goal at either end.
The second half was a very different type of affair. Clonmullion had the better of the initial stages, with Mark Hughes coming close with a flicked effort towards goal from a corner early on, but Kildare had the better of the half, particularly from around the 55th minute onwards. Robert Burke was played in on goal coming up to the hour mark, but couldn’t find his shooting boots and put his effort wide. Substitute Sam Murphy also had a chance not long afterwards that he dragged wide. Burke and Murphy weren’t left to rue their missed chances for too long though, because in the 67th minute their side halved the deficit. An inswinging corner from Brandon O’Keefe met the head of Anthony Durney, who produced a towering header which crashed into the back of the net. Hope was restored and the hundreds in attendance had a game on their hands.
Kildare continued to pile on the pressure, with Evan Grattan producing an incredible save not long afterwards from a Murphy header that came from a long dead ball into the box. O’Keefe had a chance of his own then but volleyed wide. Kildare were well on top at that stage, with Clonmullion relying on counter attacks to produce any threat. Good play from substitute Joseph Doran produced a chance for another sub, Jodi Dillon but Kildare right-full Ross Lyons produced a huge block to keep the deficit at just one goal. Clonmullion didn’t create anything clearcut after that and the final twenty minutes were nervy for them. In the 79th minute, young Murphy got in at the back post and produced a header that forced another fine save from Grattan. As the clock inched towards the ninetieth minute, Grattan produced two more fantastic stops. They were both from Durney, who was an absolute menace from set plays and balls into the box.
The final flashpoint of the game came in the second minute of added time, when Kildare left-back Shane Foley lashed out at opposing midfielder Chris Chanders. It was a reckless, needless piece of off the ball violent conduct. It put a bit of a dampener on the biggest day in the local football calendar. With the final actions of the game in injury game, Nathan Gahan lofted a cross onto a team-mates head but they couldn’t generate enough power on the header. Grattan saved and the cup was on its way to Baile Átha Í.
This will be a painful one for underdogs Kildare Town to reflect on because the effort they put in in the second half was remarkable. They forced Grattan into a man of the match display, such was the quality of his saves. Clonmullion looked very shaky on set-pieces and Kildare were intent on exploiting that weakness. A number of their players stood up to be counted in that second half in particular, with Ryan Farrell, Anthony Durney, Brandon O’Keefe and Kieran Sheedy the ones that mainly stood out.
For Clonmullion, this was another memorable day. They produced some lovely stuff in the first half, and their brand of football was technically superior. Grattan was top-class in goal, whilst a number of his team-mates - Jake Nicholl, Nathan Robinson and Cody Mulhall especially - also played very well. Manager Timmy Doyle also took advantage of the impressive depth at his disposal, with Chris Chanders and Joseph Doran doing well after coming off the bench. They are a quality side and deserve to have the double of league and cup to add to the trophy cabinet.
KILDARE TOWN AFC (4-1-4-1): Ian McDonnell; Ross Lyons (Dean Hill 75), Lorcan Wickham (Sam Murphy 31), Ryan Farrell, Shane Foley; Anthony Durney; Brandon O’Keefe (Nathan Gahan 88), Kieran Sheedy, Keith Kinsella (Jack Downes 60), Adam O’Keefe (Dean Conroy 60); Robert Burke.
CLONMULLION (4-4-1-1): Evan Grattan; Lee Doyle, Mark Hughes, Garry Comerford, Jake Nicholl; Daniel Thompson, Nathan Robinson, Keane Cully (Chris Chanders 43), Keelan Lacey; Ceilum Coughlan Maher (Joseph Doran 58); Cody Mulhall (Bryan Byrne 90+4).
Referee: Alan Sherlock
