Kearney brace sends Newbridge United into Lumsden final
Ryan Kearney was the matchwinner for Newbridge United Photo: James Lawlor
Newbridge United have booked their place in the Lumsden League Cup Final after a dominant victory over St Anthony's Youths on Sunday afternoon in Suncroft.
This was a momentous occasion as the game marked the first time both clubs have ever appeared in the semi-finals of the competition. The adventure could continue for only one team, however, and it was a brace from Ryan Kearney that ensured Senior Division side, Newbridge would overcome their Premier Division opponents.
Newbridge were 5-1 winners over Kilcullen in the quarter-finals having previously recorded 2-1 wins over both Newbridge Hotspurs and Straffan. St Anthony's, meanwhile, neded penalties to get past Ballycane Celtic in the quarters, having edged 1-0 past Bush Celtic and beating Newbridge Rovers 4-2.
The first big chance of the game fell to Newbridge in the 15th minute, with Jerry Collins whipping a perfect ball into the six-yard box, only for Tony Pearson to take it off the toe of Keane Kennedy.
Ryan Kearney was looking like the biggest threat for Newbridge and he almost broke the deadlock moment just after the half hour mark but a magnificent strike flew only millimeters over the crossbar.
St Anthony's managed to create their best chance of the half just before the interval with some lovely, quick passing between Poufong, Dowling-Connor and Tom Healy. They got the ball to Hayes but a fabulous tackle from Shaun Walsh averted the danger.
Newbridge were back on the attack almost immediately with Kearney producing another beautiful shot. But a fingertip save from Barker followed by a goal-line clearance from Ross Cahill meant it finished scoreless at half time.
The men in white broke the deadlock mere moments into the second half, with Ryan Kearney making space for himself on the corner of the box before smashing a sublime left-footed strike into the far corner of the net, leaving Cormac Barker with no chance.
St Anthony's had their first chance of the half on the hour mark when Healy played in Hayes, but Newbridge captain, Michael Fitzgerald managed to track back and get a touch on the ball just in the nick of time.
With another chance gone, St Anthony's were back under the cosh, but despite a barrage of shots from Newbridge it remained 1-0 at the water break.
Jerry Collins was convinced he had doubled the lead right from the restart, but St Anthony's somehow managed to prevent the ball from crossing the line, with O'Connor-Forde and his players left apoplectic with the decision not to award the goal.
The St Anthony's goalkeeper was living a charmed life as Newbridge simply could not find the second goal - with Kennedy seeing another effort come violently back off the crossbar in the 70th minute.
But United were gifted a goal 12 minutes from time when St Anthony's substitute, Daniel Culleton got caught in possession, with Kearney firing his shot low and hard beyond Barker for his and Newbridge's second.
St Anthony's were handed a lifeline three minutes later, however, when a shot fired into a crowded box was adjudged to have hit a Newbridge hand, with referee Alan Sherlock pointing to the spot.
Ross Dowling-Connor grabbed the ball and settled himself to take on the responsibility, but he blasted the penalty high, rattling the crossbar and letting Newbridge completely off the hook.
St Anthony's went in search of a consolation goal, but it never looked like coming as Newbridge finished 2-0 winners and move on to the Kildare junior football centrepiece where they will play either Clonmullion or Kildare Town
Jamie Quinn; Lee Kavanagh (Jack Keogh 60), Glen Bracken, Michael Fitzgerald, Shaun Walsh; James Headon (Charlie Doyle, 82), Matty Sherlock, Ryan Kearney; Jerry Collins, Keane Kennedy (Ben Kinsella, 90+2), James Mahony.
J Coffey, R Cassin, C Quinn, J Mataka.
Cormac Barker; Ross Cahill (Stephen Coyne, 86), Tony Pearson, Nicholas Langan (Daniel Culleton, 71), Gavin Kelly (Andy Dempsey, 71); Robert Kelly-Ryan (Daniel Raferty, 90+2), Michael Poufong, Dean Powell, Tom Healy; Ross Dowling-Connor, Sean Hayes (Bernard Redmond, 77).
S Quirke.
Alan Sherlock assisted by Martin Hickey and Eric Owens.
