Kildare advance to Bowl semi-final at the Kennedy Cup
The 2025 KDUL Kennedy Cup squad.
The KDUL recorded a comprehensive victory against the North Dublin Schoolboys League in the Kennedy Cup Bowl quarter-final at the University of Limerick on Wednesday afternoon.
Kildare were coming into this Bowl opener, after finishing second in their group yesterday, but were defeated against Cork in their last group game.
Goals from Riley Doran, Max Power and Alfie Aspell were enough as Ciaran Killaly’s charges advanced to tomorrow’s Bowl semi-final, following an impressive display this afternoon.
The KDUL began the game brightly and they opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes, when Naas AFC’s, Power, finished calmly from close range to give his side the lead.
The Dublin side came into the game after this, but Kildare keeper Jacob Browne Larkin made some big saves before the break, as the KDUL led 1-0 at half time.
This year’s SFAI U14 Interleague champions began the second half well, and they doubled their lead midway through the half, through Doran. The North Dublin side failed to deal with Doran’s corner as it ended up in the back of the net.
Just over ten minutes later in the 53rd minute, Aspell made it three, following an exquisite effort from a free kick.
Kildare dominated the remainder of the game, and were extremely unlucky not to win by more, with Tuan Lee very impressive in attack when he was introduced late on.
Kildare: Jacob Browne Larkin, David Morgan, Dylan Lawler, Denas Bendikas, Riley Middleton, Ben Fayne, Patrick Harrington, Jamie Jacob, Cathal McAuliffe, Riley Doran, Max Power. Subs: Zaki Abdollah for Jacob (30), Alfie Aspell for Lawler (41), Tuan Lee for Power (50), Noah Kinahan for Morgan (57), Danny O’Dea for McAuliffe (57), Kian Lawlor for Doran (59).
NDSL: Shane Kehelly, Jake Brannigan, Aidan Finnegan, Tristan Harris, Jake McDermott, Kyle Cranley, Cillian Doyle, Shane Hughes, Noah Bukovec, Bartek Charbowlski, Jack Mannion. Subs: Wesli Vangieli for Harris (40), Alfie Lancaster for Mannion (41), Odhran Price for Bukovec (57), Khalifa Sodu for Cranley (59).
