Klub Kildare lift silverware
Klub Kildare's U20s celebrate after their win in the U20 Plate Final
For just the second time in their history, Klub Kildare lifted League of Ireland silverware when they won 3-2 against Athlone Town in the U20 Plate final in Athlone on Saturday afternoon.
Team captain Caden Walsh gave Klub Kildare a fourth minute lead in what turned out to a dramatic game.
Athlone equalised just after the hour mark before Klub Kildare were reduced to ten men. Goalkeeper Aodh Conway was the only player who had featured for the previous silverware winning Klub Kildare team, when they beat Cork City in the U15 Shield at the same venue in 2019, but he was dismissed in the 66th minute.
The numbers were levelled up four minutes later when Athlone also had a player sent off and Klub Kildare regained the lead in the 76th minute when Callum Crowley found the net.
That lead only lasted five minutes before Athlone again hit back.
The game seemed to be heading to extra time before Mark Canavan, as he has done so often through the season, came up with a big moment and he struck the winning goal in the 85th minute to spark great scenes of celebration among the Klub Kildare contingent.
It turned out to be a very memorable day for the club as not only did Desy Balmer's team get their hands on silverware in Athlone, their former team-mate Egor Vassenin also made his debut for Shamrock Rovers' first team.
