Klub Kildare stride past Waterford FC in U-20 opener
Under 14 team that defeated Waterford on Sunday.
The Klub Kildare MU20s were on their travels to the sunny south-east to play Waterford FC at the SETU Arena. Hoping to get their season off to a positive start after a difficult first game against a strong Shamrock Rovers squad, the Kildare boys faced Waterford on the back of an opening day victory against CK Utd.
From the resulting free kick, Kildare failed to clear the ball, and Evan Mearns clipped the Watford striker for a penalty, which Shaun Hall saved wonderfully well by Shaun Hall. The save gave a boost of energy, and the high-tempo game resumed with Nap Keeling, Oisin Irwin attacking down the left and Evan and Vuyo down the right, but the Waterford defence was resolute, and Kildare couldn’t find that ruthless edge to get the end product desired.
The high press and energy of Kildare forced the Waterford team to go direct and play long and with the wind at their back. Waterford had a bit of momentum and whilst both teams traded attacks the men in Blue had the momentum and delivered many a ball into the box but U17s player, debuting for the 20s today Rhys Jones, was having an exceptional day at the back for Kildare and despite wave of attack, long balls and many corners Waterford couldn’t find that killer instinct either and both teams went in all square at half time.
No changes at half-time; the Kildare Lilywhites, the boys, came out and mixed up their style with both patient buildup and direct attack. The passes from defence by Rhys and Evan, and the drives up the left by Nap were causing the Blues a problem. The frantic battle in the middle between Odhran Cleary, Catalin Munteneau, Mavin Chan and the Waterford boys.
A lovely piece of play from Goal Keeper to Centre back to Winger, then forward to Vuyo, who simply out-muscled, out-ran, and finished with aplomb, rounding the keeper to slot in for one-nil after receiving a wonderful slide rule pass from Oisin Irwin.
Kildare came close a couple more times and definitely had the wind in their sails when Oisin and Reuben were replaced by Ilya Bednakovs and Troy O’Dowd just after the hour mark. Both teams traded attacks and a yellow card each before Kildare made another change, bringing on Kornii Zakharkiv on for Luke to freshen things up; however, Waterford got their own head of steam and began pounding Kildare's defence, and some great defending and adept goalkeeping helped, but wayward shooting was killing Waterford.
Kildare’s hard work was offering some good luck, and from one such corner the Waterford boys went gung ho and the resulting counter attack the blue keeper was near the half way line but a clearance picked up by Odran picked the ball and despite everyone’s rally calls to shoot played a slide rule pass forward for Ilya to chase, collect and drive towards goal. Despite the efforts of the Waterford centre back, young Ilya was calm and collected and placed the ball into the net to send the Kildare bench wild and technically end the game in injury time to the sheer delight and relief of head coach Desy Balmer and the staff team.
Shaun Hall, Evan Mearns, Napoleon Keeling, Ruben Marnell, Rhys Jones, Catalin Munteanu, Vuyolwethu Mosea, Odhran Cleary, Luke Maguire Neville, Marven Chan, Oisin Irwin
Mark Butler, Kornii Zakharkiv, David Roddy, Troy O'Dowd, Stanis Kaleta, Ethan Omiagbo, Dylan Kelly, Ilya Bednakovs, Moses Uchendu
Under 14 League of Ireland Klub Kildare 5 Waterford 2 Under 17 Girls Klub Kildare 1 CK United 4 Under 15 League of Ireland Klub Kildare 0 Waterford 2
