Naas come out on top of feisty cup tie
Mark Wolfe (Clonmullion) carries the ball forward for his team
IT was a sun-drenched Sunday morning in Monread Park where the clash between first and fourth in the KDFL League took place. Thanks to two well-taken goals in the second-half, Naas Utd managed to book their place in this year’s Karina Donnelly Senior Cup Semi-Final when they bettered Clonmullion FC, enjoying sweet revenge after they ended up on the wrong side of a 3-2 defeat in the League at home last week.
From the off, affairs were feisty. There were several half chances throughout the opening 45 minutes from both teams, though in the first ten minutes, Clonmullion FC seemed to be on top, as they thrived from turnover ball. Paul Omoteso had to clear from a corner in the opening two minutes, while his team mate’s effort on goal a minute later was well collected by Michael Lawless. Keith Higgins was kept busy in the first-half, and it was a common occurrence throughout the match that the Naas keeper would come off his line to collect a dangerous cross coming into his own box. His backs were also quite comfortable heading or passing the ball back to the net minder while on defensive duty.
The best chance of the first-half definitely came in the seventh minute when Mark Wolfe found himself in a 2-on-1 scenario for Clonmullion. He squared the ball to teammate Nathan Robinson, who was foiled by the outstanding efforts of Keith Higgins in the Naas goal with a superb save. Mark Hughes had to clear a corner off the line with his head in the 19th minute for the Mulls, but that was the best chance the hosts had of scoring in the opening half. A dangerous corner by Lee Foley had to be punched away by Keith Higgins in the 33rd minute, and there was multiple half chances from the visitors not pounced upon, leaving the sides tied at 0-0 when the whistle was blowed for half-time.
Clonmullion began the Second-Half the way they controlled the first, as it was only a minute into the remaining 45 minutes when Marvin mBala had to clear away a dangerous throw into the box by Garry Comerford. However, after the first five minutes had past, Naas settled into the game and in the 55th minute, they would strike for the opening goal of the tie. After great work by Victor Olapado and Daragh Faherty, a low driven cross found its way into the Clonmullion box. Paul Omoteso was in the right place at the right time to toe-poke it home, sending the Naas supporters and side-line into raptors with delight. The Mulls could have got the perfect response, when two minutes later a threatening low cross into the box by Mark Wolfe found no recipients.
There was heavy challenges going in throughout the game, which always had the two team side-lines animated. Unfortunately tensions boiled over breaking point when Paul Omoteso was caught by Jamie Boyne with a hard tackle, resulting in a huddle of players letting intentions known to each other, which forced the match official to hand out several yellow cards to players involved on behalf of both teams.
The hammer blow came in the 81st minute when Paul Omoteso pushed the ball to Daragh Faherty, who planted the ball into the corner of the net, after good work also on behalf of Daniel Phillips.
Substitute Leon Doyle’s chance to make it three was excellently saved by Michael Lawless four minutes into added time, which was the final act in a highly intense affair. The two will meet again in the League in Athy next week.
Paul Omoteso (Naas Utd). Scored the first goal and set up the second, the Naas number 10 exploded into life in the second-half, edging him past several players to get the nod.
Keith Higgins; Jordan Martella, Sheldon mBala, Jamie Dunne, Marvin mBala; Daniel Phillips, Manny Phillips, Victor Olapado; Niall Faherty, Paul Omoteso, Daragh Faherty. Substitutes: Jack Conway for Manny Phillips (59), Jamie Nolan for Niall Faherty (88), Richard French for Paul Omoteso and Leon Doyle for Daragh Faherty (91).
Michael Lawless; Jay Connell, Benny Lawlor, Mark Hughes, Jamie Boyne; Garry Comerford, Mark Wolfe, Ricky Moriarty; Jody Dillon, Nathan Robinson, Lee Foley. Substitutes: Corey Moore for Ricky Moriarty (66).
Eddie Sullivan.
