Newbridge United lift first Lumsden Cup
Newbridge United won their first ever Lumsden League Cup on Sunday in Clane. All Photos: Michael Anderson.
Newbridge United are the 2026 KDFL Lumsden League Cup champions after a historic win over Kildare Town on Sunday afternoon at Doctor’s Road, Clane.
The game looked destined for extra time with the sides level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, but an inspired substitution saw Jack Keogh come on to the field and with his very first touch he turned the ball into the net from a corner kick to give Newbridge the win.
For Kildare, this was their sixth trip to the showpiece of KDFL football, as Fergal Finn looked to guide the club to their fourth Lumsden Cup title. Newbridge are very much on the other end of the spectrum, but 2026 will be forever remembered as a milestone year for the club. Jamie O’Connor’s men shattered all the records over the last month, as Newbridge reached their first ever semi-final; won that to reach their first ever final; and eventually went all the way to finally etch their name on the famous trophy.
Newbridge were given a stern challenge by St Anthony’s in that famous semi-final, while Kildare had to overcome the mammoth challenge of Clonmullion to reach the decider. Town came into the game as heavy favourites, having won 5-2 when they faced Newbridge in the KDFL Senior Division just six weeks ago, but despite having the lion’s share of both possession and territory, it was Kildare who left Clane empty handed.
There was a minute’s silence for TJ Moore before kick-off. Moore was part of the Coill Dubh team who became the very first side to retain the Lumsden Cup in 2010 and 2011. He was captain in 2010 when they beat Clane United 1-0 and then scored Coill Dubh’s opening goal in 2011 when they beat Naas Utd 3-2 after extra time.
Newbridge made the dream start, taking the lead from a set piece within the first five minutes. James Mahony floated a brilliant free kick from the right, straight into the danger zone. There were limbs and heads flying everywhere in front of goal, with the ball ricocheting off Kildare’s centre-back pairing of Kieran Sheedy and Ryan Farrell before trickling into their own net.
Kildare responded well after the early concession and settled into the game over the next minutes, with Robert Burke leading the charge from midfield. Fergal Finn’s side continued to enjoy more of the possession and territory midway through the half, with everything going through Burke.
The Newbridge defence never looked under any pressure, however, with goalkeeper Jamie Quinn untested in the opening quarter. United were forced to play on the counter-attack, but it was they who created the better chances and looked the more likely to move the scoreboard.
That was until half an hour in, when Kildare broke free through the middle, with Dylan Aulsberry receiving the ball on the edge of the box and playing in Ross Farrell to his left where the wide man had time to take a touch before blasting his shot high into the roof of the net, giving Quinn no chance in the Newbridge goal.
That seemed to stir United, who spent much of the remainder of the half on the front foot. Keane Kennedy had the ball in the net after some industrious play down the left from Sam Rooney, but the linesman’s flag ruled the goal offside.
Ryan Kearney was outstanding for Newbridge in midfield and his battle with Robert Burke was the highlight of a first half the ended one goal apiece.
Kildare started the second half well, creating plenty of chances in the opening five minutes. Newbridge, however, continued to look assured in defence and dangerous on the counter-attack, with Rooney testing Daniel Crosbie with a 53rd minute effort.
There were gasps from the crowd at Doctor’s Road on the hour mark, with both sides going agonisingly close within seconds of one another, as Kildare’s Leon Tsang pulled his shot just wide of the posts before Newbridge’s James Mahony lifted an effort just over the crossbar at the other end.
Kildare remained on top midway through the second half, but struggled to to create anything to really concern Newbridge. The physicality of the first half began to seep back into the game in the final 20 minutes, although referee Martin Hickey appeared entirely unfazed and in complete control.
Charlie Doyle came off the bench and began to turn things in Newbridge’s favour, causing major problems down the right as he looked to dance his way towards the Kildare goal.
Another Newbridge sub, Gary Shaw, went close with a glancing header in the 87th minute as the game ticked ominously towards extra time.
Kildare then lost their captain to a red card when Farrell hit a crunching tackle on Mahony, leading referee Hickey to reach for his pocket almost immediately.
Kearney went close from the resulting free kick and won a corner for his side moments later. Mahoney swung in a brilliant corner where the newly arrived Keogh was there to get the vital touch in the 92nd minute to give Newbridge an incredibly hard-fought victory.
Jamie Quinn; Shaun Walsh (Jack Keogh, 90+1), Michael Fitzgerald, Glen Bracken, Matty Sherlock; Callum Sinclair, Ryan Kearney; Jerry Collins, James Mahony (Lee Kavanagh, 90+2), Sam Rooney (Charlie Doyle, 71); Keane Kennedy (Gary Shaw, 71).
Ben Kinsella, James Headon, John Maguire Collins.
Daniel Crosbie; Adam O’Keeffe (Jordan Martella, 19), Kieran Sheedy, Ryan Farrell, Aaron Mullins; Robert Burke, Adam Downes, Dylan Connolly (Brandon O’Keeffe, 72 [Sam Murphy, 89]); Leon Tsang (Jack Downes, 58), Dylan Aulsberry, Ross Farrell (Aaron McConville, 78).
Colin Scanlon, Jack Wall.
Martin Hickey, assisted by Eric Owens, James McDonnell and Eric McCann.
