Clonmullion clinch Kildare Senior title for fourth time in five years

Newbridge United 1
Clonmullion 6

Clonmullion secured their fourth Kildare Senior Division title in five years with an emphatic away victory against early season pace setters Newbridge United. Eager to get the job done early the visitors were 1 nil up after only 3 minutes.

Always looking to play out from the back centre half Garry Comerford zipped a ball into the feet of Cody Mulhall who with his back to goal cushioned the ball beautifully into the path of Danny Thompson who curled a fantastic left footed effort to the top right hand corner of the net.

Two minutes later it could have been two when Keelan Lacey raced past Shaun Walsh out wide and crossed to the back post where Joe Doran rose highest but could only direct his header wide. On the quarter hour mark came United’s first chance after

Ryan Kearney won the ball in midfield and slid James Mahony in only to see his effort beat the advancing Evan Grattan but hit the post and roll out to safety.

With 22 minutes on the clock it was 2 nil when Comerford picked out Mulhall again who's lay off to Keane Cully was brilliantly passed into the path of Thompson who squared to Joe Doran who tapped home from close range.

The Comerford Mulhall Thompson combination set up Doran again on the half hour mark to make it 3 nil which it remained until half time. 

Early in the second half Chris Chanders won the ball for the umpteenth time in the middle of the park and fed Doran who slipped in Lacey but his instinctive toe poke was well saved by Kevin McDonnell.

However, not to be denied Doran completed his hat trick when he chased down Glen Bracken and won the ball back and finished in the 50th minute.

A minute later a Mulhall corner was headed just over by Comerford. With 25 minutes remaining Doran turned provider clipping a lovely ball out to Lacey who looked up to see McDonnell advancing off his line and coolly lifted the ball over him to make it five. With 20 minutes remaining the skipper Mulhall got the goal his all-round performance deserved when he saw keeper off his line and chipped him from 25 yards to make it six.

His leadership through his performances all season has been a huge part of this fantastic unbeaten run by the league winners. United did score a consolation goal with 3 minutes remaining when Bracken picked out Pender unmarked at the back post to tap home.

Best for the champions were Comerford and Connell at the back Cully and the outstanding Chanders in the middle and the front four of Lacey, Thompson, Doran and the imperious Mulhall. Best for United were Kearney, Bracken and Mahony.

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