Bridge United produce the goods to win back to back McCalmont Cup titles

Derdimus was the place to be on Saturday evening for the KCLR sponsored McCalmont Cup Final. Defending Champions Bridge United under the watchful eye of player manager Conor English were hoping to retain the title and bring it back to Goresbridge for the second year running, but Paul Dempsey's Thomastown United stood in their way. 

The game started at a very fast pace which was surprising due to the excessive heat in Derdimus.

A crossfield ball from Thomastowns Sean Denieffe was inch perfect to the on rushing Nathan Sherry who’s first touch got him in behind Bridge’s Cillian Kelly and he calmly slotted it into the back of the net to give the ‘Town the lead on eight minutes.

That lead was very short lived as just two minutes later when Thomastown failed to clear a ball out from the defence, Bridge United's Marty Dalton capitalised and drew the Goresbridge men level. 

Thomastown and Bridge traded chances after this and no one could get the edge until 29 minutes on the clock and it was young Jimmy Maher who found himself free at the back post and he slotted Thomastown back into the lead.

Thomastown were dealt a blow early in the first half when it looked like captain Steven Connolly pulled up with a hamstring injury but he fought bravely on even if he wasn’t at 100% for the rest of his time on the field.

The half-time whistle came and Thomastown who were on top for most of the first half led 2-1 but still had a lot to do in the second half. 

The second half started and it was Bridge's turn to put the pressure on Thomastown and it took just five minutes for Marty Dalton to find the equaliser for the second time in the game.

Bridge were now on the front foot and kept pilling on the pressure on the Thomastown men and in the 70th minute they got themselves in front for the first time of the game thanks to Eoin Kavanagh with a well taken goal.

Thomastown didn’t give up and threw everything they had left at their opponents who on the break nearly extended their advantage when with with just five minutes left on the clock, Marty Dalton in search of his hat-trick struck the crossbar.

The title sealer was only around the corner though as the ball found its way to Nichlos Lianos who chipped a shot over the  Thomastown net minder Jack Cullen and that sealed a 2 in a row for the Goresbridge men. 

A perfect showcase for Junior football in Kilkenny played in front of a record crowd in Derdimus on a very warm Saturday evening in May.