CK United maintain fine run with victory away to Newbridge Town

CK United rebounded from their 4-0 defeat in Waterford last week in spectacular fashion with a big win over Newbridge Town to keep their hopes of qualification to the semi-finals as the best second placed side intact.

With Home Farm and Mervue United drawing earlier in the day, CK knew going into the match that two wins from two would guarantee their spot as best runners up. It was a tough game but you’d expect nothing less from a local derby.

Newbridge made it difficult for the visitors and frustrated them for the first 45 minutes, and in fact it was probably one of Newbridge’s best performances this season. However, it was obvious from very early on that if CK found a goal, that would be game over and it proved to be the case.

Fayo Adeogun could have been sent off as early as 30 seconds into a game for a rash tackle but got away without being penalised. Isaiah Phillips thought he’d given Newbridge the lead when he collided with Darragh O’Neill in the CK goal and pushed the ball beyond him but the referee adjudged Phillips to have fouled the ‘keeper.

CK burst down the other end where Emmett Nugent teed up Harry Sherlock perfectly only for Mark O’Connor to somehow deny him with a great save with his feet. Nathan McAuley struck an effort from the edge of the box wide on the left.

Dean Denieffe-Kelly almost gave CK the lead from a free kick from the edge of the box and only for a deflection to guide it over the bar, he would have done so. It was in typical Dean Denieffe-Kelly territory . Just a minute later, a Nugent corner from the left met Kelly in the middle and he fired an effort goalwards but just couldn’t steer it past Mark O’Connor in the Newbridge goal.

Noah Byrne almost gave the hosts a much needed breakthrough from a curled left footed free from the edge of the box but it was saved by young O’Neill in the goal making his National League debut. Nugent found himself through on goal but a good tackle denied him a certain goal before Sherlock’s effort from distance flew just over the bar.

Newbridge kicked it up a gear just before the half-time break and can count themselves unlucky to not be ahead. McAuley played in Troy O’Dowd in the middle but his effort was saved. Phillips went close from the right, putting in a cross to Moses Alabi in the box but he struck his effort first time and it flew over the bar.

Ethan Mills found Conan Kruger on the verge of half-time but he could only steer his effort towards O’Neill in the goal whilst Byrne struck a free from the edge of the box just wide on the left.

CK took the lead in bizarre fashion just after the break. The inspired half-time substitution of Ravo Kilonda proved vital, the former St. Pat’s defender getting another assist to his name.

Although he can count himself unlucky to not have a first goal as he got onto the end of a cross from Dan McGrath, in his first game back from injury, from the left but saw his effort fly off the post, allowing it to ricochet off Shane Barnes and go into the back of the net.

Ruairi Brown should have levelled when he found himself in space down the left but put his effort wide across the box.

Dan McGrath doubled the CK lead in spectacular fashion as he was played through on goal one on one with the ‘keeper, running into space and chipping the ‘keeper.

A Byrne free from the left threatened to cause damage when Padraic Noonan got onto the end of it but he could only steer his effort to O’Neill in the goal. A great ball from deep on the left found Alex Akinrintoyo in space down the left but he couldn’t steer it past O’Neill in the goal.

Denieffe-Kelly should have made it 3-0 when he found space but steered his effort wide on the right.

CK United: Darragh O’Neill, Harry Sherlock, Dan McGrath (Liam McDonnell ‘81), Cian Carmody, Ethan Boyle (Kyle Foley ‘65), Mamadou Doumbia, Dean Denieffe-Kelly, Fayo Adeogun (Raveli Kilonda h/t)), Shane Barnes (Timmy Adeleye ‘61), Callum Warfield (Robbie O’Toole ‘55), Emmett Nugent.

Newbridge Town: Mark O’Connor, Finn Cowper Gray, Seamus Brown, Nathan McAuley, Moses Alabi (Alex Akinrintoyo, ‘50), Noah Byrne, Ruairi Brown, Conan Kruger (Shane O’Keeffe, h/t), Ethan Mills (Padraic Noonan, ‘60), Isaiah Phillips, Troy O’Dowd.

Referee: Warren Beasley assisted by John McCathy and Phillip Russell (Dublin)