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KDFL Lumsden Cup semi: Clonmullion and Kildare Town book final spot
Cody Mulhall Clonmullion is fouled by Michael Murphy Newbridge Hotspurs. Photo: Michael Anderson
Reporter:
Tommy Callaghan
18 Sept 2025 1:04 PM
Clonmullion 2
Newbridge Spurs 0
Lumsden League Cup holders Clonmullion F.C. took on Newbridge Hotspurs in a windswept Canal Road in Rathangan which didn't lend itself to flowing football. Both sides found it difficult to get into any sort of rhythm for the first quarter of the game.
The first serious effort on goal came in the 23 minute when Danny Thompson picked out Cody Mulhall who cut inside on to his left foot and had keeper Sean Higgins scrambling across his goal but it drifted just wide.
Ten minutes later Ceilum Maher and Jake Nicholl combined well for the latter to cross to the back post where Thompson couldn't sort his feet out before being closed down by Scott O'Connor.
With five minutes remaining in the first half Mulhall killed the ball with a sublime touch and wrong footed Shane Higgins with a beautiful step over and passing to the in rushing Chris Chanders who played a neat one two with Joe Doran but O'Connor got back to block Chanders shot and deflect it out for a corner.
The second half started with the wind easing off which allowed Clonmullion to play at a much more controlled tempo with Nathan Robinson and Chanders pulling the strings in midfield.
Nicholl fired a ball into the feet of Mulhall who’s first touch was again on point and he back heeled the ball back to the overlapping full back who picked out the in rushing Thompson who fired home from the edge of the box to open the scoring. Jodie Dillon was introduced on the hour mark and made an immediate impression as he chested down a quick throw in from Lee Doyle and hit a left footed effort that Higgins saved well. Hotspurs were looking dangerous from set pieces and a great in swinging corner by Ryan O'Donoghue was headed goalwards by Barry Doyle but Evan Gratton fisted the ball to safety.
With fifteen minutes left Jay Connell headed the ball clear to Robinson who cushioned the ball into the path of Doran who found Dillon who laid the ball to Robinson who had continued his run but he dragged his effort just wide.
With ten minutes remaining Hotspurs were awarded a free kick 20 yards out and Mark Wolfe stepped up and whipped the ball over the wall but the ball didn't dip enough to trouble Gratton. Clonmullion made sure of the victory when Doyle picked out Dillon with a throw in which he flicked on to Doran who stroked the ball to substitute Johnny Fennel who made no mistake from ten yards out.
Best for Hotspurs were Shane Higgins, Ryan O Donoghue and Mark Wolfe. It was a real concerted effort by all the Clonmullion players and substitutes, but Mulhall grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck from the first minute and was a constant threat and he was determined to inspire his team to their unprecedented fifth Lumsden League Cup Final in a row.
And in this kind of form he must be a serious contender for the Kildare League POTY.
Kildare Town 3
Old Fort Celtic 0
Premier Division champions Kildare Town marched into this season’s Lumsden Cup final with a commanding 3–0 victory over a determined Old Fort Celtic side at Micheal O Neill Park, Clonmullion on Sunday.
Kildare Town settled quickly and were ahead inside four minutes. Adam O’Keeffe eased any early nerves when he latched onto a precise pass from winger Robert Burke and finished confidently to make it 1–0. Kildare’s backline —Jamie O’Callaghan, Ryan Farrell, Adam Gilligan, and captain Lorcan Wickham — were rock solid, snuffing out Old Fort’s attacks and giving midfield trio Kieran Sheedy, Conor Darby, and Keith Kinsella the platform to dominate possession and create chances.
Old Fort’s midfielders— Liam Óg Brown, Patryk Staniec, Lee Carroll Talbot, and Daryl Ntumba— worked tirelessly to gain a foothold in the game, but suffered a major setback in the 41st minute when an Anthony Durney strike was deflected into his own net by Byron McGuirk, doubling Kildare’s lead.
After the interval, Kildare showed their experience and professionalism, controlling the tempo and frustrating their opponents. Old Fort’s defence — David Costigan, Eoin Carroll, Byron McGuirk, and Tyler Dempsey — battled hard to contain the Premier Division side and keep the scoreline respectable. Deep into stoppage time, Kildare sealed the result in style when Robert Burke capped his fine display with a 96th-minute goal, finishing from a Dean Hill assist to spark celebrations among the Kildare support.
Best for Old Fort: David Costigan, Tyler Dempsey, and Liam Óg Brown.
Kildare Standouts: Jamie O’Callaghan impressed at left-back, Keith Kinsella pulled the strings in attack, Robert Burke was a constant threat out wide, and captain Lorcan Wickham— the game’s Man of the Match— marshalled the defence superbly.
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