Depleted Kilnamanagh put it up to mighty Mochta’s
KILNAMANAGH …….1
ST MOCHTA’S………3
By Daire Walsh
THERE was disappointment for Kilnamanagh at Ned Kelly Park on Sunday morning as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of St Mochta’s on the opening weekend of the new Leinster Senior League Senior Division season.
Following a brace of Gareth McCaffrey goals, Mochta’s brought a 2-0 cushion into the interval at the Treepark Road venue and, while the Tallaght side fired back on the resumption through a Sean Byrne penalty, a Kyle Hogan finish in stoppage-time finally killed off their challenge.
Despite coming up short on the day, there are still positives for Kilnamanagh to bring into their FAI Cup qualifying round fixture against Home Farm at Ned Kelly Park this Sunday.
Managed by Keith Foy, a former professional footballer with Nottingham Forest and Doncaster Rovers who also lined out in the League of Ireland with St Patrick’s Athletic, the hosts were missing eight players due to either injury or suspension for this tie.
The Mochta’s starting line-up featured Liam and Gareth Brady, brothers of Republic of Ireland senior international Robbie Brady, but it was another Gareth who got the ball rolling for the visitors with just four minutes on the clock.
Spotting Kilnamanagh goalkeeper Karl Coleman out of position, McCaffrey produced a delicate lob from distance that landed into the back of the net.
The dynamic attacker was close to doubling his side’s advantage moments later when he rattled the crossbar, but a Byrne free-kick also shook the woodwork at the opposite end.
Coleman subsequently denied McCaffrey and Gareth Brady, in advance of the latter’s sibling being upended in the area on 36 minutes.
The dependable McCaffrey stepped forward to the penalty spot and made no mistake from 12 yards to leave Kilnamanagh with a mountain to climb after the restart.
To their credit, they managed to force their way back into the reckoning when Byrne comfortably converted from the spot 10 minutes into the second period.
Although Gareth Brady and Gavin Kearney both hit the post, Mochta’s custodian Adam Kmet was kept on his toes as the final whistle approached.
However, in searching for an equaliser, Kilnamanagh left themselves open to swift counter-attacks by their opponents.
This was a risk that they had to take, but after excellent work from Gareth Brady released him on the target with time almost up, Hogan fired home in clinical fashion.