LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE SENIOR SUNDAY
By Daire Walsh
Kilnamanagh returned to winning ways in Leinster Senior League Senior Sunday at Killinarden Hill last weekend with a convincing 3-1 victory against Sacred Heart Firhouse Clover.
Following a run of five previous defeats, the Tallaght outfit earned the bragging rights over their fellow southsiders to move up to 11th place in the league table. Darragh Deegan, Dean Clarke and Ciaran O’Sullivan were amongst the goals and with a visit to second place Killester Donnycarney on the horizon this coming Sunday at 11am, it was a satisfying day overall for Kilnamanagh.
Though it had been a while since they tasted success, the Ned Kelly Park men were perilously close to claiming their fourth win of the 2021/22 campaign just three weeks ago. 2-1 ahead of Sacred Heart with 20 minutes remaining on the clock, adverse weather conditions ultimately led to the game being abandoned and Kilnamanagh were denied the maximum points on offer in the process.
Nevertheless, the Rockets – who are managed by former Nottingham Forest and St Patrick’s Athletic footballer Keith Foy – were determined to come out on top in this quick renewal of acquaintances.
After Sean Byrne had gone close to breaking the deadlock, they eventually opened the scoring in the 25th-minute. In addition to being the club’s Director of Coaching, ex-League of Ireland stalwart Conor Kenna (who counts St Pat’s and Shamrock Rovers amongst his former clubs) also lines out for this Kilnamanagh side.
He delicately clipped a ball into the Sacred Heart box and Deegan was on hand to bravely head to the opposition net. This provided the visiting team with a strong platform and even though Sacred Heart battled admirably, Kilnamanagh brought a 1-0 cushion into the interval.
The game certainly wasn’t beyond the hosts on the resumption, but with Liam Harding and Alan Curry dictating affairs in midfield, it was their neighbours who pushed forward. Byrne and Dean Clarke – who, like Kenna, had previous stints at Pat’s and Rovers – both had excellent opportunities before the second goal finally arrived on 67 minutes.
Racing onto a Deegan pass off a swift counter attack, Clarke rattled the net to give Kilnamanagh additional breathing space. Although the result wasn’t really in doubt, Byrne released O’Sullivan for his side’s third goal inside the final-quarter to effectively seal the fate of Sacred Heart.
To their credit, the hosts persevered with their challenge and claimed a consolation goal with two minutes left on the clock.
It was a tough day at the office for Peter Flood’s charges, who had beaten Kilnamanagh 4-1 at Ned Kelly Park last September. Next up for them is a trip to eighth-place Maynooth University Town this coming Sunday at 12pm.