Clane United easily got the better of Caragh Celtic in this mid-table clash at Doctors Road. Clane were dominant in midfield with Stephen Dunne, Ciaran Quinn and Alan Brennan pulling the strings. They took the lead after 20 minutes when Stephen Dunne set up Jordan Pedreschi to score from close range.

Pat King came close to doubling Clanes advantage when his header crashed off the Caragh woodwork and King was wide with a similar header minutes later. Clane made it 2-0 just before the break when Jeff King started a move which involved Stephen Dunne and Pedreschi before King was up-ended in the box. Ciaran Quinn made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Caragh did have chances through Dan Murray and Alan Campbell but it was a bad day at the office for Eamonn Sharpes men. United made sure of the points with their third in the 65th minute when Stephen Dunne and Daragh Deane combined to set up Derek Smith, who found the net with a stunning half volley.

Senior side Sarto/Ballycane seemed to have booked themselves a place in the last sixteen of the league shield when they led 3-2 with just a minute remaining in this entertaining tie but Gareth King popped up to throw Clane a lifeline when he beat visiting keeper Paul Drewitt from close range.

Despite having somewhat the better of the early exchanges the home side found themselves two goals in arrears after fifteen minutes. Richie Mullins found the Clane net after nine minutes and six minutes later Jamie Lambe finished a Mullins cross to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.

Clane battled back and got rewarded for their pressure with a stunning strike by Jordan Pedreschi minuted from the break. Keelan Noone restored the Naas sides two goal advantage in the 55th minute but six minutes later Clane were back in the game after Gareth King set up Trevor Beale for a fine strike. With time almost up the game was all square when King beat keeper Drewitt from close range after good work from Derek Smith.


Drewiit became Sarto/Ballycanes hero when he saved two penalties in the shootout after two periods of extra time had failed to seperate the two sides. Those saves sent his side through to the last sixteen of the competition.

Clane’s second team today took another step closer to clinching the division 3 title with a hard earned victory against a strong and reluctant Moone Celtic in Clane on a lovely Sunday morning.

Clane began the game very strongly and took the lead not long after the quarter of an hour mark when Jason Acton hammered a fantastic free kick into the bottom corner past the helpless Moone goal keeper. Moone reacted to Clane’s goal with one of there own to make things all level after Clane were caught flat in defence and Moone capitalised The game was very even with both sides making chances for themselves but nether team seamed capable of turning these chances into goals. Clane eventually took the lead ten minutes before half time when Rob Newman powered past the Moone defence and hammered the ball home in what looked like a very difficult one on one for Clane. The game continued to be a very even encounter for the remaining minutes of the first half. 

Clane came out in the second and began to dominate in many areas of the pitch and went close on a number of occasions with the best two falling to the head of Gary Hunt who was denied on both occasions by last second clearances of the line. Clane then increased there lead when Alan Casey converted a Jason Acton corner from the front post with a lovely volley. Moone done all they could to try and get themselves back into the game but where unable to get past what must be considered to be one o the best defences in the division, Gary Hunt, Sean Darcey, Daryl Gibbons and Craig Lawless.   

Best for Clane: At left back Craig Lawless and right back Daryl Gibbons.

Clane United were beaten by Liffey Celtic on Saturday but they can feel hard done by as they were the better side in the first half and created several chances without scoring. Then after 20 minutes Clane took the lead when Patrick Hayes scored with a free kick.

In the second half however Liffey began to get on top and equalised with 15 minutes left and were then awarded a penalty with 3 minutes to go which they scored from leaving Clane no time to find an equaliser.

Best for Clane were Patrick Hayes, Mark Warner, John Mooney & Con McCormack.