Portlaoise AFC U-18s See Off Newbridge In 11-Goal Thriller

They now advance to the final four of the cup.

Newbridge Utd 5-6 Portlaoise AFC

With a well taken league win apiece for these strong sides, it was going to be interesting to see who would come out on top on neutral ground in Kilcullen in this cup quarter final. Conditions would prove to be horrendous with weather warnings being bang on schedule and AFC were looking to respond to a poor outing last week at the same venue.

Newbridge started fast and actually won two corners in the opening minute.

2 more good saves were needed from AFC keeper Kacper Banacik from another corner and a second ball in under pressure on 5 minutes as Newbridge sustained early pressure.

10 minutes passed before AFC had a chance at all as Cathal Lee did well to get a shot away after a defensive block down by Ben Doyle in the Newbridge half allowed Lee in but it was saved by the keeper down low.

AFC had just been getting a foothold back into the game but a free conceded in their own half would be a shocking start of things to come. The free was whipped in from the left and was headed home with keeper Banacik unlucky not to get a stronger hand on it. 1-0 to the home side after 11 minutes.

2 minutes later a huge roaring AFC claim for what seemed a stonewall blatant penalty for handball in the Newbridge box which was not given caused tensions to ratchet up for the next few minutes.

AFC’s Ben Dwyer’s well earned free kick in from the right was swung at by an AFC player in a busy box and then Ben Doyle pounced on the breaking ball from 10 yards and hammered it first time into the roof of the net. 1-1 on 18 minutes and that was totally deserved.

24 minutes brought excellent work by Kyle Buchanan on the right to get it to Jamie Toman and he found Ben Doyle who slid it along the 6yard line but Cathal Lee was just unable to get a toe on it. Would have been a lovely team goal.

The referee again made himself popular in Laois 5 minutes later when a high ball was taken down by the AFC defender but harshly judged to hit his hand just after AFC had half a muted call for yet another handball in the Newbridge box turned away.

Up stepped the Newbridge attacker and the free was well struck into the top right corner from 20 yards making it 2-1.

AFC were doing themselves no favours in and around the last 25yards of their own half giving away frees or making it easy for the referee to award frees if anyway dubious.

Kacper Banacik had to immediately save his side from another free from a little further out than the last goal but he gathered bravely at the second attempt.

Great defending by Robbie Farrell and Kieran O’Donnell then who worked well together to quench another Newbridge attack in the corner as the Kildare team were hungry for more.

The pressure paid dividends as more poor AFC defensive decisions and too much space at the back saw a lazy shove give away yet another free kick and this was also well dispatched with power into the centre of the goal. 3-1 on 35 minutes.

Time for another before half time but this time, and crucially for AFC, it was their turn. Jamie Toman won a free in the right corner. Kieran O’Donnell leapt and won the header in the box and Jamie slotted home to make it 3-2.

AFC were playing better and Robbie Farrell was unlucky from distance just after.

2 minutes into injury time and unbelievably Newbridge scored another from yet another crazy call by the referee as both opponents came together in an innocuous tangle outside the box. Yet again the free was well taken and this time buried in the top left corner.

Half time and Newbridge led 4-2 and all their goals came from free kicks.

Much more positive start from AFC after the restart as they hunted a way back in.

It took 12 minutes but it was well deserved when it came. Kyle Buchanan started it from right back fizzing a perfect long pass along the white sideline and was superbly picked up by Ben Dwyer. Dwyer got the ball into the box to Cathal Lee and somehow Lee twisted his body around to flick up the ball deceiving everyone including the keeper and in it went into the far corner. 4-3 and game on again.

3 minutes later and all square after Ben Dwyer and TJ Delaney worked the ball well from the back to get it up as far as Cathal Lee around the edge of the box. Lee used his strength to hold off the defender and smashed it past the keeper at his near post. A goal out of nothing and now it was 4-4. The AFC team and supporters erupted.

Unbelievably still half an hour to go.

73 minutes and AFC thought they had taken the lead when they put the ball in the net. Afterwards it was learnt that the free out was awarded for a push on the Newbridge keeper’s back which was interesting considering he wasn’t even involved with the 4 players scrambling for the ball and had taken himself out of the way.

The bewilderment became the ridiculous with 15 to go when an AFC player was ruled to have handled the ball in his own box and even the Newbridge players were amazed with the decision. Up stepped the taker and he drilled it home making it 5 goals from 5 set pieces. 5-4 now.

Both teams played a seriously competitive but never dirty match in brutal weather. AFC were getting very conscious of time eroding when on 87 things took a major turn. Newbridge were trying to kill the game altogether and get into the AFC box but a breaking ball was pumped forward by AFC’s Jamie Toman causing carnage with AFC pressing and Newbridge confusion causing an own goal. 5-5. Surely we were going to penalties now.

No was the answer. 1 minute left and Cathal Lee had other ideas. He was nearly 30yards out on the far left side, turned and beat his onrushing defender to the ball, swung at it and somehow scooped a shot over everyone including the keeper and it nestled in the top right corner. 6-5 to AFC and the roars and groans were almost equally as loud. What a finish.

AFC had overcome massive decisions against them throughout the game and came out on top. Newbridge played a really solid game and gave a stellar display of set piece plays. AFC have to sort out that free conceding habit but no doubting Player Of The Match being hat trick hero Cathal Lee. Overall a huge improved team performance on last week and now on to the semi finals.