*Elias Kunz in action for Avenue Utd. Photograph: Natasha Barton
IN HIS TWO seasons with Avenue Utd, Elias Kunz has been a central figure in them winning back to back Clare Cup titles.
Formerly a striker with Mervue United, Elias joined Avenue in the summer of 2021 from Ennis Town FC and his tally of thirty plus goals last season helped them to win a League and Cup double in Clare.
His form continues to be at a high level and he was one of their two goal scorers in Saturday’s Cup final win over Lifford FC.
Unsurprisingly, the twenty three year old was very happy to bask in Avenue’s two in a row. “It was a good performance and a tough Lifford team to beat down, they played five in the back and we weren’t really used to playing against five in the back so it was tricky but over time we managed to break them down and grab the goals”.
Although dealing with five opposing players at the back was a challenge, he felt Avenue’s greater experience of the big days was a telling factor in Frank Healy Park on Saturday. “Experience levels is the major thing, other defences like Newmarket would have much more experience and more final experience whereas Lifford are relatively new to finals so maybe pressure got to them a little bit but they still put in a good performance to be fair to them”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Elias acknowledged that his goal on forty seven minutes came at a vital juncture in disrupting any chance of a Lifford comeback. “We had a plan coming out into the second half, to go out and give it 100 percent to see what we could do, we knew a second goal would kill their spirit and that the game would die and it did so it was great”.
Kunz who picked up man of the match in the 2022 Cup final decider against Newmarket Celtic when they won 2-1 felt there was no debate that midfielder Nnabuike Nneji collected the accolade following their latest win. “Na has been one of our key players throughout the whole season, he has been getting goals left, right and centre from midfield, I think he deserves man of the match”.
They will renew rivalries with Newmarket Celtic on Wednesday and need a win to force a playoff, any other result will see the FAI Junior Cup champions reclaim the Premier Division title.
Should it come to a play-off, David Russell will be without Elias. “I’m still around Wednesday but if we do manage to beat them, I wouldn’t be there for the rematch unfortunately but I have strong faith in the guys to pull through and get over the line,” he confirmed.
With one medal in the back pocket and the battle ongoing to repeat a double win, the process engineer with Element Six is already looking excitedly with one eye to next season. “I can’t wait to start the next season already, it is a good bunch of lads, the staff are good and it’s just good vibes in general”.
