At the Kilkenny House Restaurant and Pub yesterday, patrons yelled and winced at the television screens.

 The soccer face-off between Spain and the Netherlands, ending in a victory for Spain, was also a business victory for two prominent sports bars downtown. The World Cup Final drew more of a crowd than the matches preceding it where the U.S. was not involved, according to the management of both the Kilkenny House and the Office Beer Bar and Grill. Both establishments double up as a bar and restaurant in downtown Cranford, and both drew a crowd of almost 100 people.

 However the turnout yesterday didn't compare to the crowd flocking to the bars during the Britain vs. United States match, both managers agree.

"You literally couldn't move in here," Kilkenny House Owner Barry O' Donovan said of the crowd at his establishment.

While some patrons yesterday said they watched the World Cup matches because they are fans of the sport and others for the love of their European or Latin American roots, it is the opinion of both managements that many are drawn to the television screens due to their kids.

O'Donovan said he thinks youth are especially enthralled with soccer, as many play on recreation or school teams. That enthusiasm trickles down to the adults."This is a new generation. They know about soccer. Soccer is just getting more and more popular."

That's true for both Pat and Bob Marchiano, regular Kilkenny House patrons who both watched the final match at the bar and restaurant, and cheered for Spain.

"Our son plays soccer and he got us interested in it," Pat Marchiano said. Their son is Max Marchiano, a Westfield High School varsity soccer player.

Ray Saleem, the manager of the Office, remembers how around around a dozen young people –their families in tow– watched the United States vs. Britain match in the bar. He also recalls the frustration expressed by one 8-year-old soccer player.

"She was disappointed when we lost," he said.