‘Kilclassico’ honours go to Kilmore once again

‘Kilclassico’ honours go to Kilmore once again

12 March 2025

KILMORE Rec survived a penalty scare as they steadied the ship in their hunt for the Division 1A title with a testing win over rivals Killyleagh YC in the second ‘Kilclassico’ of the season.

The Blues were forced to field a depleted team, due to injuries and suspension, but would have fancied their chances against a YC side that was winless in nine games.

However, the visitors gave as good as they got in the early encounters and Rec found their chances in jeopardy when the referee pointed to the spot.

Kodi Carson stepped up, with the pressure of giving Killyleagh a shock lead, and met his maker in goalkeeper Laurence McGonagle, who pulled off a mind-boggling double save.

The hosts knew they had a lucky escape and used their fortune as inspiration, opening the scoring through Rhys Clarke.

They found their dogged opponents to be a tough nut to crack, for the most part, but managed to grab a crucial second goal when Clarke bagged his brace.

A rather cagey contest presented itself when the match commenced, with the two sides a tad reluctant to display their hand too early.

Kilmore soon took a hold of proceedings and while they set up camp on the edge of the away box, Killyleagh forced them to have to thread passes through the eye of a needle.

The Whites were more than happy to sit back, soak up the pressure and attempt to steal a march on the counter-attack.

Their game plan was threatening to make inroads and came to within margins of paying off, with Sam Carson rising above the defence and powering a header on to the post.

YC were determined to upset the odds as they went in search of their first derby win since 2018, and their endeavours lead to a golden penalty opportunity.

Kodi Carson collected the ball in midfield, drove at the home defence and was brought to the ground in the box.

He took possession of the ensuing spot kick and while there was nothing wrong with his attempt, McGonagle got down like a flash to palm out of the bottom corner.

The winger followed in on the rebound and looked for all the world that he would find the net, only for the Kilmore ‘keeper to leap to his feet and produce an unlikely save from point-blank range. 

That was the turning point for Rec and with the great escape at their backs, they opened the scoring within six minutes.

Sean Bell left the Killyleagh defence ball-watching with an intelligent, dinked pass and found the feet of Clarke, who turned his man with ease and lifted a fruitful effort over ‘keeper David Harper.

The opener put the match at the behest of Kilmore and from there, they instantly went in search of a second.

Conor Curran came to within a whisker of doubling the margin before half-time, taking aim from range and almost pulling a goal from out of nothing.

His left-footed piledriver curved at the last minute and beat Harper, but found its final destination to be the upright.

Killyleagh put their first half woes behind them at the beginning of the second period, taking the game to their opponents after the restart.

A failed clearance put a chance on a plate for captain Keegan Rice and although he found himself with a free shot at goal, his poked effort caused no issues for McGonagle.

That was to be the Whites’ final clear-cut chance and with it passing them by, Kilmore kicked on towards their second derby victory of the season.

They built upon their lead in the 64th minute and that man Clarke was Johnny on the spot yet again.

He chased what seemed to be a lost cause and when the YC defence failed to clear their lines, he swept in to launch the ball past a stranded Harper.

The game was over as a contest from there and as Kilmore took full control, the resulting action was one-way traffic.

Skipper Joseph Burns slipped a clever, disguised ball to the feet of Philip Doran in the box and despite his shot appearing destined for the net, Rice positioned himself well to clear off the line.

Doran had grown into the game and was asking increasingly difficult questions of the dispirited visiting defenders.

He used his pace to beat John Murray to a long ball, left the substitute in his tracks and cut the ball towards Clarke, who would have had his hat trick if David Johnston did not steam in and launch the ball clear.

Both sides were noticeably leggy as the contest drew to a close and although the Killyleagh attack was determined to fight to the end, a killer ball proved elusive.

Kilmore continue to hold a five-point gap at the top of the table, ahead of a Lisburn Rangers team that holds four games in hand, while Killyleagh are now seven points adrift of survival and will require something special to avoid the .

Kilmore: L McGonagle, J Mahoney, C Curran, J Murray, T Murphy, J Burns (captain), H Smyth, S Bell, P Doran, A McGrattan, R Clarke.

Subs: J Smyth, C Conlon, S McGrattan.

Killyleagh: D Harper, D Johnston, P Russell, G Carberry, K Rice (captain), D Carberry, J Davis, S Carson, M Murray, C Hamilton, K Carson.

Subs: N Hamilton, A Bassett, J Murray.