Chances galore missed in derby stalemate

15 October 2014

DRUMANESS are still looking for their first league win of the season after being held to a draw at Robert Adams Park in a full-blooded derby clash.
The defending champions had to rely on an equaliser from Sean McQuoid equaliser just before the break to give them a share of the spoils after Johnny Bell had given Kilmore an early lead.
The game started in typical derby pace with tackles flying in all over the park, but it was Kilmore who threatened first with Peter Casey chancing his arm from 25 yards out, Ryan Campbell saving well.
Kilmore then made the breakthrough when Bell headed in a free kick from Karl Lewis after Daniel Smyth had been fouled. The Mills were dealt a blow when Owen Wright came off second best in a challenge on Matty Hardy and had to leave the field with a an injury to his troublesome collar bone, he was replaced by Michael Savage.
Drumaness settled and Mark Feenan ran on to a pass from Brendan Ward, but he took one touch too many and Conan Russell blocked his shot. At the other end Gerard Jervis released Bell, but Campbell saved.
Feenan was finding plenty of room, but Russell, who was playing like a sweeper, was off his line quickly to avert the danger and any runs from Stevie Rogan were negated by some dine defending from Mark Miskelly as the pace continued unabated.
Smyth had a shot saved by Campbell before Rory Mason fired over a tantalising cross for Sean McQuoid to head past Russell for the equaliser.
Gavin McEvoy should have given Drumaness the lead minutes later when he found himself alone in the box, but his header went wide.
Casey went close for Kilmore before Ward cleared his lines well after Campbell palmed away a shot from Lewis, no more goals as the half finished 1-1.
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first with passion, passion and even more passion, but without a lot of football being played. Smyth and Casey went close for Kilmore with Rogan being denied by Russell at the other end.
Darren McConnell had a great chance to give Drumaness the lead when he burst through from midfield, but he shot high and wide. Paddy Branney, who had replaced Jervis, had a header saved by Campbell before Rory Mason tried his luck at the other end from distance, but his strike went wide.
Russell was as his brilliant best to deny Adam Neale and at the other end Daniel Taggart, a former Mills player, was unlucky with a deft flick to a Bell cross.
As the game hurtled to conclusion, Casey shot narrowly wide and Taggart had a shot saved by Campbell before Neale had a shot blocked at the other end by Miskelly. Rogan had a glorious chance to win the game late on when he surged forward from midfield, but after beating Russell, Bell popped up from nowhere to hack the ball off the line in a game that could have finished 8-8 and not 1-1.
Kilmore Rec: C. Russell, J. Murphy, L. Morrison, M. Miskelly, J. Cheevers, M. Hardy, K. Lewis, J. Bell, G. Jervis, P. Casey, D. Smyth. Subs: M. Murphy, P. Branney, D. Taggart.
Drumaness Mills: R. Campbell, O. Wright, R. Mason, B. Ward, G. Morrison, D. McConnell, G. McEvoy, S. McQuoid, M. Feenan, S. Rogan, C. Manley. Subs: A. Neale, S. Mason, M. Savage.
Kilmore Rec 1
Drumaness Mills 1
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