Dromara continue hot streak

29 March 2023

DROMARA Village continued their relentless title pursuit and delivered a probable knock-out blow to Kilmore Rec’s 1A promotion hopes as Peter Turley’s men recorded a 3-1 victory in the derby at Bellsbridge on Saturday.

It was a good game and a physical encounter with two honest teams going at it hammer and tongs.

Although Dromara started slowly and could have been behind early on when John Connolly was forced into a smart save at his near post from a Kilmore corner, it was the Village who drew first blood.

Dromara’s Stevie Kennedy delivered an inch-perfect free-kick from wide right which he planted on the head of player-manager Peter Turley, who rose well to head the ball into the bottom left corner in the 16th minute.

The clinical league leaders then doubled their lead seven minutes before the break when Philly Kerr ped into space before sending Alex Burtney through on goal with a neat threaded pass and from there, the pacy winger produced his trademark low finish into the far corner.

Kilmore Rec improved in the second half following the introduction of former Ballymena United and Ards forward Joe McKinney, however, Dromara threw bodies on the line when required, to protect their lead.

The Village then made it 3-0 with around ten minutes remaining when a corner came in from the left and Philly Kerr peeled off the ‘keeper to the front post area where he guided in a glancing header for his 20th goal of the season.

Hesitant defending allowed Kilmore an instant response as Joe McKinney poked in a consolation goal following a great initial save from John Connolly.

Kilmore then threw everything at it in the closing stages, but in doing so they laid the platform for Connolly to show his class as the best ‘keeper in the division as he came for crosses to take pressure off his defenders and made saves when called upon.

Still going strong at 46, the Dubliner – formerly of Cliftonville, Newry City, Glenavon, Ballinamallard Utd, to name a few – was one of a number of players on the pitch who possesses great pedigree.

The aforementioned Joe McKinney was partnered with 43-year-old Gary Kennedy, formerly of Cliftonville, and they are of course under the stewardship of former Linfield and Crusaders winger Michael Carvill who played in central midfield.

A silver lining for Michael Carvill was that he won the post-match raffle and went home with a refreshment.

For Dromara, it’s another one ticked off and incredibly their 18th win from 19 league outings, with a recent defeat away to Lisburn Rangers the only blot on an otherwise flawless record.

Elsewhere, a 1-1 draw between promotion challengers Abbey Villa and Rosemount Rec only further strengthened Dromara’s promotion hopes.

Should Rosemount Rec win their three games in hand, they’ll still be seven points adrift of Dromara.

Should Abbey Villa win their two games in hand, they’ll be 13 points behind Dromara.

Dromara Village host fifth-place Mossley next Saturday at Bellsbridge.

Dromara Village 3

Kilmore Rec 1

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

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