Killough rain goals on derby rivals Rossglass

Killough rain goals on derby rivals Rossglass

1 October 2025

GARETH George and Daire McLaughlin ran Rossglass County ragged as Killough got their Bobby Dalzell Cup campaign off to a free-scoring start.

Killough were seemingly out of sight at the half-way stage, as George netted a hat-trick and Daire McLaughlin chipped in with one to open up a four-goal lead.

Declan Dowie (2), Christopher Hamilton and Dylan Duffy worked the score line for Rossglass in the second half, while George and Daire McLaughlin added to their tallies, leaving the deficit at just two.

However, after County’s Ben Lennon saw red in stoppage time, Daire and Ben McLaughlin were on target to eliminate any hope of a miraculous comeback. 

The visitors dominated from the off, intent on delivering an early knockout, and although their opening chances ended in wayward efforts, they gave their opponents no time to breathe. 

George was first to threaten the home goal, when he latched on to a long ball from Adam McGarrity and attempted an audacious chip from the edge of the box, forcing goalkeeper Jonathan Flynn to scramble backwards to make his catch.

Still, despite the incessant pressure from the away side, it was Rossglass who produced the best scoring chance of the early exchanges.

Barry Mageean headed Hamilton’s long throw down to Stefan Parag at the back post, but the young winger’s scuffed shot drifted wide from just two yards out.

Although that was a golden opportunity wasted for the hosts, more significantly, it was a let-off for Killough, who used their fortune as the impetus to break the deadlock in the 10th minute.

A clever, disguised pass from Cillian Burns slipped George into one-on-one with Feenan, and the striker kept his cool to expertly rifle into the bottom corner.

Avoiding the trap of sitting back and admiring their work, the visitors pressed on and immediately began posing a threat to Feenan’s goal yet again.

Jamie McIlhone broke down the right wing, drifted into the box and cut back to George, whose cheeky backheel trickled a whisker wide of the post.

Rossglass forced a series of corners in reply, the third of which really should have been converted, as an unchallenged Ryan Tumelty headed over the bar.

The hosts were fast growing in confidence however, beginning to gain a foothold in the game, but lady luck taunted them with the denial of two clear penalties. 

Lennon and Declan Curran were each tripped in the box, within a minute of each other, but referee Colum Gribben waved both shouts away.

Again, the away side took advantage of the situation, capitalising on the loss of focus amongst the aggrieved County players to double their margin.

Their counter-attack looked to have broken down, but the home defence failed to deal with the loose ball and Daire McLaughlin swooped in to finish.

Just over 10 minutes later, the Rossglass back line was caught ball watching once more, allowing McIlhone to feed George for a simple tap-in.

Half-time may have been fast approaching, 

and Killough could easily have cruised into 

the break with their three-goal cushion, but there was still time for George head home for his hat-trick.

Undeterred by the heavy deficit, the home side came flying out if the blocks after the restart and although Dowie spurned a guilt-edged chance at the back post, he made amends less than a minute later, opening his side’s account.

However, Killough quickly returned to their very best, with McIlhone driving past several opponents and finding Daire McLaughlin, who curled a sumptuous shot into the top corner from a tight angle.

There was no stopping the fighting spirit of Rossglass though, and they soon hit a purple patch, upsetting the odds to move to within two goals.

Marc Burke drilled a low cross through the box and Dowie reacted quickest to poke into the corner of the net, before Hamilton garnered serious momentum for his team with a headed finish, just two minutes later.

George increased his haul to four goals and got Killough back on track from the spot, after McIlhone was brought down by Mageean, yet County came back swinging, reducing the gap when Duffy rippled the net on the half-volley.

The hosts grabbed the momentum in the closing stages, but when they were denied yet another penalty, Lennon’s heated reaction earned him a dismissal.

To add to their frustrations, Killough were awarded a controversial spot kick little over 30 seconds later, and Daire McLaughlin squeezed the ball under Feenan for his hat-trick.

With the superior man-power and a now insurmountable lead, the visitors rubbed further salt in their rivals’ wounds, completing their high-scoring performance with a Ben McLaughlin free-kick.

Having secured local bragging rights and a place in the second round, Killough will not dwell on how they got there, but Rossglass will be left wondering what could have been, if decisions had gone their way.

Rossglass: J Feenan, D Duffy, T Redmond, R Tumelty (captain), B Mageean, S Parag, D Curran, D Dowie, M Burke, B Lennon, C Hamilton.

Subs: C Morrison, R Lennon, P Bogdan, J McStravick, S Todd.

Killough: M Murphy, L Murphy, C Kelly, S Og Burns, M McKiernan, A McGarrity, B McLaughlin, C Burns, G George, J McIlhone, D McLaughlin.

Subs: D Burns, R Burns, J Tumelty.

Rossglass County 4

Killough 8

BOBBY DALZELL CUP 1ST ROUND