Kilmore singing the blues as they sink Killyleagh

17 January 2018

KILMORE’S stand-in managers Ian Smyth and Noel Kielty were signing the blues at the end as Kilmore won the Kilclassico once again.

A double strike by B J McMenamin proved decisive, but it was Rec goalkeeper Chris Turley and central defender Chris Magee who were head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch as they contained Killyleagh and provided the springboard for victory.

It was Kilmore who started strongest and right back Larry McGonagle produced the first shot on target after just four minutes.

Kilmore, prompted by Ryan Blaney, were winning all the early battles and they got the breakthrough after nine minutes after a catastrophic mix-up in the YC back line. Goalkeeper Aaron Carberrry was in trouble from a late back pass. He tried to thump the ball downfield, but it hit McMenamin on the backside and trundled towards the net.

The ball skimmed wide of the upright, but the referee awarded a penalty against Carberry for pulling back McMenamin in the race for the ball. McMenamin dusted himself down and calmly stroked it home to make it 1-0.

Killyleagh struggled in the heavy conditions and it was 20 minutes before Gary Carberry unleashed a speculative shot and a free from Jamie Sharvin sailed over.

Soon afterwards, Lee Morrison carved out a super chance for Adam Neale. He raced past his marker and drew the ‘keeper but his effort failed to find the net.

There were chances at both ends after this with Kilmore’s Tomas Macklin thumped a free wide while the hard working Gary Stranney created a fine opening that took a timely clearing header from Jordan Kennedy to prevent a goal.

Morrison created another great opening, but Stevie Kennedy and Jack Sharvin both had shots blocked. Kennedy then linked with Darren McConnell and his bullet strike squirmed under Turley for a corner in the 36th minute.

At the start of the second half Kilmore picked up from where they had left off and McMenamin raced through to produce a tester that stung the hands of Carberry.

Kilmore, with Magee and Mark Miskelly so dominant in the back line, were looking comfortable and there was even time for McGonagle to venture forward with a powerful run and shot after 51 minutes.

Jamie Sharvin tried to inspire his side, but his shot at the end of a run was comfortably punched out by Turley. The big ‘keeper then produced a brilliant save at the feet of Kennedy who had jinked his way into the danger zone and seemed set to level.

Killyleagh were starting to attack in greater numbers now and a rash tackle on Jack Sharvin in the area led to a penalty award in the 62nd minute. He drilled it home to make it 1-1.

The Killyleagh celebrations had barely died down and Kilmore were back in front within three minutes. A super attack ended with Peter Casey outjumping his marker for a brilliant headed goal.

Killyleagh hit back and Turley produced yet another super save from Jack Sharvin. If that was good what followed was match-winning.

He got down low to punch out a Sharvin free from the edge of the box and when Kennedy rifled the ball back in, low and hard, Turley had recovered to make a memorable double save.

Kilmore remained dangerous and on the counterattack, Casey shot over the bar when a goal seemed likely.

But it was only a temporary let off as McMenamin evaded his marker to latch on to a peach of a cross to make it 3-1 after 73 minutes.

YC manager Paul Sharvin must have known it was not going to be his day when, for the first time in the game, Turley failed to catch a high ball into the box, under pressure from sub Stephen Lindsay, but Magee was on hand to hack it off the line.

With Killyleagh’s man of the match McConnell working tirelessly to create something, they rallied towards the end and Sharvin was denied by another fine save. Almost immediately in the next attack Sharvin picked up Morrison’s pass to whip in a chance for Neale who did well to get his foot to it under pressure from Magee, but it spun wide.

In the first minute of added time Kennedy created an opening for Jack Sharvin and he stroked it home to make it 3-2.

The referee added six minutes of extra time and in the final minute of this, Jack Sharvin had the ball in the net, but the official had already blown for a free kick in favour of Killyleagh on the edge of the area.

Kilmore conceded a corner from the resultant kick, but when Killyleagh tried to play a short corner, they completely messed it up and McMenamin sprinted through, unselfishly picking out unmarked teenage sub Josh Smyth to stroke it past Carberry with the final shot of the game.

Cue the celebrations, with stand-in managers Smyth and Kielty delivering the perfect result for manager John Young, who missed the game due to a business trip.

Killyleagh YC: A Carberry, J Kennedy, G Carberry, D McConnell, JJ Sharvin, K Sullivan, L Morrison, Jamie Sharvin, A Neale, Jack Sharvin, S Kennedy. Subs: S Lindsay, D McComiskey, K Domican.

Kilmore: C Turley, L McGonagle, M Murphy, M Miskelly, C Magee, E McGrattan, T Macklin, R Blaney, G Stranney, B J McMenamin, P Casey. Subs: J Smyth, R Deegan, M Stewart.

Killyleagh YC 2

Kilmore Rec 4

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

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