Traynor on fire as Kilmore battle to hang on for point

Traynor on fire as Kilmore battle to hang on for point

25 March 2015

KILMORE had to settle for a point in an entertaining clash at Robert Adams Park on Saturday.

The local side started in whirlwind fashion and when Johnny Cheevers slipped in a precise pass to centre forward Philip Traynor, the club top scorer did the rest, outpacing a static Immaculata defence and firing past keeper Gerard Smyth to score his 16th goal of the season.

The visitors countered with a fine Kevin McGovern volley, but keeper Conan Russell was alert and caught it cleanly.

Paddy Branney and Shane Murray combined well and it took an agile save from Smyth to deny Murray a goal. Padraig Adams tried his luck from 25 Lee Morrison nearly made it 2-0 when his free kick took a wicked deflection, but with Smyth well beaten the ball went narrowly wide.

Conan Russell saved low down from a Davy McAllister shot as Immaculata drove forward in numbers looking for an equaliser.

The new forward pairing of Traynor and Murray combined well on several counter attacks and Smyth had to alert to deny them.

At the other end Paddy Branney had to be quick to stop Barry Baggley bursting through and Conan Russell saved an Adams shot by spectacularly finger-tipping his effort over the bar.

Immaculata’s equaliser came when Colm ORiordan latched on to a through ball from Darren Bell and despite challenges from both Larkin and Polley , the big midfielder had the strength to shoot low past Russell.

Shane Murray burst through for Kilmore but shot straight at Smyth and Paddy Branney picked up the first yellow card of the match when he blocked Barry Baggley bursting through. The resultant free saw Russell make a fine save from an Adams piledriver.

Traynor cheekily lobbed Smyth from fully 40 yards but saw his effort go just wide. Jack Larkin had a last gasp clearence after James Haughem put over a great cross.

Three minutes before half time the visitors took the lead when Padraig Adams and Colm O’Riordan combined for Adams to shoot to the net. Traynor had a great solo run and his shot, which was well saved by Smyth, was the last action of the opening half.

Kilmore made the brighter to the second half. Traynor tried his luck with a 25-yard drive from the angle of the box.

He then went on a run down the left wing, leaving two defenders in his wake, and crossed for strike parter Shane Murray to blast to the net past Smyth.

On the hour mark Kilmore brought on Matty Hardy for the injured Ian Smyth.  Immaculata had a sustained period of play and Russell was called on twice to save from Adams.

Kilmore manager Neil OBank was forced into another change when Michael McGreevy limped off and was replaced by Daniel Smith.

Johnny Cheevers drove forward from midfield and let fire, but keeper Smyth saved well. Smyth was soon back in action when he got behind a John Polley free kick.

Cheevers had another fine effort when again he drove forward in a counter attacking Kilmore move and shot just wide with Smyth well beaten.

Lee Morrison had a great left-footed shot saved by Smyth before OBank was forced to bring himself into the arena after John Polley limped off with an ankle injury. His first touch was an impressive Del Pierro-style volley which keeper Gerard Smyth did well to get behind.

In injury time the visitors had two attempts to win the game.

A Sean McGovern effort went narrowly wide of Russell’s far post and Paddy Branney made a last-gasp clearance from close to the goal-line to make sure his side earned a valuable point.

Kilmore Rec 2

Immaculata 2

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