Callum’s steel sinks Ardglass

2 September 2015

ICE machine Callum Dougan curled in a 93rd minute free kick to send Kilmore through to the third round of the Steel & Sons Cup and a home meeting with Rathfern Rangers.

The teenage goalscoring sensation, who had earlier netted from the penalty spot, showed that he has inherited all of his dad’s predatory instincts — and there is still a lot to come from this new kid on the block.

Dad Davy also had a love affair with the Steel and Sons Cup — he scored the winning goal for Killyleagh in the 2002 final against Chimney Corner,. Who knows what lies around the corner?

Both sides were barely recognisable from last season with only a handful of regulars available to the respective managers, but those on offer put in a decent show.

Kilmore were first to threaten and with six minutes gone young Dougan sent over a tantalising cross from the right that begged to be put away, but there was nobody in the six-yard box to convert.

Four minutes later Kilmore made the breakthrough when a long ball from the outstanding Jack Larkin found its way to Aidy Denvir, who had ghosted in behind Neil Teggart and Caolin O’Shea.

Denvir killed the ball with his first touch and beat Gareth Rice all ends up with his second.

Two minutes later Michael McGarritty, who ran himself to a standstill for the cause in midfield, blasted well wide after brother Ciaran had played him in.

Ardglass were getting a lot of purchase out of Mark Feenan and Malachy Crangle down the right flank and all that was missing was a killer ball into the box. With 23 minutes gone Ardglass hit Kilmore on the break, but Conan Russell was quickly off his line to deny Liam Graham a sniff of the ball.

The visitors continued to look the likelier side and with 31 minutes gone they really should have equalised when they had Kilmore all over the place, but they tried to walk the ball into the net and when Graham did pull the trigger, Conan saved well.

With 35 minutes gone Rice earned his corn when he did well to keep out an effort from Gerard Jervis after great approach play from Larkin.

Ardglass were not to be denied, though and just before the break right back Aaron Ibinson was on hand to poke the ball over the line after a Graham header was parried out by Russell.

Kilmore were back in front a minute after the restart when Neil Teggart bundled Denvir over in the box and Dougan beat Rice with a perfectly placed penalty.

The game died a bit of a death for a while with Kilmore happy to let Ardglass play the ball in front of them and it took the visitors another 24 minutes before we saw another piece of goalmouth action when Denvir had a shot saved by Rice.

With 30 minutes gone a superb through ball from Ciaran McGarritty picked out Dougan on the charge, but he wanted one touch too many as he entered the box and Peter Kelly averted the danger.

Eight minutes later at the other end Russell produced the save of the match when he denied Luke Mulhall a certain goal with an unbelievable save.

Russell was definitely the busier goalkeeper the longer the game went on, but Ardglass just could not find an equaliser as the 90 minutes came and went.

However, two minutes into added time Grahan got his head to a Neil Teggart cross forcing Russell into a point blank save.

The ball came off the wood work and into the path of the adventurous Ibinson to make it 2-2 in the 92nd minute.

Extra-time loomed, but Kilmore had one last throw of the dice and when Kelly fouled Denvir just outside the box. up stepped Dougan to curl in a slide-rule free kick that gave Rice no chance.

Kilmore Rec: C Russell, M Miskelly, C McGarritty, J Larkin, J Polley, L McGonagle, A Denvir, M McGarritty, C Dougan, G Jervis, J Montgomery. Subs: I Smyth, C McStay, M Stewart, J Murray, A Hanna.

Ardglass: G Rice, C Teggart, M Crangle, N Teggart, C O’Shea, L Mulhall, P Kelly, A Ibinson, M Feenan, L Graham, D Smyth. Subs: K O’Neill, J Finnegan, L Mullan.

Kilmore Rec 3

Ardglass 2

STEEL & SONS CUP 2ND ROUND

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