Dromara stumble in chase for title

Dromara stumble in chase for title

7 March 2012

DROMARA were knocked off their perch at the top of the table when Kilmore held them to a draw at Bells Bridge in an entertaining and high-scoring derby.

However, it was Dromara manager Phil McDonagh who was the happier with a share of the spoils, given that he was missing seven regulars for one reason or another.

Kilmore, who were also missing a few big names, went into the last 14 minutes of the game set fair for a win after Blaine Connolly had brought them level in the 76th minute, but Dromara stoically held firm.

The game got off to an explosive start and it was 1-1 after only three minutes.

Spectators were still filing into the ground when Matty McConnell beat Kilmore’s offside trap and latched onto a through ball from K. P. Johnson.

McConnell took one touch as he closed in on the Kilmore box and drilled one into the bottom corner of the net with chilling efficiency.

Sixty seconds later at the other end, Mark Holland wriggled his way past two defenders and somehow crossed for Philip Traynor to stab home at the back post.

The game now resembled a basketball match with the combatants taking turns to attack, but it was Dromara who looked the livelier with McConnell and Johnny Jess showing some nice trickery out wide on the respective flanks.

With 16 minutes gone Kilmore launched a counterattack and Kieran Gordon saved well from Mark Holland after the Kilmore man had linked up with well Stevie Galbraith and Rogan.

Back came Dromara and with 18 minutes gone Johnny Jess embarked on a twinkling solo run that took him past several defenders on his way to the edge of the box, but he was forced into shooting when off balance and his strike went well wide.

Kilmore then took the lead when Holland carved out a chance for Karl Lewis after superb work from Connolly and the wide man stroked the ball home at full stretch.

The first half was drawing to a close when Thompson pounced. Declan O’Connor, found a bit of time in the box and lofted the ball across the face of goal for Thompson to head past a static Nathan Curran.

Dromara started the second half with mean intent and with three minutes gone Brendan McNamee cushioned a McConnell cross header into the path of Thomson and the flame-haired striker made no mistake with another clinical strike.

Kilmore retaliated immediately and with 53 minutes gone Telford let one fly from 25 yards out.

His effort looked destined for the back of the net, but the crossbar intervened.

Two minutes later a Thompson corner was met at the back post by O’Connor, but Curran managed to hack the ball clear.

This was to be Dromara’s last real chance as Kilmore upped the ante and took a stranglehold on the middle of the park.

A Galbraith free kick in the 76th minute wasn’t cleared by the Dromara defence and Connolly got lucky when he returned an attempted clearance out of a crowded box with purchase to make it 3-3.

It was a case of who dares wins now and it was Kilmore who dared when it matters most.

They bombed forward in numbers and a Holland goal was mysteriously disallowed in the 80th minute before Gordon saved well from Telford.

It was not to be for Kilmore as a dogged Dromara defence held out for a deserved draw and a share of the points that keeps them honest in second place behind Ards rangers.

Dromara Village: K. Gordon, M. O’Gorman, P. Johnson, J. McDonagh, D. McKiernan, M. McConnell, K. P. Johnson, B. McNamee, D. O’Connor, A. Thompson, J. Jess. Subs: G. Rowan, P. McDonagh, G. McDonagh.

Kilmore Rec: N. Curran, S. Bell, B. Connolly, M. Miskelly, P. Gill, P. Telford, K. Lewis, S. Rogan, M. Holland, P. Traynor, S. Galbraith. Subs: L. McGonagle, M. Monan, I. Smyth.

Dromara Village 3

Kilmore Rec 3