Heavens above it’s Larry’s day as Kilmore win again

9 March 2016

LARRY McGonagle swooped like an avenging angel to finally kill off Malachians at Robert Adams Park on Saturday with a last-gasp winner.

His heavenly strike in the 87th minute sealed Kilmore’s first league win since they beat Nortel 3-0 last September and gives Graham McConnell’s side a fighting chance of avoiding relegation.

The Rec, who have been cast adrift at the bottom of the table, are now only a point behind second from bottom Islandmagee with five games in hand and seven points behind fourth from bottom Malachians with three games in hand.

Saturday’s basement battle started well for Malachians, but with three minutes gone Mark McCourt wasted a good scoring opportunity when he shot side from a great position.

With 17 minutes gone Malachians felt they should have had a penalty when Jack Larkin felled Gary Kelly in the box, but the referee, who was perfectly placed, felt the Kilmore defender got the ball first.

Jerome McAtee was also out of luck when he blasted a free kick narrowly over the top before Kilmore struck on the break. Malachians failed to deal with a free kick and Aidy Denvir drilled in a beauty from the edge of the box.

Kilmore now looked the part and Niall Largey did well to keep out a free kick from John Polley. However, Malachians didn’t have long to wait for their equaliser and with 36 minutes gone a slip from Eoin McGrattan allowed Gary Kelly to sneak in and beat Chris Turley with a good finish.

A minute after the restart Denvir wasn’t far away after an enterprising run and six minutes later he shot tamely at Largey after again taking the fight to Malachians.

The visitors enjoyed a few good moments themselves in the early stages of the second half and Terry McDonald should have scored following a hectic goalmouth scramble.

With 70 minutes gone Gary Kennedy, who made a more than useful contribution in his first game back in two years, combined with Denvir to carve out a chance for Matty Hardy, but he shot wide.

Kilmore survived another goalmouth scramble as Malachians dominated and two minutes later Chris Turley saved from Aaron Sharpe as the visitors pressed.

Back came Kilmore and Largey saved from Kennedy before Hardy shot well wide. Jack Montgomery cleared the ball off the line at the other end as both sides went for the winner.

The game was destined for a draw until McGonagle’s heavenly intervention.

Polley floated a free kick into the box and the Kilmore skipper ghosted in to get his head on the ball. Largey did exceptionally well to keep out McGonagle’s initial effort, but Larry was able to keep his composure and steer the rebound into the net.

Kilmore ran the clock down in the remaining three minutes plus five added, but they deservedly held on for three priceless points.

Kilmore Rec: C Turley, E McGrattan, M Miskelly, J Larkin, J Polley, I Smyth, R McDonnell, L McGonagle, G Kennedy, A Denvir, M Hardy. Subs: J Montgomery, S Carville, M Stewart.

Malachians: N Largey, G O’Neill, A Sharpe, B Downey, C Devlin, A Laing, J McAtee, G Kelly, M McCourt, J Donnan, T McDonald. Subs: P Corr, F Taipun, B Webb.

Kilmore Rec 2

Malachians 1

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