Kilmore need big change in fortune

26 October 2016

AFTER a week’s break, Kilmore were back in action at home at Robert Adams Park against a good St Patrick’s side and following three defeats in a row, the Rec were anxious to put a stop to their bad run of form.

The opening quarter of the game was a tight affair with both teams struggling to create any clear-cut chances.

Kilmore were hit with an early blow when they were forced into an early change after midfielder Larry McGonagle hurt his ankle and was replaced by Michael McGreevy.

Kilmore were boosted by the return of some key players. Rory McDonnell started up front, and was a constant pest to the St Pat’s defence by making some great runs in behind the back four and showing a tenacious attitude to tirelessly chase down any lost cause balls.

Kilmore also welcomed back Jack Larkin, who made an impressive return at the heart of the defence by continuously reading the game well and carrying the ball out of defence calmly and confidently going past three or four men each time to push the Rec up the field.

In the 30th minute Matthew Stewart produced some lovely play down the left hand side to get past his man and play in Anton McGrattan, but he was denied by a great save from the St Pat’s ‘keeper.

Kilmore kept up the good play for the rest of the first half, with a lot of intense pressing, forcing St Pat’s to go long, which resulted in them winning the ball back with the attacking trio of McDonnell, Stewart and John Patterson looking dangerous on the counterattack.

Kilmore couldn’t make their good pressure pay as the whistle went for half-time.

St Pat’s started the second half on the front foot by testing ‘keeper, Christopher Turley down to his right hand side. Kilmore started to become sloppy in midfield by continuously giving the ball away, presenting the St Pat’s forward line with various attempts on goal at Turley.

Kilmore made their second substitution in the 68th minute when Stewart was replaced by Ryan Slavin up front.

Kilmore were punished for their sloppy play a few minutes later when a ball was launched into the box that fell to the unmarked St Pat’s number 9, who controlled the ball superbly on his chest to produce an overhead kick which beat Turley to make it 1-0.

Kilmore pressed hard for the last 10 minutes in search of an equaliser and they were presented with one last chance after Larkin latched onto a goal kick from Turley that beat the St Pats back four, but he stabbed it just wide of the goal.

Another frustrating defeat for the Rec, who played well in large periods of the game, but once again found themselves rueing the same mistakes.

A lack of clinical play up front and one moment of disorganisation undid all the hard work and ended up costing them the game.

That’s now an unwanted four defeats in a row for Kilmore who face a tricky away trip to East Belfast at East Park on Saturday at 2pm.

KIlmore Rec: Christopher Turley, Luke McGreevy, Jack Larkin, Michael Murphy, Mark Miskelly, John Patterson, Larry McGonagle, Eoin McGrattan, Matthew Stewart, Anton McGrattan, Rory McDonnell. Subs: Michael McGreevy, Ryan Slavin, Conor McStay.

Kilmore Rec 0

St Patrick’s YM 1

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

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