Ruthless Kilmore look forward to Border decider

4 December 2013

KILMORE dispatched Downpatrick with clinical efficiency in a full-blooded Border Cup semi-final at Seaview on Wednesday night.

Mark Holland’s side displayed nerves of steel in front of goal — and Downpatrick didn’t.

It was as simple as that with Kilmore booking their place in the final against Albert Foundry on December 27, again at Seaview.

Both sides started slowly with Downpatrick’s Gerard Collins, Matthew Carson and Mark Curran detailed to pick up Philip Traynor and Peter Telford.

Despite their cautious formation, it was Downpatrick who created the first opportunity. Andrew Telford chased down a clearance from Blaine Connolly and squared the ball for Barry Treacy, but he snatched at his shot on the edge of the box and shot well wide.

With nine minutes gone Joe McKinney used all his guile and strength in the middle of the park to leave a few Downpatrick players floundering in his wake. The former Glentoran player then switched the ball inside to the supporting Sean Bell and he beat Conan Russell with an angled finish to give Kilmore the lead.

Five minutes later the marauding Matty Hardy won a free down Downpatrick’s right flank. Peter Casey chanced his arm with a swerving effort that beat Russell all ends up. Unfortunately for him, his effort crashed off the woodwork and was cleared by Carson.

Downpatrick retaliated through Treacy and with 20 minutes of a pulsating encounter gone, Michael McKenna did well to keep out a strike from the busy playmaker.

Liam Graham was booked for a bad foul on Bell and from the resulting free kick Johnny Cheevers collided with Russell when challenging for the ball in the box. The Downpatrick custodian certainly came off second best and requited treatment for a few minutes.

The action continued unabated and McKenna saved from Andrew Telford at one end before Philip Traynor blasted over from 30 yards out at the opposite end. Hardy was brought down by Collins in the middle of the park and from Stephen Douglas’s free, Peter Telford’s header went inches wide.

Kilmore were definitely creating the better chances at this stage and Bell fired wide after good work from Aaron McGarry.

Hardy’s diligence carved out an opening for Traynor inside the box just before the break.

Collins did well to block Traynor’s initial shot, the ball rebounded back to Traynor, who left fly again, but this time the ball struck Collins on the hand and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

Was it hand to ball or ball to hand? It didn’t matter and Douglas beat Russell with a confident strike, to make it 2-0.

The second half had barely started when the referee sent Downpatrick manager Kevin Trueman off for alleged verbal abuse — not what Downpatrick needed.

Kilmore still had the force with them and Traynor created a shooting chance for Bell, but he opted for a pass instead of pulling the trigger and the chance was gone.

Russell saved well from Casey before Karl Lewis, who had just replaced Hardy, released McKinney into space, but his shot was also saved by the Downpatrick ‘keeper.

Lewis, who gave Kilmore a new attacking dimension down the flank, was giving Connolly a rough ride and won several corners in quick succession.

Kilmore’s Casey was red-carded after he picked up a second yellow for standing in front of Russell as he attempted a clearance from his hands.

Andrew Telford burst through the Kilmore defence, but his shot was blocked by McKenna and at the other end McKinney blasted over after another surging run.

Downpatrick never gave up, but chances were hard to come by and Kilmore made them pay when Cheevers was on hand to whack in an unselfish pass from the impressive McKinney and seal a memorable win.

Kilmore Rec: M. McKenna, S. Douglas, M. Miskelly, A. McGarry, J. Cheevers, J. McKinney, M. Hardy, S. Bell, P. Telford, P. Casey, P. Traynor. Subs: O. Curran, K. Lewis, E. Boyle.

Downpatrick: C. Russell, B. Fitzsimons, B. Connolly, M. Carson, M. Curran, G. Collins, B. Treacy, C. Curran, S. Galbraith, A. Telford, L. Graham. Subs: M. McGarrity, C. Mullan, T. Bell.

Kilmore Rec 3

Downpatrick FC 0

BORDER CUP SEMI-FINAL

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