Understrength Kilmore surge past Crumlin

11 January 2012

KILMORE, despite missing six key players, never had to get into top gear when they freewheeled past an experienced Crumlin side at Robert Adams Park on Saturday to book their place in the fourth round of the Coca Cola Intermediate Cup.

However, it could all have been so different had the visitors taken a golden opportunity handed to them in the sixth minute. A poor clearance from goalkeeper Nathan Curran, his only mistake of the day, presented a scoring chance to Neil Corr, but his attempted lob back over Curran’s head from 25 yards out crashed into the crossbar.

Six minutes later Curran redeemed himself when he saved well to deny Corr, who was left unmarked at the back post.

Kilmore settled after this and started raiding down the flanks with Karl Lewis causing all sorts of problems down the right. From one such foray, Lewis launched an up and under into the danger zone.

Pearse Flynn, the Crumlin goalkeeper, came under pressure from Stevie Galbraith and Peter Casey and was unable to gather the ball in. Luckily for him Michael Scannell was on hand to hack the ball for a corner.

Crumlin failed to clear their lines from the set-piece and Ian Smyth pounced to get a shot in. His effort from 16 yards out was on target, but the wily Peter Casey stuck his boot out and left Flynn completely stranded as Smyth’s shot was redirected past the flummoxed custodian and into the net.

Crumlin had a chance to get back on level terms two minutes later, but Chris O’Kane headed wide when he got on the end of a Fergal Burke free kick.

With 25 minutes gone Stevie Rogan was inches away from getting on the end of a searing cross from Johnny Cheevers as Kilmore started to dominate with some neat football.

Flynn then saved smartly from Smyth before Casey wasted the best chance of the first half when he blazed wildly over the bar from close in after good work from Lewis and Rogan.

Kilmore lost Galbraith 15 minutes into the second half when he pulled up with a calf injury and was replaced by the eager Ryan Montgomery.

Crumlin continued to pose a threat on the counterattack and with 75 minutes gone Curran was forced into a good save by Dave Costello.

The home side finally put the game to bed in the 85th minute when Philip Traynor outjumped Flynn to head in a chipped cross from Lewis to make it 2-0.

Kilmore finished on top and Flynn kept the winning margin down when he saved brilliantly from Holland and Rogan. The Rec should have made it 3-0 in the closing seconds when the ball was put on a plate some six yards from goal for Lawrence McGonagle, but he shot wide when it would have been easier to score.

Kilmore Rec: N. Curran, P. Gill, M. Miskelly, M. Holland, J. Cheevers, I. Smyth, K. Lewis, S. Rogan, P. Casey, P. Traynor, S. Galbraith. Subs: L. McGonagle, R. Montgomery, M. Monan, C. Russell.

Kilmore Rec 2

Crumlin United 0

INTERMEDIATE CUP 3RD ROUND

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