Killyleagh YC Beat Ballynahinch Olympic In Tight Border Cup R2 Clash
Border Cup R2,
Venue: Kilmore Playing Fields,
Final Score: Ballynahinch Olympic 1 2 Killyleagh YC.
The Border Cup local derby clash was never going be a straight forward event as, although Killyleagh YC are certainly getting into shape, Ballynahinch Olympic too have shown good form lately and were playing on their home turf writes Jim Masson.
Killyleagh were missing Jamie Sharvin due to a leg injury and Kodi Carson has been nursing knee injuries and may ultimately require surgery … but he laced up his boots on Saturday and was subbed on the 75th minute when the game was getting very physical after he scored two goals.
It was Killyleagh who did the early attacking with Nathan Leckey feeding crosses and Jack Sharvin pressing on the centre ground. Kodi Carson was making good runs on the left wing probing the Olympic defence.
Kirk broke into the box early and fired the ball just over the Olympic top spar.
Jack Sharvin too was playing up front and also fired a shot over the bar. Olympic did make a few charges at the Killyleagh goal but the back line of Olympic were defending well with Walsh, Mornin, Flanaghan and Noade working well.
Then on the 16th minute, a long ball to Kodi Carson saw him get quick control and run into the Olympic box and slot the ball low to the right hand corner past keeper Josh Quinn.
(Check Match Action Photos on Down News Facebook)
At this point Killyleagh had certainly built up a head of steam and looked confident. They continued the pressure and Declan McComiskey was impeded outside the Olympic box. Sharvin took the free kick and went to midfielder Sam Kirk who blasted a solid shot on target but it came off a defender for a corner which was eventually cleared.
Gradually, Olympic started pushing out of their own half, then Nathan Jones launched a volley but Killyleagh keeper Matthew Boyle was forced to make a crucial save.
Olympic were making more runs at the Killyleagh goal area and the attacks on the home-side’s goal had all but died off.
But on 35 minutes, Sharvin crossed to Leckey who broke into the box but was flanked by two defenders and shot wide. Olympic were looking for an equaliser before half-time.
Then Olympic won a free kick 40 yards from the Killyleagh goal. The well-struck shot by Jones again forced keeper Boyle to make a do-or die save as the ball rocketed low to the right-hand corner of the goal. Olympic pressed again and this time it was Andrew Kilmartin who hit the ball over the Killyleagh top bar.
But before half-time, Killyleagh pressed forward and Caolan Lennon struck a good shot from outside the box and Sam Carson almost clipped it in.
Then just before the whistle for the break, James McClean hit a lovely low ball from across the Killyleagh goal which was inches from the back post. This possible equaliser could have punished Killyleagh in the last effort on that half.
The second half started with Olympic pressing from the whistle but Killyleagh came back and Sharvin passed to Sam Carson who blasted the ball from the back but it was blocked, then Killyleagh’s Kodi Carson struck it well but keeper Quinn pulled off a fantastic save.
Killyleagh were exerting pressure again and Sharvin launched a volley but it was just over the bar.
(Check Match Action Photos on Down News Facebook)
Then the game came alive even more when Jason Noade scored a penalty for Olympic equalising as the referee pointed to the spot… the shot beat Matthew Boyle to the left-hand side of the goal on the 53rd minute.
Killyleagh bounced back and a well-executed attack almost paid off but the ball flew over the top bar. Killyleagh were digging deep.
Then Olympic broke for the Killyleagh goal and won two corners. And this was followed by a Killyleagh break forcing a corner against Olympic.
The match had gone up a few notches in physicality, but on 56 minutes, Kodi Carson nailed his second goal making a comeback for Olympic looking more less likely.
Killyleagh continued the charges as Sharvin crossed to Leckey with Cain Mornin taking the shot but again the ball sailed again over the top post.
Kodi was replaced on 75 minutes and Killyleagh used up their 3 subs as did Olympic.
Sharvin broke forward passing to Leckey who put the ball back to Sharvin who passed to Cain Mornin whose shot sailed once more over the top bar.
But Olympic clawed their way back and won a corner then it was Ryan Walsh who hit a dipping volley over the Killyleagh top post.
Olympic did press for a late goal but the game remained tense until the final whistle when visitors Killyleagh won the laurels. It was a tough Border Cup match for both sides, very close at times, and hung in the balance towards the end as Olympic tried to squeeze a late goal.
Ballynahinch Olympic: 1 Joshua Quinn (GK) 2 Ryan Walsh 3 Cain Mornin 4 Niall Flanaghan 5 Jason Noade 6 James McClean 7 Caolan Burns 8 Andrew Kilmartin 10 Nathan Jones 14 Conor reid 17 Liam Sloan. Subs: 9 Adam McClean 12 Fernando McGann 13 Jack Roddy.
Killyleagh YC: 1 Mathew Boyle (GK) 2 Nathan Hamilton 3 Caolan Lennon 4 Ethan Davidson 5 Samuel Dinu 6 Sam Kirk 7 Nathan Leckey 8 Sam Carson (C) 9 Declan McComiskey 10 Jack Sharvin 11 Kodi Carson. Subs: 12 Conor Hamilton 14 Peter Strain 15 David Johnston.
