Ardglass GAC pressed hard by Kilclief visitors
Ardglass played into the strong wind blowing down the Ardtole pitch in this local derby against Kilclief which is always a hotly contested contest in the Division 4 clash writes Jim Masson.
From the whistle, Kilclief took advantage and foraged constantly into the Ardglass half looking for opening to score.
An early play from Kilclief’s Sean Cultra to David Shields saw Conal Magee burst through the Ardglass defence and his low shot was denied by keeper Stephen Moore for an early goal. But Kilclief opened the scoring with a point after some assertive attacks.
For almost 10 minutes Ardglass struggled to get the ball into the Kilclief goal area fighting the wind for the first time and a determined Kilclief defence.
Caolan O’Shea and John O’Connor made a great move to cut through the Kilclief defence but the kick went wide. Ardglass dug deep and fought back trying to keep Kilclief out of their half.
Adglass had one opportunity when they passed the ball along the 45 line and eventually Corey Mahon unleashed a shot but that was wide too in the difficult wind conditions.
But Kilclief came fighting back and Calum Shields was just wide with a free.
Ardglass enjoyed a positive attack involving Corey Mahon, Stephen Rooney, John Polley and Shea Dorian but the initiative ended up with Owen Curran kicking for a goal close to the sticks and Kilclief keeper Gregg Holland blocking the shot well.
Ardglass, although under pressure from Kilclief, saw John Polley play a key role midfield in feeding balls upfield.
Then Ardglass enjoyed a point scored by Chris Armstrong on 22 minutes but they were still just a point ahead of Kilclief in this low scoring match. Caolan O’Shea converted the free when Curran had been brought down
Kilclief made an excellent reply breaking forward and David Shields just went wide with his kick in play.
Kilclief persisted and eventually Fionn McFall scored a point for the visitors.
Again O’Shea managed to force his way through the Kilclief wall and kick at the posts taking a valuable point putting Ardglass 0-4 to 0-2 ahead.
Then Curran managed to fist the ball over the Kilclief bar for another point.
Just before half time, O’Shea kicked for another point from the right and Ardglass had done enough to secure the upper hand going into the second period with the wind advantage.
Ardglass went straight into the attack on the the whistle and on 2 minutes O’Shea again broke forward but Kilclief managed to block the effort. The visitors then pressed forward in an attempt to pull back a few points.
Kilclief’s David Shields scored from a free, then a pass from McFall to Shields saw Kilclief a goal up as he hammered the ball past keeper Stephen Moore changing the scoreline in a kick.
Ardglass fought back immediately and a pass from Mahon to Polley to Dorrian brought another point for Ardglass.
Kilclief mounted another rally when Thomas Fitzsimmons passed to Shields on the right and again McFall was there to take the point.
Then Kilclief took a free on the 45 line and McFall sent it into the Ardglass goalmouth but it was well caught by Malachy Crangle.
Kilclief challenged again but Ardglass stood firm then in one move, Kilclief’s Stephen Savage passed to McFall who almost converted to a goal were it not for the dogged Ardglass defence.
Owen Curran managed to get a point from a long kick putting Ardglass just in the lead. Then the home side dug deep and pressed forward again and secured a late point by Curran.
Kilclief’s 2 goals had saved the day for them as the teams drew even on the final whistle as Kilclief were pushing Ardglass to the wire in this hard-fought local derby as Shields made a final real effort as the game ended.
Ardglass GAC: Stephen Moore, Davin O’Shea, Malachy Curran, Sean Paul Halpen, Corey Mahon, Stephen Rooney, Dara O’SDhea, John Polley, Chris Armstrong, Shea Dorian, Ciaran Dorrian, Owen Curran, Jamie McDerby, John O’Connor, Caolan O’Shea.
Kilclief GAC: Greg Holland, Liam Gordon, Nathan McMullan, James Shields, Calum Fitzsimmons, Sean Cultra, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Callum Shields, Declan Mearne, Shea Savage, Finn McFall, Conal Magee, Caolan Vaughan, Paul Donnelly, David Shields.
