Border Cup Round 1
Kilmore Rec 2 6 Ballynahinch Olympic
@ Robert Adams Park
@ Robert Adams Park
Saturday 27th October.
This match was always going to be hard fought contest between two competitive local teams writes Darren McGoran and proved to be an eight goal thriller.
Ballynahinch Olympic made the short trip to Robert Adams Park to take on John Young’s Kilmore Rec who have had a solid start in this seasons league campaign.
With Olympic also looking good so far this season, this was a game that promised to entertain. A large crowd from both clubs and neutrals had gathered to see which team would take the spoils in this local derby.
Kilmore began the match well and threatened early on, getting in behind the Olympic defence on a number of occasions. It took Ballynahinch goalkeeper Ryan Walsh to be on form to keep out the Kilmore forward line. Olympic huffed and puffed for spells in the first half without ever really getting into stride. However, it was Olympic who took the lead midway through the first half when Jason Noade was there to finish off a cross from the right hand side. Kilmore once again pressed Olympic until the break and will have counted themselves unlucky to go in at half-time one goal to nil down.
The second half began the opposite to the first with Olympic coming fastest out of the blocks. Ballynahinch seemed to find their game during the half time break and it didn’t take long for them to stretch their lead to 2-0 with a goal that can only be described as special from on fire Nathan Jones around the 50 minute mark.
The next 5 mins saw the Ballynahinch Olmpic men score 2 more goals in quick succession through Niall Murray and a second for Nathan Jones. Kilmore seemed to be shellshocked by how Olympic had began the second half, and Olympic put the tie beyond doubt when Jones completed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute as Ballynahinch led by 5-0.
By this stage both managers had began to make a few changes, and Kilmore soon got a goal back from substitute BJ McMenamin who converted from the penalty spot. Kilmore began to see more of the ball as Ballynahinch appeared to be happy to defend their 5-1 lead. With 15 mins remaining Kilmore found the net again with a goal from Anton McGrattan.
However Ballynahinch were not finished yet as they added a sixth goal through Adam McLean in the 83rd minute. Just before the action ended Kilmore were reduced to 10 men, with Pearse McCarthy seeing red for what the referee saw as a forceful and dangerous tackle in what was otherwise a fairly contested affair.
With Ballynahinch Olympic running out 6-2 winners they will now face St Lukes in the 2nd round.
