A hard fought match between Comber Rec and Kilmore Rec was settled by a single goal in extra time
The NAFL,
Border Cup Round 2,
Venue: Park Way, Saturday 20th September 2025,
Final Score: Comber Rec 1 0 Kilmore Rec.
This Border Cup round 2 clash was much awaited by the fans on both sides and the teams gave their all in a gruelling battle to gain a lead, but the match hovered towards extra time and even ending on a gopal-less draw.
Both teams had opportunities throught the match and it was Kilmore that got off on the front foot with a number of strong attacks and breaks often led by Joe Healy.
But Comber defence were equally resilient and manage dto fight off whatever Kilmore threw at them.
Comber were under-powered a their chief striker Elliot Wilson was recovering from a leg injury and other players such as Kris Gaw, Matthew Tumilson and Matthew Gibson were unavailable through holidays and injury.
Kilmore pressed early by eventually Comber settled down to address the task in hand.
Alex Burtney managed to get a volley in but just went wide. But Comber came back into the game and Elliot Wilson crossed to James Sofley who shot was just slightly off target.
Gradually Dylan Donaldson started to harass the defenders with his darting dribbles on the left wing. Then Sofley got into the Kilmore goalmouth but keeper Neven Minard got the ball under his control.
Gradually Comber ramped up the pressure on Kilmore but the visitors would not bend and on one break Tieran Fitzsiomons crossed to Joe Healy but keeper Corey Pollock made a good save.
BORDER CUP – Comber Rec v Kilmore Rec action photos LINK
Burtney was making some fire runs down the left for Kilmore but the dogged Comber defence were there to block his efforts.
Lex Walker started to play more forward and at one point had a goal opportunity in the box but was well tackled by defender and Kilmore captain Jack Larkin.
Then Conor Curran fired a low volley at the Comber goal but keeper Corey Pollock saved it well.
Just before the whistle for half-time, Joe Healy hit a strike from inside the Comber box but it went wide.
Then as the whistle blew for half-time Conor Curran hit a challenging shot at an angle but Pollock again made a solid save denying Kilmore.
The sides went off goal-less at half-time despite missing opportunities.
In the second half Comber came out pressing forward with Donaldson making a great cross to Chris Murray on the right.
Sofley hit a powerful low hit but Minard dropped down on it well.
Lex Walker came up into a forward position on the right and was feeding balls into the Kilmore box.
Kilmore won a series of corners as they fought back but again none were converted.
In the 65th minute, Elliot Wilson suffered a nasty head injury and had to go for treatment and was replaced by Stephen Moore.
But Comber were determined to grind down Kilmore. But the game finished after 90 minutes at 0-0 and went into extra-time.
Comber has been pressing as hard as they could but with key missing players it was difficult to get the edge.
Then in a break Stephen Hanna chipped the ball to Walker whose header almost made it over the line.
Lex Walker was in the thick of the action determined to turn the match round.
Then Chris Murray took a corner for Comber and the ball bobbled around the ball mouth as Kilmore failed to clear it and after a scramble for possession, it was Oliver Wilson who hammered it in on the 101st minute of play to the jubilations of the Comber players and fans.
There was a triple booking of Comber players over 3 minutes before the re-start as the players celebrated.
Kilmore pressed back and again were just off-target over the bar with a Caolan Conlon volley.
This match was as close as it could get with both teams giving their all. Comber came out on top but will re-group over the next couple of weeks when their key players get back into the action and get ready for the Border Cup Round 3.
Kilmore Rec can hold their heads up high as they put up an excellent fight against tough opponents.
Comber Rec: 1 Corey Pollock (GK) 2 Stephen Fleck 3 Lex Walker 4 Christian Irvine 5 Stuart Moore 6 Brandon Nelson 7 Dylan Donaldson 8 Simon Hanna (C) 9 James Sofley 10 Elliot Wilson 11 Christopher Murray. Subs: 12 Reece Whittle 14 Oliver Wilson and 15 Sam Moore.
Kilmore Rec: 1 Neven Minard (GK) 2 Christopher Magee 3 Conor Curran 4 Jack Larkin (C) 5 Yaroslav Panfilov 6 Eoin McGrattan 7 Shay McGrattan 8 Joe Healy 9 Tieran Fitzsimons 10 Caolan Conlon 11 Alex Burtney. Subs: 12 Cai Gemmell 14 Oisin Mulholland 16 Noah Miskelly.
