NAFL Division 1A
The Showgrounds, 30th April 2016.
Killyleagh YC 0 Dromara 2
Adam McDonald helped shoot Dromara closer to safety in Division 1A.
Striker McDonald scored an early opener and capped off a man of the match performance, leading the line, to inspire Gerard McMahon’s Dromara side to a fully deserved win.
It means the Villagers, who at one stage seemed anchored to the bottom, have won six of their last eight games to give themselves a realistic chance of avoiding the drop with three games to play.
It was the visitors who opened brightest and no great shock when McDonald gave them the lead in the 10th minute, superbly finishing off Kevin Shortt’s pass.
Dromara seemed quicker to the ball, and more up for in the opening half, and although Darren McConnell and Philip Rogan tried hard to get Killyleagh back into it, the YC were only able to create half chances with Ben Murdock and Ruari McArdle dominant in the centre of the backline for Dromara.
When Stevie Kennedy escaped his marker, Shaun O’Hare was impressive between the sticks. At the opposite end, Alastair Coburn prevented Dromara increasing their lead, doing well to keep out McDonald.
At the start of the second half, Killyleagh went close with a Rogan header from McConnell’s free kick and then in the 53rd minute O’Hare saved well from sub Stefan Lynch and in the follow up, Kennedy’s effort cannoned off a Dromara defender.
McMahon’s side were in control in the midfield sector and dangerous on the break. They almost doubled their lead only for Coburn to win the race against Johnny Gregg.
The game was getting stretched and although Killyleagh were still not firing on all cylinders, Rogan’s effort was blocked after good work from Kennedy and Lynch, while at the opposite end McDonald had a stunning snap shot well saved by Coburn in the 68th minute.
Within five minutes Killyleagh went close on three occasions. Rogan’s snap shot was comfortably saved, Peter Strain blazed inches over with the YC’s best chance of the game and then in the home side’s best move of the day, McConnell, Kennedy and Rogan linked for Kennedy to blast just over.
Dromara made it 2-0 when a quick counter-attack saw Philip Kerr race through and chip beautifully over Coburn to the empty net.
In the dying minutes Killyleagh at last showed some urgency and Rogan skimmed a beauty of a cross over that Ryan Blaney couldn’t connect with. And then in added time, McConnell’s header was cleared off the line by Ryan McVeigh.
Killyleagh YC: Alistair Coburn, John Murray, Jonathan Sharvin, John Murray, Jordan Kennedy, Ryan Blaney, Peter Strain, Darren McConnell, Philip Rogan, Stephen Kennedy, Peter Russell. Subs: Jack Forbes, Aaron Gilmartin, Stephan Lynch.
Dromara Village: Shaun O’Hare, Nathan Hamilton, Ryan McVeigh, Ben Murdoch, Ruairi McArdle, James Lindsay, John Gregg, Adam Gregg, Kevin Shortt, Adam McDonald, Philip Kerr. Subs: Darren Gibson, Taylor Graham, Jamie Collins.
