Killough FC Power Past Dromara IIIs In Harry Clarke Cup Quarter Final
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
Harry Clarke Cup Quarter Final,
Venue: Millfield, Killough, on Saturday 19th February 2024,
Final Score: Killough 4 1 Dromara Village III.
Killough FC have battled their way into the Harry Clarke C semi-final after beating Dromara Village IIIs 4-1 in a game they dominated for much of the time despite not firing on all cylinders writes Jim Masson.
Killough had a tentative start ensuring they didn’t give away any early goals by underestimating the Dromara side.
Then gradually Killough stepped up a gear on 8 minutes when Gareth George (captain) blasted a cross coming in from the right but it was just over the top bar but showed Killough’s intentions from the start.
The home side started to up the pressure and Tony McIlhone who kept up a strong pace through the game broke thgrough the back line and forced keeper Shaun O’Hare to come 40 yards out to block him.
Then it was Declan Looney’s turn to squeeze forward and he almost found space to score, then in another burst he got into the Dromara box and again had room to slot the ball last keeper O’Hare to open the scoresheet for Killough on 13 minutes.
Killough followed up with another solid attack involving Declan Burns, Ben McLaughlin, Lee Murphy and which saw Daniel Taggart make one of his many runs at the goal but keeper O’Hare again managed to rush out to narrow the shot and blocking.
Murphy followed this with a volley from 30 yards but the ball rose and was fingered over the top bar by the keeper for a corner aided by the gusty wind. But again O’Hare was rising to the occasion and got the ball under control.
Killough folloerd this with another break and this time Daniel Taggart just missed the chance of a header into the back post.
CHECK OUT 33 MATCH PHOTOS ON DOWN NEWS FACEBOOK
The level of tension did ratchet up but referee Barry Mullan kept the game under good control.
Then on 34 minutes Declan Burns extended the score to 2-0 when he knocked the ball in after Looney had hit twice for goal but the first tome it bounced off the keeper and the second tine off a defender at close range.
Dromara did manage to made a few useful breaks but by and large they were well contained by the able Killough back line.
There were quite a few opportunities for Killough which they did not capitalise on. But it was good goal-keeping from O’Hare that kept the score low at this point.
On One occasion O’Hare managed to intervene when McIlhone broke forward and passed to Looney who almost nicked the ball into the net were it not for the vigilant keeper.
As the first half ended Killough were the dominant side and Dromara IIIs had it all to do.
Tensions rose around the 53rd minute as Killough were getting frustrated at not clocking up another goal and both Killough’s Cillian Burns and Dromara’s sub Daniel Hughes received yellow cards.
CHECK OUT 33 PHOTOS ON DOWN NEWS FACEBOOK
Killough ground on and made constant charges at the Dromara goal with the visitors enjoying an occasion break some of which looked promising.
Looney was working hard to get another goal and one volley from the middle of the box just sailed over the top bar.
Then on the 61st minute, Dromara’s Paul Flynn pulled a vital goal back striking from the middle of the box keeping their hopes alive and raising Killough’s anxiety levels of the unthinkable.
The game did have it fair share of corners for Killough as they kept grinding away at Dromara.
Then in the 73rd minute Tony McIlhone unleashed a Taggart cross into the back of the Dromara net restoring the faith in their football gods.
And Taggart making great runs on the left minutes later almost replicated this goal with a cross to Looney.
A free was given and the kick ran under the defenders’ wall getting a touch for another corner. Gareth George almost riveted the ball to the top of the Dromara net but was just off target a fraction.
The ever-green McIlhone kept up the attacking pace and and a volley on target was well saved by keeper O’Hare who certainly had managed to keep the score line down.
Killough were finding plenty of opportunities but could not get the ball in the net agai such as when George took a corner and Ben McLaughlin tried to creatively flick the ball inside the near post.
In the closing minutes Looney hit a screecher but the ball came off the Dromara post and Taggart hit the rebound but O’Hare managed to hold the shot.
Taggart was relentless in his attacks from the left and was taken down by 2 defenders fairly as he almost got into the back of the Dromara box.
Then right on the final whistle, Cillian Burns decisively netted the ball hitting low past O’Hare.
CHECK OUT 33 MATCH PHOTOS ON DOWN NEWS FACEBOOK
The Killough back line of Sean Og Burns, Gareth George, Caoimhin Groves and Eamon Gargan had proved to be sound on the day in dealing with the occasional Dromara attacks, some of which were challenging.
In the end Killough enjoyed a convincing win but made hard work of it. The pitch was quite soft given the heavy rain overnight and. ashower around mid-day.
Killough will be looking forward now to their next match in the Harry Clarke Cup semi-final.
The Harry Clarke Cup Final will be played on Easter Monday, 1st April, 2024. Time to be announced.
Killough FC: 1 Pearse McCarthy GK 2 Sean Og Burns 3 Gareth George (C) 4 Caoihmin Groves 5 Eamon Gargan 6 Cillian Burns 7 Lee Murphy 8 Tony McIlhone 9 Declan Looney 10 Declan Burns 11 Daniel Taggart. Subs: 14 Ben McLaughin 15 Jamie McIlhone 16 Ruairi Sharvin.
Dromara Village III. Shaun O’Hare (GK) 2 Jack Owens 3 Reuben Turner 4 Paul Flyn 5 Rowan Taylor 6 Timothy Sherlock 7 Brendan McNeil 8 Dawson Kelly 9 Niall Wells 10 Ryan Gallaghjer 11 Daniel Hughes (C). Subs: 12 Ross Stevenson 14 Matthew Crossey 15 Erwin Ferguson.
