Killough FC enjoy two goal victory over Celtic Bhoys in bruising encounter
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League.
Harry Clarke Semi-Final.
Ballyhornan, Friday 24th March.
Final Score: Celtic Bhoys 0 2 Killough FC.
On a cold, blustery night at Ballyhornan, Celtic Bhoys and Killough faced each other in the NFU Mutual Harry Clarke Cup sem–final.
Both teams went into fourth gear from the whistle, but the windy conditions made play and ball control difficult.
Celtic had an early incursion into the Killough half but the game eventually settled into a see-saw affair with both teams trying to attack their opponent’s goal areas but initially there were few moments to wite home about as both sides were closing down attacks wuite sharply.
Jarlath Branagan sent an excellent low free kick through the Killough box but there were no takers. Then Celtic’s Shaun Megahey made another excellent cross but there wa sno=one at the end of it.
Killough captain Gareth George managed to fire off a shot at the Celtic goal but it went just over the bar. And again Killough had another opportunity when Connor Kelly launched a left footed volley but that too was over, the wind being a factor.
On a break at 15 minutes, Sean Ferris and Jordan McCoubrey almost got clear on a run into the Killough box but the ball ran on too fast in the wind.
Celtic’s Conor Kelly managed to take the ball into the Celtic box and from a sharp angle rounded the defender and shot a bending ball on target at the Killough goal on 23 minutes but Nathan Curran expertly got it under control.
Celtic Bhoys seemed to have an advantage first half as the wind was blowing down towards the Killough goal, but the ball was hard to control at the best of times.
There was quite a lot of ariel soccer as players vied for the ball in the air. Then after a lull in the action, Sean Ferris hit a great shot on target but Conor Doyle was on form and got it under control.
On 38 minutes Celtic players were calling for a penalty as Conor Doherty was brought down by Caolain Logue in the box but referee Barry Mullan waved play on.
Then in a Killough attack Jay Gibney took a snap shot but keeper Curran saved it.
Half-Time score: 0:0.
Early in the second half, it became apparent that Killough, the hungrier of the two, were getting the upper hand and that the Celtic Bhoys attacks were dropping off in their effectiveness although they had the homeside advantage.
Killough won a corner and Conor Kelly was just wide of the Celtic post with his volley from the back of the box.
Then Celtic Bhoys defender Sean McGahey was red carded for a offence. Killough then upped the pressure.
Declan Looney then made a strong run down the left and battled past the defenders and found space to slot the ball past Curran to finally open up the scoresheet in the 66th minute.
The a short time later after the celebrations Looney made a firm shot across the goalmouth from the left wing. The ball bounced off keeper Nathan Curran and hit Blaine Connolly and flew into the net for an own goal in the 77th minute.
Three minutes later Killough were also down to 10 men when Ruairi Sharvin was given a red card for a second yellow offence. Both teams were getting edgy at this point with every challenge and decision being contested.
In the remainder of the game which flowed poorly because of stoppages, Loudon, Brannagan and George all picked up yellow cards as tensions increased when Celtic tried to fight back. But Killough dug deep and braved the storm.
Then in one strong Killough attack, Caolain Logue managed to make a crucial clearance keeping Celtic still in the frame… just.
But the game stopped and started and saw six substitutions in total as the game ground down players.
The match overall was far from a show of brilliant soccer that both teams are capable of displaying, but they are old rivals and knew each others’ games so it really was a test of wills in the end with Killough getting the better in this gruelling contest on a cold, windy night at Ballyhornan.
Celtic Bhoys: 1 Nathan Curran GK 2 Shaun Megahey 3 Blaine Connolly 4 Caolain Logue 5 Michael Rice (c) 6 Johnnie Bell 7 Jarlath Branagan 8 Peter Casey 10 Jordan McCoubrey 11 Conor Doherty 14 Sean Ferris. Subs: 9 Sean McMahon 12 Conall Kerr 15 Corey McCartan 16 Taylor Loudon 17 Sean Cahill.
Killough FC: 1 Conor Doyle 2 Conor Black 3 Gareth George (c) 4 Caoimhin Groves 5 Eamon Gargan 6 Ruairi Sharvin 7 Declan Looney 8 Tony McIlhone 9 Jay Gibney 10 Connor Kelly 11 Daniel Taggart. Subs: 12 Dylan Duffy 13 Ryan McIlhone 14 Ben McLaughlin 15 Michael Burns 16 James Hanna.
