Killough FC Enjoy Win Over Neighbours Rossglass County
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League.
Premier Division.
Killough FC 3 0 Rossglass County FC.
Killough faced visitors Rossglass County at Millfield for this local derby with a new signing, former Celtic Bhoys player Jay Gibney, who was in the starting line-up this week writes Cyril McKinney.
Killough started well in the opening five minutes with Gibney looking threatening as first McKiernan and then George – twice put the striker through and each time last ditch defending kept the scoreline scoreless.
However, on 8 minutes Killough were awarded a penalty when the quick footed Gibney was upended in the box.
(Photography by Cyril McKinney.)
Up stepped the reliable Gareth George to take the penalty but Phillip Annett in the Rossglass nets guessed correctly and made a superb save diving full stretch low down to his left to turn the ball round the post.
Killough were having most of the play as the first half developed with Rossglass offering little going forward. But the visitors were disciplined in their defence with Keeper Annett sweeping up behind.
Killough playmaker Tony McIlhone had a long range shot from the edge of the box sail harmlessly over the bar on 18 minutes.
And just as Rossglass thought they had weathered the storm, the quick thinking Gibney won the ball from the hesitant Rossglass defence and went on a surging run down the right wing.
He fizzled in a great low cross along the six yard line which avoided everyone except the in-rushing Connor ‘ta ta’ Kelly who slammed the ball into the roof of the net to leave the home side 1-0 to the good at the break.
It was more of the same at the start of the second half with Killough enjoying plenty of possession.
But Rossglass made a few changes and the substitutions appeared to have the desired effect as they gradually started to pose a few questions of the Killough defence.
But try as they might Rossglass went further behind on 65 minutes when Killough’s Michael Burns curled a fantastic left foot shot into the roof of the next from 20 yards past the despairing dive of Annett in the Rossglass nets.
This was a quality finish from a quality player who was certainly Killough’s player of the match.
Three minutes later Killough were reduced to 10 men when Riain Burns was sent off for two bookable offences.
Rossglass were enjoying much of the play and Killough had Conor Doyle to thank for a few great saves.
One was from a back post header on 76 minutes and then a fingertip save low down to a rasping shot from Marc Burke on 80minutes and a fantastic double save a minute later.
However, as much as they were knocking on the door, Rossglass were undone for a third time at the other end when Gareth George fired to the net from an almost impossible angle on 85 minutes.
Jay Gibney finished the game as he started. He was still making surging runs and on 88 minutes McIlhone sent him clear on the right side of the box, but Gibney’s first time effort sailed over the bar to leave the final score 3-0 to the home side.
This was a good game of football between two sides who know each other well and played in good sportsmanship.
For Rossglass the veteran Barry Mageean had a great game at the back as did may of the Rossglass defence.
And Killough were well served by McKeirnan at the back, Burns in the middle of the park alongside McIlhone while upfront Gibney worked hard all afternoon.
Killough FC: Conor Doyle, Riain Burns, Conor Black, Eamon Gargan, Matt McKiernan, Gareth George, Tony McIlhone, Michael Burns, Jay Gibney, Kian Tierney, Connor Kelly. Subs: Ryan McIlhone for Conor Black, Daniel Taggart for Kian Tierney, Gerard McAuley for Connor Kelly.
Rossglass County FC: Phillip Annett, James Cusack, Conor Waterson, John Thompson, Niall Taggart, Thomas Redmond, Marc Burke, Barry Mageean, Benn Lennon, Jordan Carson, Oran Tumelty. Subs: Shay Rooney for John Thompson, Cailean Toner for Jordan Carson, Christopher Hamilton for Oran Tumelty.
