DYFL
Premier League
Ardglass FC 3 Killyleagh YM 0
[caption id="attachment_59215" align="alignleft" width="300"] Ardglass strikers Michael Magee and Mark Feenan opened up Killyleagh in the first half with a well taken goal.[/caption]For the first twenty minutes both teams prodded each other with attacks and the main highlight was an effort by Stepehen Deegan which almost put Ardglass ahead.
Both teams were certainly looking for the points but were showing respect for each other. Killyleagh’s Gavin Murray put the ball through to forward Darren McConnell but the quick intervention of Ardglass full back Anton O’Shea saved the day for the seasiders.
On the half-hour mark, Killyleagh were certainly pressing forward for a goal and again the visitors came clase with a great cross from the right from McConnell, and again Ardglass defender Neill Teggart made a critical block when Killyleagh’s Jamie Sharvin broke though and volleyed at the Ardglass goal.
This was a match where a goal seemed inevitable. Again Killyleagh’s Aaron Cheevers made a cross from the right to Greaves and McConnell waiting in the goalmouth but the ball went too high.
Then Sharvin made a great low volley forcing Ardglass keeper Gareth Rice to make a diving save and Greaves smashed the rebounding ball to the wrong side of the Ardglass post.
But Ardglass were having none of this and were fighting back. Mark Feenan received the ball on the right and ran up the line and took on two defenders then crossed to Michael Magee waiting near the goalmouth. Magee executed a simple knock in from Feenan to open the scoring in the 36th minute.
[caption id="attachment_59216" align="alignright" width="400"] Like Mulhall clears the ball for Ardglass as Killyleagh’s Dylan Carberry closes in.[/caption]Killyleagh were straight back into the attack and Cheevers made a very useful cross across the goal mouth from the right but there were no takers.
In the opening seconds of the second half, Feenan almost scored a dramatic gaol by quickly breaking through Killyleagh’s ranks and lobbing the ball over the charging keeper’s head, but be hit it a fraction too hard and it sailed over the bar. A very creative effort!
Killyleagh settled down into the game but Ardglass were stepping up a gear. Luke Mulhall charged on through the Killyleagh defenders and was beaten by a good save from keeper Coburn. But the ball landed at the feet of Stephen Deegans who smashed it back at the Killyleagh goal from 40 yards but was just over the bar.
The temperature of the game went up and Killyleagh’s Jamie Sharvin was the first to receive a yellow card. Then Killyleagh defender John Murray lashed a ball at the Ardglass goal forcing keeper Rice again to make an excellent save. Minutes later he took a free kick and Neil Teggart managed to block its flightpath to the Ardglass goal.
[caption id="attachment_59217" align="alignleft" width="270"] Mark Feenan gets the ball under control and runs through to score the third goal for Ardglass.[/caption]Killyleagh were doing enough by playing into the Ardglass half to keep the home side at bay. Then Ardglass striker Michael Magee received a yellow card and followed this by a shot at the Killyeagh goal from 30 yards just missing the post. Then in a great piece of 1:2 play Magee passed to Feenan who wove his way into the Killyleagh box forcing keeper Rice out from his line and Feenan rounded him setting the ball well in the middle of the net on the 35th minute.
This was a dagger blow to Killyleagh as they were at least hoping to collect some points from this encounter.
Ardglass had found their second wind and were now playing with more confidence with a two goal cushion. Again Magee was wide on another volley from 30 yards.
The third goal for Ardglass emerged from a cross from Lee McEvoy to sub Daniel Murphy on the left who slipped the ball to Mark Feenan who was hounding the Killyleagh defence. Feenan again beat the Killyleagh keeper in the box and scored in the 42nd minute putting Ardglass well in the driving seat.
Killyleagh fought to the end and Darren McConnell’s volley at the Ardglass goal was the last effort of note before the final whistle which ran into extra time due to injuries.
Ardglass were not fielding their full team as some of their key players were saving themselves for the clash of Ardglass GAC at Pairc Esler next Sunday against Glasdrumman in the Intermediate Gaelic Final.
This was as expected a hard fought match, with the first half being fairly equal in goal opportunities and very close at times. But in the second half, Ardglass came out well on top as Killyleagh just seemed to lack a bit of firepower up front.
Ardglass FC: Gareth Rice, Anton O’Shea, Lee McEvoy, Chris Teggart, Neil Teggart, Matthew Rooney, Stephen Deegan, Luke Mulhall, Michael Magee, Mark Feenan, Cliford O’Connor. Subs: Daniel Murphy, Conor Feenan and Peter Kelly.
Killyeagh YM: Alastair Coburn, Peter Strain, Lee Morrison, John Murray, Gary Carberry, Dylan Carberry, Owen Breen, Jamie Sharvin, Scott Greaves, Darren McConnell, Aaron Cheevers. Subs: Kieran Sullivan, Gavin Murray, Matthew Walker.]]>