Killyleagh beat Iveagh Utd to secure a spot in the third round of the Steel and Sons Cup.
Killyleagh YC 3 Iveagh Utd 2
Killyleagh huffed and puffed their way into the third round of the Steel and Sons Cup.
The YC trailed against their Division 1C opponents for more than half an hour and it was not until the hour mark that they got an equaliser, before eventually pushing on to win at The Showgrounds on Saturday writes Chris Hagan.
It was a lacklustre showing from the Whites who were playing in a new kit, presented before the kick-off by Darren Brown of Soaring Productions who has been sponsoring the first team for more than 20 years.
Killyleagh were impressive in the opening 15 minutes and could and should have been several goals up. However, a combination of bad luck, poor finishing and some fine defending from Gary McGrady and Martin Hall kept them out.
As early as the fourth minute some brilliant combination play involving Darren McConnell, Jack Sharvin and Declan McComiskey created an opening for Adam Neale but he headed over. Then in quick succession Jamie Sharvin’s surging run ended with a shot into the side-netting and Jack Sharvin’s cushioned header set up Neale only for a fine save from Sean Thompson to deny him.
The visitors stunned Killyleagh when they opened the scoring after 24 minutes with a well worked goal with a finish to match. Three minutes later Killyleagh had a golden chance to equalise after the referee ruled that a defender had handled Jamie Sharvin’s cross. However, for the second time in three games, Jack Sharvin’s spot kick was saved, this time by Thompson at full stretch.
The home side seemed to fall apart after this and their half was summed up on the stroke of half-time when Neale failed to make contact at close range from Jamie Sharvin’s super cross.
Killyleagh finally asserted control in the second half with Barry Treacy and Dylan Kelly provided the spark. It was the hour mark, though, before the home side finally pulled level. Darren McConnell had done well on the left and when his teasing cross came over, a defender turned it into his own net with the YC forward line ready to pounce.
Within nine minutes it was 2-1. Johnny Cheevers won a key header and when the ball was eventually threaded through for Jamie Sharvin, he made no mistake with a quality strike past Thompson.
By the 72nd minute Killyleagh had completed their recovery with Jon Joe Sharvin marauding through to crack open the visitors’ defence and smash the ball home.
There was still time for Iveagh to grab a second in the 90th minute from sub Tomas McCartan but even though this will surely rate as one of their poorest performances under YC manager Paul Sharvin, the result was never seriously in doubt.
Sharvin’s reward is a third round tie at home to a Crewe United side who provided one of the shocks of the round in accounting for Bangor. Before that, though, Sharvin’s side face a tricky Border Cup encounter away to unbeaten Grove United who sit top of Division 1A.
