Kilmore Rec score six goals in solid victory over Sir Oliver Plunkett
The NAFL Division 1A,
Venue Robert Adams Park, Saturday,
Final Score:Kilmore Rec 6 2 St Oliver Plunkett.
St Oliver Plunkett now lying fifth in the NAFL Div 1A arrived at Robert Adams Park 3 points above their hosts and looking to close the gap on the league leaders but left well beaten by a home side keen on success writes Cyril McKinney.
Right from the first whistle Kilmore now lying seventh in the top half of the league, used their pressing game to get and then maintain an advantage for most of the first half.
Time and time again they caused problems down the right flank and were ahead on 3 minutes when Joshua Smyth made an overlapping run and his cross found Philip Doran who made no mistake from close in.
With St Oliver Plunkett finding it difficult to get out of their own half a second goal looked inevitable.
And when it came on 15 minutes it was something special from Eoin McGrattan who raced clear and from outside the box on the right wing he cleverly lobbed over the stranded keeper who hestitated coming of his line and the ball ended up in the net to give the hosts a 2-0 lead after just 15 minutes.
The visitors pulled a goal back through a penalty after 20 minutes following a questionable hand ball which was contested by the Kilmore players.
Up stepped the St Oliver Plunkett’s captain Michael Healy who made no mistake from the spot sending home keeper Christopher Turley the wrong way.
As the half progressed both sides were quite competitive with some tackles more physical than others it was no surprise that the referee brought out his red card and sent off the St Oliver Plunkett left back for what looked like a two footed tackle.
This increased the tensions between both sides but Kilmore continued to play some good passing football and were rewarded on 40 minutes when following good attacking interplay Philip Doran got his sides third andhis second goal with a neat finish from six yards.
Then on the stroke of half-time Kilmore extended their lead again from a ring wing cross and as players attacked the ball it ended up at the back post where left back Jonathan Murray was lurking and he bundled the ball home to put the
hosts 4-1 up at the break.
St Oliver Plunkett came out in the second half with more purpose and pulled a goal back on 49 minutes with a good finish from their hard working number 10 Sean Jackson.
Jackson scored at the second attempt after home keeper had saved his first attempt, Christopher Turley had to be at his best twice in the opening exchanges of the second half to deny the visitors.
As the game developed so did the home defence become resolute with Gary Kennedy and Jack Larkin taking charge of things at the back which allowed Michael Carvile and Anton McGrattan to pull the strings in midfield.
And with Philip Doran and Eoin McGrattan chasing and pressing up front it was no surprise to see Kilmore extend their lead on 55 minutes.
A clever finish from Doran saw him lob over the keeper again as he broke the offside trap from just inside the box to make it 5-2 and maintain their domination.
To their credit the visitors continued to play their football without much success in the final third and it was
from a breakaway that Niall Walsh scored his club’s 6th goal on 88 minutes to leave the final score 6-2 to the home side.
This was a great team performance from start to finish inspired by the high intensity of their lively attacking trio of Doran and the McGrattan brothers supported by right back Smyth.
Kilmore Rec: Christopher Turley, Joshua Smyth, Jonathan Murray, Jack Larkin, Gary Kennedy, Christopher Magee, Anton McGrattan, Niall Walsh, Philip Doran, Michael Carvill, Eoin McGrattan. Subs: Caolan Conlon,, Shay McGrattan,
St Oliver Plunkett: Ryan Sewell, Michael Mervyn, AN Other, Conor Nolan, Michael Healy, Eugene Reid, Ciaran Reid, Caoimbin Duffy, Gary Dunlop, Sean Jackson, Patrick Doyle. Subs: Bailey Carroll for Conor Nolan, M Sloan for Ciaran Reid,
