Kilmore Rec pull off win over Abbey Villa
The NAFL.
League Division 1A.
Kilmore Rec 1 0 Abbey Villa FC.
It was a cool afternoon in Crossgar as Kilmore Rec entertained Abbey Villa at Robert Adams park. Both sides were on the front foot right from the first whistle but appeared to cancel each other out in what seemed a scrappy affair played on a heavy uneven surface throughout writes Cyril McKinney.
Neither keeper was seriously tested in the first half with both sets of defences on top.
On 26 minutes a long clearance from Kilmore’s keeper saw Joseph McKinney race clear but he was unable to convert as he was quickly closed down and on 31 minutes Kilmore’s hard working right half back Anton McGrattan drilled a long range free kick from near half way just over the bar after Eoin McGrattan was fouled.
On 40 minutes Kilmore’s Cai Gemmell beat his man on the left wing and fizzed a great ball across for the in rushing McCarthy who made a good connection but the visiting keeper was equal to it and saved with ease.
It was more of the same in the second half with neither side creating the cutting edge until Kilmore’s McKinney won the ball on the right wing and following a strong run crossed to the back post and there was Gemmell arriving late and found the net with a great finish from close in.
Abbey Villa continued to press but could not pass a resilient Kilmore defence with Captain Larkin, Magee and the veteran Kennedy outstanding all through the game.
Overall this was a hard fought win over a determined Abbey Villa on a difficult pitch for both sides. Kilmore had good performances from player manager Michael Carvill and the hard working McKinney upfront who gave his all throughout.
Kilmore Rec FC: Christopher Turley, Michael Monan, Cai Gemmell, Jack Larkin, Christopher Magee, Gary Kennedy, Anton McGrattan, John McCarthy, Joseph McKinney, Michael Carvill, Eoin McGrattan.
Subs: Joshua Smyth, Patrick Grant for Eoin McGrattan, Caolan Conlon for Michael Monan.
