NAFL Division 1 League Match.
Saturday 26th August 2018.
Kilmore Rec 4 Rosario 0.
Kilmore Rec were on form and certainly on target against visitors Rosario in this league tussle. Overall, Kilmore were the better and more competitive side but Rosario never gave up the ghost until the final whistle despite the consistent pressure from the home team.
Just five minutes into the game saw Kilmore awarded a penalty after a heavy tackle in the box by a Rosario defender. Barry (BJ) McMenamin buried the ball well in the net for the first of his hat-trick.
A few minutes later Rosario were fighting back and Barry Bagley unleashed a volley at the Kilmore goal on target but keeper Odhran O’Connor was quick of the mark and blocked it.
Through the match BJ and Ryan Slavin were combining well and created a number of opportunities back-footing the Rosario defence. But in the early stages Kilmore were still in a tentative position with just a one goal lead and in the 15th minute a good passing move from Rosario’s Jackson Toughey to Eamon Carlin to Jack Reilly almost ended up in the net with a great volley again by Rosario but keeper O’Connor had it under control.
Kilmore were gradually stepping up their quick attacks from the wings but hadn’t yet put Rosario keeper Seamus Flynn under any real pressure in open play. Rosario had a spell of pressurising Kilmore then in the 26th minute Kilmore broke forward swiftly and with a good manouevre by James McGivern and BJ, the ball went to Ryan Slavin who slotted it into the middle of the net giving keeper McFlynn no chance as he was out of position to make a save.
Rosario again fought back trying to stem Kilmore and made some useful attacks. At one point, Bagley stormed through the centre to find space to blast the ball at the Kilmore goal. His powerful shot just scrapped the the top bar. The visitors enjoyed a spell of dominating the play but could not find the net. There was a moment wher heartbeats in the Kilmore steam stopped when Rosario’s Greg McFaul played a tricky half chip over keeper O’Connor but he twisted backwards and miracoulsly got his fingertips to the ball to push it out for a corner on the whistle for half-time.
Kilmore were in the driving seat with a two goal lead going into the second period but they certainly did not sit back on this. With added vigour them settled down to a consistent series of attacks. But Rosario was also determined not to let Kilmore rule the roost as a McFaul shot but just missed a goal into the top corner of the Kilmore net.
10 minutes into the second half BJ found space and hammered the ball inside the left post to put the Rec three goals in front. But despite the uphill direction of travel for Rosario, they battled on doggedly.
Kilmore kept up the pressure on Rosario and could have possibly improved on their score even further but it was the final coffin nail in 10 minutes before the final whistle by BJ that put an end to any thoughts of a revival of fortunes for Rosario.
In the later stages of teh match, Kilmore kept up the pressure on Rosario and McGivern made a tremendous pass from the right wing behind all the Rosario defenders but there was no one waiting there to tap it in.
The home side were definitely in the driving seat and earned a well deserved league win against Rosario. Next week an exciting Steel and Sons clash between Kilmore Rec, who are third in the NAFL Division One face the Premier League’s Ballynahinch Olympic who are riding the crest of a wave at the moment with their 8-0 win over Bangor Swifts. This Steel and Sons match will undoubtable attract a good gate. Olympic are sitting sixth in the Premier League and Kilmore will be aiming to put their stamp on these Premier League newcomers. Kilmore are previous Steel and Sons cup winners in past years and will be keen to put up a good show.
***
Kilmore Rec: Odhran O’Connor, Pearce McCarthy, Matthew Stewart, Laurence McGonigle, Declan McAllister, Eoin McGrattan, Thomas Macklin, Conall Young, James McGivern, Brendan McMenamin, Ryan Slavin. Subs: Peter Casey (12), Gary Stranney (14), Mark McMahon (15).
Rosario: Seamus Flynn, Jackson Toughey, Jack Reilly, Stephen Dougal, Patrick Mallon, Dominic McConville, Brian Downey, Conor Doran, Eamon Carlin, Barry Bagley, Greg McFall (16). Subs: Matthew McCamley (12), Tom Cambell (14).
