Kilmore move to second place in title race for Division 1A trophy

Kilmore move to second place in title race for Division 1A trophy

9 February 2022

KILMORE Rec established themselves as serious title contenders after they defeated current table toppers Comber Rec at a wet and windy Robert Adams Park on Saturday.

Despite missing a first half penalty, The Blues dusted themselves down and found the crucial goal through their captain, Niall McCarthy, which was enough to separate the sides in what was a very physical encounter between the two rivals.

It was the home side who kicked off the affair and immediately it was clear to both sets of supporters that they were in for an action packed 90 minutes of football.

Comber striker Matthew Tumilson stung the hands of Kilmore ‘keeper Christopher Turley early on before Gary Kennedy tried his luck from range for the hosts.

Although the worsening conditions made the pitch notably heavy, the quality of football on display didn’t decline to the credit of both outfits.

In fact, the heavy and cut up grass resulted in a cuter range of passing with the minutes on the training pitch preparing for such scenarios put into full effect.

However, Kilmore soon had other worries when defender Kennedy was forced off just 15 minutes into play as a result of an injury. Fortunately for The Blues they had an able replacement in Christopher Magee. 

This early unsettlement, along with the travelling support, spurred the away side on and soon the league leaders were showing why they are just that.

Gareth Keenan was denied a golden opportunity courtesy of a point blank save from Turley as Comber continued to apply pressure in the early stages. Kilmore responded well to this and remained calm on the ball. 

Following some quick passing from Matthew Stewart to team-mate Anton McGrattan, the Kilmore number ten played in strike partner Joe McKinney, who was adjudged to have been fouled in the danger area and won a penalty kick.

Kilmore’s McGrattan stepped up but his effort was fantastically saved by the outstretching Andrew Topping, who pushed the ball around the post and out for a corner to the frustration of the home fans.

The resultant corner was headed over the Comber crossbar by Kilmore defender Jack Larkin as the away side relished in escaping potential punishment.

The visitors went back in search of the opening goals immediately after, with Keenan again seeing his efforts thwarted by the Kilmore custodian.

The game quickly developed into an end to end contest with chances coming thick and fast at both ends.

Kilmore’s McKinney saw his headed effort go wide with the goal seemingly gaping before his left footed effort blazed over the bar after he was neatly played through by McGrattan.

Comber’s Brandon Nelson delivered an inviting corner to the head of team-mate Stuart Moore, although he failed to make the most of his chance.

Despite the weather, things began heating up on the pitch with numerous crunching tackles on display.

Kilmore captain, Niall McCarthy, escaped with just a warning following his high challenge on Comber winger Nelson although the visiting side’s Moore wasn’t as lucky after he was awarded a yellow for clattering substitute Magee.

A new face was on show within the Kilmore ranks in the form of midfielder Barry Walsh. The former Killyleagh YC player impressed throughout his debut and controlled the middle of the park at various stages throughout the game. 

With both the tempo and tensions high, the whistle sounded a full two minutes early to signal half-time.

Comber kicked off after the interval but it was the hosts who would be awarded the first big chance of the half.

Following a piercing run into the opposing defence, Kilmore’s McKinney was brought down awarding team-mate McGrattan to test ‘keeper Topping from 22 yards with the resultant free-kick.

However, the Comber custodian wasn’t required to spring into action as the ball whisked past the wrong side of the upright.

The visitors seemed to be pressed further back into their half and attempted to respond quickly.

Dylan Wilson smartly dispatched of the ball on a quick counter-attack to team-mate and captain, Simon Hanna, although the number eight was halted in his tracks unfairly by Magee.

For this, the Kilmore defender was the latest name to enter the referee’s books. The home side had the advantage of the wind and decided to use this repeatedly through long ranged passes in hopes of manufacturing an attack. 

McKinney came close on a few occasions as he engaged in multiple footraces with Comber’s Reece Whittle, although often the home striker would stray onto the bounds of offside.

Kilmore hit a purple patch in the opening quarter of the second half, with Comber’s first chance of the restart coming on the hour mark.

Nelson was left unmarked at the back post after a ball was lofted into his path from skipper Hanna. However, he shanked his left-footed effort and allowed his Kilmore counterparts to remain unscathed. 

Despite this miss, Nelson’s effort served as a reminder to the opposition that Comber was very much still a threat on the counter.

The Kilmore support were up in arms minutes later when they thought a Comber hand was used to prevent a McGrattan strike from hitting its target, although these appeals were quickly shut down.

Comber substitute, Ciaran Gillan, picked up a yellow card in his attempts to clear the ball from his half – much to the disagreement of his side’s management team.

The visitors would be soon ruing more than a yellow card as the resultant free-kick proved costly on the 70 minute mark.

A delicately placed McGrattan delivery floated into the path of captain McCarthy for the Kilmore skipper to head with conviction past Topping and finally open the scoring.

Anton McGrattan picked up a rather needless yellow soon after for thumping the ball away amongst the celebrations as the atmosphere inside the park reached fever pitch.

Comber defender Bradley Porter received a yellow card minutes later for his tackle on McKinney before the Kilmore striker suffered the same fate after he ended up on the ground in what the referee deemed as simulation.

The trend of yellow cards continued with Comber captain Hanna, who landed his name in the book for exchanging some ill-advised words with the official ten minutes from full-time.

As expected, the final minutes of the contest were a nervous affair for the home side, who weren’t committing as many bodies forward in hopes of securing a shutout.

Naturally, this invited pressure from Comber, who desperately sought to spoil the Kilmore party.

‘Keeper Turley kept his concentration for the full duration of the match and thwarted the last two efforts from Comber, with Wilson coming close before his team-mate Tumilson was denied dramatically in injury time.

This signified the last piece of action as the referee brought his whistle to his lips to the relief of the Kilmore support.

Following the conclusion goal scorer and man of the match, Niall McCarthy, gave his thoughts on his side’s impressive victory.

“It was a battle, the pitch was very heavy and I think it just came down to who wanted it more,” he said.

“We knew with Comber coming down here that they are a very physical, very fit team, who are well-drilled.

“However, we firmly believe in our camp that we are the best team in the league. We work hard every Tuesday and Thursday night and it’s a credit to our manager, Michael Carvill, for the shape he’s pulled us in to.”

Kilmore: C Turley, J McCarthy, M Stewart, J Larkin, G Kennedy, B Walsh, J Smyth, N McCarthy (capt), J McKinney, A McGrattan, E McGrattan. 

Subs: C Magee, M Monan, M Carvill.

Yellow cards: C Magee, A McGrattan, J McKinney.

Comber: A Topping, M Gibson, L Walker, B Porter, R Whittle, S Moore, B Nelson, S Hanna (capt), D Wilson, M Tumilson, G Keenan.

Subs: S Fleck, C Gillan, K Gaw.

Yellow cards: S Moore, C Gillan, B Porter, S Hanna.