Kilmore Weather The Ards Storm In Intermediate Cup

The Kilmore Rec team may have been depleted when they lined up for this Intermediate Cup second round match home at The Monestary but they were certainly not defeated.

With Philip Trainor and Niall Taggart out of action with Karl Lewis in England and recent Stephen Galbraith unavailable because of a ruling relating to the transfer window in the Irish League, Kilmore were down four key players from their squad.

Mark Holland gets a hug after scoring the winning and only goal for Kilmore against Ards in the Intermediate Cup second round.

But despite this, the home side came out with both guns blazing and it was Sean Bell who created the first early opportunity crossing to Mark Holland that nearly opened up the score in the early minutes. Holland almost scored just after this when Conor Walsh was felled and won a free kick. Holland sent it over the wrong side of the bar.

Ards were stunned by Kilmore’s early dominance but clawed their way back into the game launching some well-put together attacks showing excellent passing skills.

Kilmore’s Holland was definitely up for an attacking game assisted by Sean Bell and Peter Telford. But gradually Ards were on the prowl and one great run through by Mark Picking almost created a goal but a reflex save by a defender in a crowed goal saved the day for the blues.

Picking, McConnell and Arthurs were getting their attacks in shape for Ards consistently breaking into the Kilmore goal area but it was just the steely determination of the Kilmore defenders that prevented a goal for the visitors.

Then after a quiet few minutes for Kilmore, a quick attack saw Mark Holland break into the box and face the keeper. He half volleyed the ball expertly in the 24th minute giving keeper McKibben no chance.

Ards then as expected went up a gear looking to win an equalizer and for the remaining part of the first half, much of the play was with Ards pressing forward with fast breaks. Sean Bell made one timely reflex save in front of goal blocking and Ards shot which looked like the equalizer.  Ards midfield were certainly fired up feeding balls to the front line ten to the dozen. But the Kilmore defensive wall of Gill, Miskelly, Kelly and Cheevers held well. As the half progressed, the best opportunity arose for Ards when Peter Kelly gave away a free kick and the ball ended up being passed through the goal area with defender Darren Nixon shooting at a clear right side of goal but slicing the shot well over the bar.

Kilmore's Sean Bell in action against Ards

Kilmore has slowed down in their attacking efforts trying to contain a hungry Ards. Kilmore did have one chance when Blaine Connolly was taken down outside the box and Picking was given a yellow card. Sean Bell took the kick but the effort was wrapped up by the Ards defenders who were not overworked.

Ards were certainly clocking up the goal chances and not converting. One such effort, a long cross across goal by Ciaran Boyd just missed the eager Ards heads. Kilmore did mount a couple of late first half charges at the Ards goal but they were well muffled.

The second half was expected to be a fiery affair with the visitors coming out fighting. Within two minutes McIlhagga had sent a long volley just left of the Kilmore goals.

But Kilmore came back to life and started to mount charges, and Sean Bell playing up the right made an excellent cross to Holland who faced the Ards keeper who made a crucial reflex save to deny Holland the goal.

Ards were beginning to look less threatening and this must have encouraged the home side enormously in this close match. Kilmore kept probing all the time and tempted Ards to stretch themselves forward.

And when all looked predictable, Ards has a burst of adrenalin and made a few poignant attacks but Kilmore keeper Nathan Curran was having a good game and his ball handing was superb.

Kilmore received a blow in the 80th minute when Sean Bell was sent off when he had pushed an Ards attacker. Kilmore were down to ten men but held together well. Peter Telford remained the front man for Kilmore and Ards plied a few deadly attacks.

Goal scorer Mark Holland played an excellent game for Kilmore against Ards at The Monastary grounds in the Intermediate Cup second round.

From one throw in, Cheevers threw the ball well and Holland in the action again just missed a glancing header in front of goal.  But the game ended up with end-to-end drama and Boyd took a corner for Ards and almost curled into the top of the back post for what would have been a spectacular goal and a turning point in the match.

The Kilmore defence looked more settled and Phil Gill was clearing up well. As the half progressed, Ards looked less impressive staring defeat in the face. It was Kilmore that then raised their game and Sean Bell had a number of good runs up the right threatening the goal area. Ards forward James Cully almost scored with a volley but it was the hands of Nathan Curran that saved the day for Kilmore. A corner minutes later saw Curran again fisting away a volley by Samuel Devine.

Kilmore kept their cool and in the last few minutes it was Ards who were pressing as hard as they could for the equalizer to save the day for themselves and get another chance through extra time. But with the final whistle and the hollers of the Kilmore supporters, it was clear who the winners were.

This was a brisk game with lots of end-to-end action, and on opportunities Ards could have won, but failed to convert.

Kilmore Rec team: Nathan Curran, Phil Gill, Mark Miskelly, Peter Kelly, Johnny Cheevers, Conor Walsh, Sean Bell, Stephen Rogan, Peter Telford, Mark Holland, Blaine Connolly.  Subs:  Laurence McGonagle, Ryan Montgomery, Jack Larken.

Ards team:  Graeme McKibben, David Cully, Gary Spence, Darren Nixon, James Cully, Ryan Barry, James McIlhagga, Mark Picking, Nathan McConnell, Ross Arthurs, Ciaran Boyd.  Subs: kris Pike, Adam Arthurs, Rab Young, Gareth Corey, Samuel Devine.