Shamrock Rovers advance in youths cup
KILMORE UNITED 2 SHAMROCK ROVERS 3
KILMORE UNITED were left cursing their luck as, despite a brave second-half comeback, they still lost out by the odd goal in a five-goal thriller with Shamrock Rovers in this Youths Cup first round clash at Kilmore on Saturday morning last.
Shamrock Rovers 'keeper Kevin Somers stood between the seasiders and a victory as he pulled off a string of superb saves in both halves to deny the home side in periods of total dominance.
But the visitors capitalised on their chances as they raced into a two-goal first-half lead, with their opening goal arriving in the 21st minute, but truly by that stage they were lucky not to have been three goals adrift, with only 'keeper Somers keeping the home side's front players at bay.
The first real chance fell to Killian Dove. The home side's winger cut in from the left and from just inside the area drilled a superb shot that seemed destined for the corner of the net, only for the diving Somers to get both hands behind the ball to knock it away to safety, a really inspirational save.
Shamrock Rovers would deem themselves lucky to be still on level terms after 20 minutes as Somers also provided superb stops from Paul Roche and Cormac Bates.
Twenty-one minutes into the game, Shamrock Rovers centre-forward John O'connor, who was superb all through, gained possession on the half-way line. Noticing that home 'keeper Liam Koolhoof had advanced to the edge of his area, he superbly lobbed the ball to the right-hand corner of the net, leaving the home side stunned.
The visitors increased their lead six minutes before the break. Home 'keeper Koolhoff blocked out a John O'connor shot, but substitute Oisín Murphy reacted quickest to knock the breaking ball to the net for a 2-0 interval lead.
While Kilmore would have felt they were still very much in this game, they received a further setback just two minutes into the second-half when visiting centre-forward O'connor rounded Nathan Bates to calmly slot low to the bottom left-hand corner of the net, making it 3-0.
But with the home side now throwing caution to the wind, they went on to play some superb football, pulling a goal back after 61 minutes when Killian Dove headed home from close range. Both sides looked capable of adding further goals, but one had to wait until the 85th minute until Seán Reddington drove low to the net from just outside the area. The ball took a wicked deflection in a crowded goalmouth, leaving it 3-2 and setting up a tense finish.
Killian Dove saw a great effort for the equalising goal fly across the face of the goalmouth and just outside the right post, while at the opposite end Craig Dwyer had a tremendous shot blocked and cleared to safety as the visitors held out.
- BRENDAN FURLONG In Kilmore
