Kerrykeel 71 FC 3 Kilmacrennan Celtic 2
By Stuart Connolly
Shaun Kerr popped up in stoppage time for Kerrykeel 71 FC as they picked up their first ever win in the top flight.
Behind at halftime after Mark Patterson found the back of the net for Kilmacrennan Celtic, Kerrykeel turned the match around after the hour as Shaun and James Kerr scored, but the visitors were level ten minutes from time via a strike from Aiden Sweeney.
As the game entered its final minutes, Shaun Kerr was the match winner as Kerrykeel 71 FC put three points on the board.
Kilmacrennan Celtic were on the front foot from the word go as Mark Patterson only narrowly lost out in a race with Declan Brougham inside the first 30 seconds.
Evan Keown had a number of crosses fizzed in from the left side in the early stages, while James Kerr was up to something similar at the opposite end of the pitch for the hosts.
On one occasion, the quick actions of Christopher O’Donnell resulted in the opening goal for Kilmacrennan Celtic.
His long kick up the field was latched onto by Patterson, and after a short run into the box, he cut onto his left foot and slotted the ball into the left corner.
Kerrykeel 71 FC were almost level at the midway stage as James Doherty’s clearance was redirected towards goal off of Ciaran Sweeney and it required quick reactions from O’Donnell.
James Kerr had the ball in the back of the net five minutes before the break, but the offside call went against him.
Moments later, he provided a big chance for Shaun Kerr with a cross in from the left side, but the sliced shot went astray.
Just before the halftime interval, Patterson went on a solo run along the byline, and his final shot from an acute angle clipped the post.
The second half began with Kerrykeel 71 FC in the ascendancy. Shaun Kerr had a pacy cross well cleared away by Declan McGarvey on the hour, and the pressure was kept on the visitors defense.
After some penalty area pinball where the ball was cleared off the line twice by O’Donnell and Dillon, Kerrykeel found their equalizer. James Kerr’s delivery in from the right was precise and Shaun Kerr was free at the back post to head home.
Just a few minutes later, Kerrykeel were in the lead. Darragh O’Doherty’s ball forward left James Kerr with a one-on-one and his toe poke past O’Donnell crept along before going in off the post.
With ten minutes to go, Kilmac were level. A long throw-in from the right from Conor Black evaded most in the box and fell nicely for Aiden Sweeney to lash home from around ten yards out.
As the game entered stoppage time, Kerrykeel 71 FC retook the lead and they would hold it until the final whistle.
O’Doherty once again with a ball forward from a free kick, and the bounce was kind for Shaun Kerr to pounce, with a first time shot going beyond the onrushing O’Donnell and into the back of the net.
Teams
Kerrykeel 71 FC: Declan Brougham; Michael McDevitt, Darragh O’Doherty, Brandon McClafferty, Shaun Carr; Calum McAteer, Mark Friel, Ciaran Sweeney, Shaun Kerr; James Kerr, Jonathon Friel. Subs: Patrick Heraghty for Carr (18 mins), Jamie McAteer for Heraghty (67 mins), Davitt Walsh for J.Friel (75 mins), Aaron McConigley for C.McAteer (87 mins).
Kilmacrennan Celtic: Christopher O’Donnell; Declan McGarvey, John Sandilands, Aiden Sweeney, James Doherty; Eoghan Quinn, Evan Keown, Caolon Curran, Mark Patterson; Christopher Dillon, Ciaran McCormack. Subs: Cormac Brady and Enda McCormack for Curran and C.McCormack (65 mins), Conor Black and Rory McGrenra for Sandilands and Keown (67 mins), Oisin Harkin for Patterson (84 mins).
Referee: Dessie McLaughlin
