Kilclief
overcome Ardglass in Championship
FROM DOWN DEMOCRAT
- www.downdemocrat.com
AN OPPORTUNISTIC
strike from Dale Curran in the first
minute of injury time finally settled
this seesaw derby clash in favour of
Kilclief.
Both sides had their periods of dominance
in an exciting pulsating encounter which
lit up the Harp Lager Football Championships
on Saturday evening in Castlewellan.
Both sides gave all they had, and in
the end Kilclief’s superior fitness,
and experience came through as Ardglass
failed to hold onto their lead in the
last five minutes.
Kilclief mad a very bright start, with
their attack spearheaded by the experienced
Rory Sharvin, who had a huge influence
on the opening quarter of the game.
In the first minute, Dale Curran opened
the scoring for the Red Hands cutting
in from the left wing to put the ball
over the ball with his right foot.
Arglass struggled to get into the game,
with Matthew Johnson winning possession
for Kilclief in midfield.
Johnson doubled his sides tally in the
sixth minute feeding off a pass from
full forward Sharvin.
Sharvin also provided the assists for
Kilclief’s next two points laying
off passes for Curran and wing forward
Ciaran Sloan to put the ball over the
bar.
In the tenth minute Ardglass finally
troubled the scorers, Chris Taggart
displaying his customary accuracy from
free kicks.
However, Kilclief hit back almost immediately
with one of the best passages of play.
The Red Hands worked the ball out of
their defence and the ball again found
itself in the hands of Sharvin who laid
it off to the onrushing Ciaran Sloan
who duly dispatched it over the bar.
However, Ardglass were determined not
to lie down and let the game pass them
by and wing forward Marty Curran answered
with a point from at least fifty metres
out. At this stage the crowd were becoming
increasingly animated as the game flowed
from end to end.
Dale Curran added to his personal tally
with a point after a good run before
Ardglass full back Chris Laird embarked
on a surging run which led to Chris
Taggart pointing from distance.
Sharvin then scored a point of his own,
fielding a long ball before turning
on to his right foot and putting the
ball over the bar.
Then, in the 20th minute came the pivotal
moment of the first half.
Half forward Marty Curran pumped a long
ball towards the Kilclief goal and Ciaran
Mullin beat keeper James Steenson to
the high ball to fist it into the net.
Ciaran Sloan replied with a free for
Kilclief, but it was Ardglass who finished
the half the stronger prompted by captain
Chris Degans at midfield.
Ciaran Dorrian profited from quick ball
from Degans to score a point, before
Degans opened his own account with a
free kick from the right hand side to
draw his team level. Ardglass took the
lead for the first time in the game
when Taggart pointed following a strong
run from corner back Johnny O’Connor.
Half
Time Kilclief 0-8 Ardglass 1-6.
Ardglass took their momentum into the
second half and Michael Magee added
to their lead with a point in the third
minute.
However, Kilclief were not going to
go down without a battle and began to
come more into the game in midfield
and Ciaran Sloan closed the gap with
a well-taken point.
Ardglass stretched their lead with two
free kicks, from Chris Taggart and Chris
Degans. Kilclief’ response was
almost immediate, but Sharvin’s
‘goal’ was disallowed for
a square ball before Sloan closed the
gap to two points with a point from
a free.
As the game entered the final quarter
the intensity increased both on and
off the field as both sides coped with
the intensity of championship football.
Chris Degans increased his sides lead
with a free kick, although he was helped
by the angles being narrowed for dissent
by the Kilclief players.
As the game entered the final five minutes
it seemed that Ardglass were set for
victory. However, Kilclief’s superior
fitness and experience was to turn the
game in their favour. Sharvin moved
out to midfield and won the ball which
supplied his forwards with the opportunities
to win the game.
A free kick from Sloan, and points from
Matthew Johnson and sub Dominic Twomey
drew the Red Hands level and the game
looked to be heading for a draw. But
then came the pivotal moment of the
game.
A long ball caused havoc in the Ardglass
defence, and Curran was on hand to smash
the ball into the net.
Another point from the impressive Sloan
gave Kilclief an unassailable lead.
Kilclief were best served by man of
the match Rory Sharvin at full forward,
ably assisted by Ciaran Sloan in attack
and Matthew Johnson at midfield.
For Ardglass Chris Degans played well
at midfield, assisted by Chris Laird
at full back, who recovered from a shaky
start, and the lively Chris Taggart
in attack.
KILCLIEF: J Steenson, N Hynes, P Waterson,
L Woods, G Cull, C Polly, A Fitzsimons,
R Strain, M Johnson (0-2), C Sloan (0-7),
K Shields, J Hanvey, C Sloan, R Sharvin(0-1),
D Curran (1-3). Subs: M Kelly, D Twomey
(0-1).
ARDGLASS: R Fitzpatrick, S Laird, C
Laird, J O’Connor, S Smith, A
Beatie, P Gill, C Degans (0-3), M Magee
(0-1), C Mullin (1-0), B
