Battling Killeigh make top flight opponents earn victory

St Peter’s 4 Killeigh FC 1

By John Dingle

Despite the final scoreline, Killeigh could hold their heads up high after this Combined Counties Cup second round encounter against St Peter’s at McCarthy Park last Sunday afternoon.

Whereas St Peter’s compete in the Senior Division (the CCFL's top flight), Killeigh ply their trade in Division 3B and anything other than a win for the Athlone side would have been a major shock.

The Offaly visitors actually had the two best chances in the first half before the Saints opened the scoring just before the break. A doubling of the lead shortly after the second half commenced eased the pressure on the Senior Division outfit as a third score before the hour mark sealed their passage to the third round.

The hosts were quickly on the attack when the tie got underway but found it hard to break down dogged opponents intent on creating a shock in this novel clash.

Two corner kicks and a Jordan Carr shot which was saved all came before the quarter hour mark had arrived. Killeigh earned their first corner after 19 minutes but generally were in defensive mode as the half progressed. Carr had a further shot blocked while Josh Donoghue drilled a free kick wide for Killeigh. Both sides were struggling to gain the upper hand in the difficult conditions.

Cian Fallon of St Peter’s had a shot saved but the home team had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them on level terms after 28 minutes. Jason Loonam passed to Liam Langton whose goal bound strike from in front of the target was pushed over the bar by Darcy Lawless.

Peters replied with a corner from which they had a goal disallowed on what was proving to be a frustrating afternoon for the boys in green and white.

Amazingly, Killeigh had another good chance to break the deadlock after 37 minutes. This time, a free kick from Ian Keating was scooped behind by Lawless as he got down at the post.

The Saints took full advantage of the let-offs to take the lead just before half-time. They could quite easily have been behind at this stage, but the score from Gary Kelly eased the tension in the home ranks. Fallon sent in a cross from the left and Kelly finished off the move as a Killeigh defender was unable to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line. It was a crucial moment in the cup tie and the Saints were soon to build on their lead when play resumed after the break.

A double substitution for the second half saw experienced pair Mark Sherlock and Clive Harris come on for the home team. And the lead was doubled after 48 minutes as Corey Jinks shot to the net from Gary Kelly’s left wing cross.

Mark McConnell’s men all but killed off a potential cup shock from Killeigh with a third goal on 57 minutes. John McCrossan ventured forward and his left-footed strike was deflected past the helpless Killeigh keeper into the net.

But the Offaly outfit was not about to fold and threw life back into the contest just after the hour mark. A corner taken by Keating was headed powerfully to the net by Rob O’Neill, punishing slack home marking in the process.

Langton then had a shot saved but the comeback by Killeigh failed to gain any significant momentum thereafter. The Saints remained in control as two corners and a shot from Sherlock kept Killeigh on the defensive.

The scoring was completed after 73 minutes with Conor Brophy a little out of luck between the posts. In the difficult weather conditions, the Killeigh keeper fumbled a cross cum shot from the right by Johnny Kiernan into the net.

The scoreline did not do justice to the visitors and they bravely kept going until the final whistle sounded. Kiernan’s goal all but ended the home team’s attacking aspirations. The deficit could have been further reduced as substitute Jamie Ballesty fired over from the left and Langton was again denied by Lawless. The Killeigh number ten took aim and his shot was pushed away by the home keeper who was almost singlehanded frustrating the Offaly team.

The underdogs ended the game on the offensive with two late corners and they could hold their heads high when the final whistle sounded after two additional minutes had been played.

Man of the match: Scott Delaney (St Peter’s). While the Saints had some anxious moments in the opening half, there was no doubt about the outcome once the deadlock was broken as Delaney marshalled the home defence to perfection.

St Peter’s: Darcy Lawless, Niall Scullion, John McCrossan, Stephen Barr, Scott Delaney, Luke Kelly, Jayden Tumulty, Corey Jinks, Jordan Carr, Gary Kelly, Cian Fallon. Subs: Mark Sherlock and Clive Harris for Tumulty and Fallon (half-time); Johnny Kiernan for Carr (59 mins); David Donohoe and John Duffy for Scullion and L Kelly (61).

Killeigh FC: Conor Brophy, Christy Haughian, Karl Tuite, Rob O’Neill, Glenn Raftery, Ian Keating, Peter Norris, Josh Donoghue, John McEvoy, Liam Langton, Jason Coonan. Subs: John Paul Casey for Donoghue (54 mins); Jamie Ballesty for McEvoy (58); Shane Hensey for O’Neill (64); Mark Devery for Haughian (74); Mark Gleeson for Norris (80).

Referee: Jimmy Stokes (Longford).