Killowen 1 Millstreet Celtic 2

Report by Tim Kiely: We beat Killowen 2-1 away from home this morning. Playing up the hill in the first half, we got into our stride quickly and created a couple of early half chances. The pressure told after 15 mins when Eamon O Keeffe swung in a lovely cross for Chris Cleary who nodded home at the back post. Cleary and Barry Lawlor both had chances to extend our lead shortly after but were unable to convert. Killowen came back into the game after that and got back on level terms in the 35th min from a direct free kick. We came out of the blocks very well in the 2nd half and had chances for Michael Murphy, Lawlor and Tadhg Collins. The pressure was almost constant and Donal O Riordan had the ball in the net after 80 mins but the referee deemed that the ball had not crossed the line. Still we kept pressing and were rewarded with just 2 mins left on the clock. Lawlor jinked his way past a couple of tackles in the box and squared it for super sub Mick Collins to sidefoot home for a deserved winner. Best for us on the day were Danny O Riordan, Barry Lawlor and Michael Murphy.

Team: Piotr Oziat, Danny O Riordan, Finbarr Corcoran, Tim Kiely, Trevor O Connor, Eamon O Keeffe, Michael Murphy, John Lehane, Barry Lawlor, Chris Cleary, Tadhg Collins

Subs: Donal O Riordan (65th min), Mick Collins (80th min), John Cullinane

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Report by Killowen
Millstreet left it late but got the 3 points and probably deserved to get the win as they dominated for long periods of the game. We were slow out of the blocks and paid the price as we went behind early on from a situation that could have been easily prevented. We only got going in the final 20 minutes of the first half and got the equaliser just before the interval courtesy of a sweetly struck free kick from the edge of the area. We missed a great opportunity to take the lead early in the 2nd half and aside from a few long range efforts that was as good as it got for us. Millstreet took over and we were camped in our own half for long periods. They hit the bar, had shots blocked in the goalmouth and forced our keeper into action far too often. We survived the onslaught until the 89th minute when they cut us open down the middle and worked the ball into the area before scoring with a neat finish from close range. A bad blow for us but we have to learn from our mistakes. Should be an interesting battle ahead between Rylane, Millstreet and Crescent for the title in 2A.