KILLOWEN A.F.C.

Saturday 11th April.

A.U.L. Division 2A.

Millstreet Celtic.

V

Killowen.

@ Town Park, Millstreet.

Kick Off - 3.00.

Inter City Celtic  4.        Killowen  3.

Saturday April 4th 2009.

            Killowen slumped to their seventh league defeat of the season following Saturdays encounter with Inter City Celtic. Despite being two goals in arrears early in the second half, Killowen regained parity by the 70^th minute only to concede what proved to be the winning goal a minute later. Manager Declan Cassidy made several alterations to the starting line up as midfielders Patrick Bermingham, Robert White and Denis O’ Regan were handed starting roles. It was White who had the first chance of the game in the opening minute when he broke clear from the home defence only to shoot straight at the ‘keeper. It was a costly miss as Inter City scored with their first attack four minutes later, slack marking in the Killowen defence allowing the home side to score from close range. It should have been 2-0 after 20 minutes as an Inter player fired over the bar when well positioned inside the area. Killowen weathered the storm and were back on level terms in the 28^th minute. Denis O’ Regan’s perfectly timed pass released Declan O’ Brien who calmly placed his shot past the advancing ‘keeper. It proved to be Killowen’s best spell of the opening half with Patrick Bermingham and O’ Brien testing the Inter rearguard on numerous occasions. This period of dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard and it was Inter who almost added to the scoring as a snapshot struck Brian Kane’s upright just before the interval.

            A disastrous four minute spell at the beginning of the second half contributed to Killowen’s downfall. With barely a minute played a harmless free kick from distance somehow ended up in the Killowen net. Killowen were further in arrears by the 50^th minute as the home side made the most of a breakaway attack to make it 3-1. Inter should have made it 4-1 a minute later but the upright saved Killowen on this occasion. Despite their defensive frailties, Killowen still looked dangerous going forward and were rewarded with a second goal on the hour as Owen Braun was perfectly positioned to score from Patrick Bermingham’s flick on. Killowen pushed for an equaliser with O’ Brien clear on goal after 65 minutes but was foiled by the combined efforts of ‘keeper and defenders. However he was not to be denied in the 70^th minute, Paul Lynch was fouled just outside the area and O’Brien notched his 16th goal of the season with a perfectly placed free kick to bring the sides level. But all that good work was undone a minute later as Killowen failed to clear their lines from a corner kick and Inter took full advantage with another tap in goal. Killowen were then reduced to 10 men for the remaining quarter of an hour and despite this handicap they still managed to create opportunities. Leading scorer O’ Brien was again the instigator as he found space on the left side of the area but his shot failed to trouble the ‘keeper. The same player then sent over a teasing cross that required a vital interception by the home defence to prevent a goal. Inter still looked dangerous on the break and were denied by Brian Kane’s timely block in the 80^th minute. Killowen threw everything into attack for the closing minutes but their misfortune was summed up in the 90^th minute with an inexcusable miss from in front of goal.

Killowen.

Brian Kane; Eoin Scannell, David Mc Carthy, Eoin O’ Sullivan, Kieran Casey; Robert White, Denis O’ Regan, Declan O’ Donoghue, Patrick Bermingham; Declan O’ Brien, Owen Braun.

Substitutes.

Paul Lynch for Casey.

Brian O’ Sullivan for O’ Regan.

Greg Creedon.