Connaught Under-16 Shield Semi-Final

By Patrick Hennelly

Ballinrobe Town 1 Kiltimagh/Knock United 2

AT The Green on Saturday afternoon Kiltimagh/Knock United booked their ticket into a Connaught Shield Final, as they mustered a deserving victory.

Kiltimagh/Knock gleaned the opening goal as early as the fifth minute. Matthew Commins won possession and after spotting his team-mate Conor Prendergast, he duly teed-up the latter and Conor Prendergast finished with relative ease to the back of the host’s net.

Ballinrobe played with purpose during the opening half, however for all their work-rate and determination no goal was forthcoming and on 28 minutes United netted their second goal of the day. There appeared to be no apparent danger when Paul Lawless won possession some 25 yards from Colin Hughes’ posts, but after making a darting run, the former unleashed a spectacular drive which flew into the back of the red and white net, much to the dismay of the home following.

On 32 minutes, the visitors could well have netted their third goal of the afternoon. But John Mountainey’s half volley whistled narrowly wide of the mark.

Ballinrobe largely dominated possession during the second period and their first chance of note of the second and penultimate half occurred on 58 minutes. Pierce Sweeney was on the end of a splendid counter-attacking move, but his crisp drive failed to trouble the United custodian, Ian Curry, who replaced Eoin Prendergast seven minutes into the second half.

Kiltimagh/Knock failed to create any clear-cut chances during the second period and the Ballinrobe net-minder Hughes, was largely untroubled.

With just one minute of normal time remaining, Ballinrobe almost pegged a goal back. However, David Morrin’s close-range strike was brilliantly hooked off the line by an alert United defender.

Ballinrobe though, refused to throw in the towel and during second half injury-time the Kiltimagh/Knock defence was finally breached. An in-swinging Martin Burke free-kick, caused panic in the visitor’s penalty area and the sniping Kevin Clesham was on hand to guide the leather to the back of the net.

Ballinrobe tried desperately during the remaining moments of this joust to try and salvage the equaliser. However, Kiltimagh/Knock hung on to record the victory and they will go into the Connaught Shield Final with genuine aspirations of success.    

Ballinrobe Town: Colin Hughes, Niall Coen, Tomas Walsh, Kevin Clesham, Tomas Ackroyd, Patrick Ward, David Morrin, Eoin Colton, Martin Burke, Pierce Sweeney, John Burke.

Subs: Chris Culkeen for Coen, Shane Mellett for Colton.

Kiltimagh/Knock United: Eoin Prendergast, Iarla Carty, Enda Byrne, John Mountainey, Steven Kilkenny, Brendan Walsh, Conor Prendergast, Paul Lawless, Shane Mulderrig, Matthew Commins, Michael Caulfield.

Subs: Ian Curry for E. Prendergast, David Kilkenny for Caulfield, Aidan Regan for Commins.