| Kilmichael Rovers F.C. Please E-mail in any match reports or photos you may have as often as you can.
30/01/05 CUP DREAM OVER FOR ROVERS
Kilmichael……………….1Leeside…………………..3 A sizeable crowd waited anxiously as
the referee made a late entrance but the wait was worthwhile as the
game burst into life within minutes, with Rovers taking the lead. Early
pressure forced the visitors to concede a corner and when the ball wasn’t
cleared properly it fell kindly for Gerard Hallahan who struck a stunning
half volley from the edge of the box past a motionless Leeside keeper. Within two minutes Leeside had equalized. As
before the move began with a corner and this time Rovers failed to clear
their lines and the ball ran out to Dan Kelleher on the edge of the
box and his low drive flew through a cluster of legs and under the body
of Rovers keeper Brendan O’Connell who saw it late. After this whirlwind start more goals
were expected but didn’t materialize as the game became a midfield struggle.
Leeside dealt easily with most of Rovers attacks especially any high
balls. Kilmichael defence looked solid enough too until ten minutes
from half time when a calamity of errors inside the box allowed Kevin
O’Sullivan the easiest of chances from six yards out to put Leeside
2-1 up at the break. Into the second half Rovers tried their best
to create an opening but the equalizer was proving illusive. As Rovers
threw men forward gaps were being left at the back but Leeside were
content to sit on their lead. Some hard challenges were going in at
this stage and the game looked like boiling over into a free for all
at a number of stages but common sense prevailed. Leeside eventually added a third mid
way through the half, but again Rovers will look back on it as a defensive
error rather than any brilliance on Leeside’s part. Caution had to be thrown to the wind
at this stage and Shane Prendeville was thrown on to add some height
and bulk to the Rovers attack. It certainly unsettled Leeside at the
back but Rovers could not capitalize on it. John O’Riordan came closest
to breaching the lines when he had a header saved and was unlucky when
put through only to see the defence smother his shot on goal on another
occasion. The last fifteen minutes saw Rovers
virtually camped in the Leeside half but no way through was found and
Leeside advance to the next round and Rovers must now concentrate all
efforts at securing promotion from Division 1 starting with an away
trip to Skibbereen next Sunday Team :-
Brendan O’Connell, John Buckley, Gerard Hallahan, Ronan Prendeville,
Seamus Dromey Simon Foley, Richard O’Riordan,
Dermot O’Riordan, Michael Twomey Joey Gallagher, Olan Murphy Subs: - Shane Prendeville, John O’Riordan, Michael O’Leary, Pat O’Shea, Brendan Crowley
14/11/04 Back to winning ways KILMICHAEL……………….3 GURRANE……………….1 Kilmichael
found that winning feeling again after dropping 5 points in the last
two games when they recorded a very satisfying win over mid table Gurrane
Celtic last Sunday in Klondyke. A must win game for Rovers they lined
out missing a few regulars but took the game to the opposition from
the start. With the Riordan brothers working hard in midfield and Simon
Foley getting good ball down the wing Rovers promised much but weren’t
really testing the visitors defence. On a few occasions Gurrane threatened
in the opening half when they marginally beat the offside but Brendan
Crowley made a brave save at the feet of one attacker while on the other
occasion the through ball was too far ahead of Gurrane player and Crowley
collected comfortably. The game turned on a set piece. Gurrane
failed to clear a Rovers corner and when the ball came out to Dermot
O’Riordan he sent in a lovely chipped pass to his brother Richard who
glided past two defenders before sending in a lovely lob from the endline
over the advancing keeper and into the path of defender Ronan Prendeville
who couldn’t miss from four yards. Rovers doubled the lead 15 mins later
when an audacious run from inside his own half saw Simon Foley make
it to the Gurrane penalty box where he had the time and space to pick
out winger Michael O’Leary who finished to the net from four yards with
the help of a deflection off a Gurrane defender. Ten minutes from the break Gurrane
grabbed themselves a lifeline when a corner was not dealt with and the
ball bounced kindly for a Gurrane attacker six yards out and he blasted
it into the roof of the net before any Rovers player could react. Into the second half Rovers tried to
keep an attacking aspect to their game but Gurrane pushed men forward
and most of the game was spent in Rovers half. But the Kilmichael defence
stood firm despite some scares, Crowley again making one good save when
a Gurrane player got through one on one. Rovers finally killed the game
off with 20 mins to go. Another corner wasn’t dealt with by the Gurrane
defence, this time the keeper flapped the ball away only to set it up
perfectly for Dermot O’Riordan who volleyed home with aplomb from 12
yards out to restore the two goal advantage which Gurrane never looked
like pegging back. In fact Rovers spent the last 15 minutes pressing
for a fourth and could have got one when Olan Murphy sent a great cross
in which beat the keeper and only needed a touch from sub John O’Riordan
to finish it home but he somehow managed to scoop the ball away from goal when it was easier to score. A welcome three points then for Rovers and with last week’s leaders Old Chapel slipping up away to Ardfield Rovers regain top spot on 22 points from nine games.
Team :-
Brendan Crowley, Seamus Dromey, Ronan Prendeville, Kevin Cotter,
John Buckley Simon Foley, Dermot O’Riordan,
Richard O’Riordan, Michael O’Leary Olan Murphy, Ger Hallahan Subs :- Michael Twomey, John O’Riordan, Alan Dromey, Pat O’Shea, Tim Buckley
07/11/04 FIRST DEFEAT FOR KILMICHAEL Bay Rovers………..2 Kilmichael Rovers……………1 Bay Rovers became the first team this year to take all points from league leaders Kilmichael Rovers with a spirited 2-1 win in Kealkil last Sunday. Having dropped their first points all season the week before to Skibb, Rovers were looking for a return to winning ways and they certainly started the game brightly. With Dermot O'Riordan driving the team forward from midfield Rovers came close on more than one occasion to taking an early lead. Due to the short pitch most of the action was in midfield where quick balls over the top were used with good effect by Rovers. Joey Gallagher was always willing to chase onto these and had the home defence scampering back on a few occasions to smother attempts on goal. One good move down the right saw O'Riordan swing over a great cross only for Gallagher to direct his header the wrong side of the left hand post. In another move, John Buckley got two attempts to hit the target but both were blocked in a crowded goalmouth. One free kick easily saved by Brendan Crowley was the only shot on goal by the home team in the opening half although they did force a few corners. Into the second half Rovers chipped away at a resolute home defence to no avail and were hit with a sucker punch on the hour mark. A tussle in midfield broke for a Bay Rovers player. He turned into space and sent the winger off on a run down the right. His inch perfect pass found a Bay Rovers player running into the box and he curled a first time shot into the top corner from 18 yards. As in the previous game Rovers didn't lie down after conceding and were back on level terms within ten minutes. For once Ger Hallahan slipped his marker and avoided the offside trap to run on and slide the ball under the advancing keeper for the equaliser. The lead didn't last long however. With ten minutes left a corner from the left was not dealt with by the Rovers defence and the ball broke kindly for a Bay Rovers player whose shot took a slight deflection as it found it's way into the bottom left hand corner of the net with Crowley stranded. Try as they might Rovers couldn't find their way through for a second with Ronan Prendeville coming closest with a free kick saved by the keeper. And so time ran out with Rovers tasting defeat for the first time. However they still remain on top just one point ahead of Old Chapel who have a game in hand. Team :- Brendan Crowley, Seamus Dromey, Kevin Cotter, John Kelly, Simon Foley John Buckley, Dermot O'Riordan, Ronan Prendeville, Michael O'Leary Joey Gallagher, Gerard Hallahan Subs :- John O'Riordan, Richard O'Riordan, Alan Dromey, Pat O'Shea, Tim Buckley, Denis Cronin. 31/10/04 ROVERS HELD FOR FIRST TIME
BY BATTLING SKIBB The home team made all the running in the opening quarter, pinning Skibb in their own half for most of that time. With Dermot O’Riordan and John Buckley getting the better of the midfield exchanges Rovers attacked Skibb from both flanks and it wasn’t long before a clear cut chance was created. Good work down the right between Simon Foley and Olan Murphy saw the latter get a great cross into the middle where John Buckley was inches away from connecting for what should have been the opening goal. Rovers continued to attack at will but couldn’t find the killer ball to open up the uneasy Skibb defence. Skibb did manage the odd foray into the Rovers half but only really threatened from set pieces which the Rovers defence handled with some ease. The best chance of the half fell to Rovers when again Skibb were opened up down the right hand side and when Simon Foley sent in a low cross the ball was met first time by Olan Murphy but his effort fizzed past the left hand post to leave things level at the break. It was more of the same after the restart with Rovers trying to break the deadlock and Skibb content to live on scraps. Best chance for Rovers came on the hour when a lovely ball over the top from Dermot O’Riordan fell to Joey Gallagher unmarked. Although he controlled the ball well his effort on goal was not so good as he blazed over the top from a great position. Skibb had their best chance of the game to date when a ball stolen in midfield was worked up to the striker whose shot was brilliantly tipped onto the bar and over for a corner by Brendan Crowley. However from the resulting corner the game broke into life when a header from Skibb hit the base of the post came back out to a Skibb player who rifled home from less than six yards to give the away team an unlikely lead. A stunned Rovers took a little time to recover before showing true resolve to come back into the game with a bang. The equaliser came with 20 mins to go. Mick Twomey brought the ball out of defence and his punt into the Skibb half was latched onto by Olan Murphy who beat the offside trap to run on and slip it past the stranded keeper to level things up. More was to come from Murphy when another ball over the top allowed him to use his natural turn of speed to beat the last defender and hit a first time shot past the advancing keeper to give Rovers what should have been their eighth straight win. Skibb and the referee had other ideas. Five minutes from time an accidental handball in midfield was penalised. The free kick was taken quickly and although keeper Crowley made a clearing tackle with his leading foot just as the Skibb player arrived the ref deemed a foul occurred and pointed to the spot much to the annoyance of the Rovers. The resulting kick was poor but it slipped under Crowley’s body and into the net for the equaliser.
Time then ran out for Rovers to find an unlikely winner and so
had to settle for a draw and a four point lead over closest challengers
Old Chapel who have a game in hand. Team :-
Brendan Crowley, Seamus Dromey, John Kelly, Kevin Cotter, Michael Twomey Simon Foley, Dermot O’Riordan, John Buckley John O’Riordan
Olan
Murphy, Joe Gallagher Subs :- Ronan Prendeville, Michael O’Leary, Pat O’Shea, Denis Cronin. 26/9/04 Rovers too good for Caheragh in the end KILMICHAEL……….2 CAHERAGH……….0 Another three points were secured
for Kilmichael Rovers with a home win over strugglers Caheragh Celtic
in The opening quarter was relatively quiet with Rovers doing much of the attacking despite facing a moderate breeze. Chances were few and far between for the home side, the best falling to Joey Gallagher when he met a ball in from the left only to balloon it over the bar from six yards. The two O’Riordan’s were doing well in midfield but the killer ball up to the front two was all too often intercepted or the attackers were caught offside, a ploy which eventually cost Caheragh a goal later on in the game. Brendan Crowley in the Rovers goal had another quiet half, due in no small measure to a solid display by the back four who quickly snubbed out any Caheragh attack. One surging run by a Caheragh attacker seemed to spell trouble but a good covering tackle by Ger Hallahan averted any danger at the expense of a corner. Into the second half Rovers threw a little more caution to the wind which was now at their backs and with the midfield quartet pushing on the Caheragh defence came under serious scrutiny. However, they stood firm for the most part. The closest they came to conceding up to the hour mark was from a free kick out on the right taken by winger Michael O’Leary. His effort was tipped onto the crossbar by the keeper, who injured himself in the process, bounced down on the wrong side of the line for Rovers and was cleared to safety. The deadlock was eventually broken on the seventy minute mark when a corner from Kevin Cotter found the head of Gallagher six yards out and despite being the meat in a Caheragh sandwich he managed to glance his header past the flat footed keeper to give Rovers a well deserved lead. After the goal things went a bit ragged for Rovers as Caheragh threw everything at the home side in search of an equaliser. Some anxious moments had to be endured in the Rovers goalmouth as Caheragh launched an aerial assault at every opportunity. Rovers were now the ones pinned back in their own half and while they did break out quickly at times the front runner Olan Murphy (who came on for the goalscorer) was caught marginally offside on every occasion. Eventually, Caheragh paid the price for this risky tactic, when with five minutes to go a Caheragh attack broke down on the edge of the Rovers’ box and a lovely ball by the quick thinking Cathal Predveille put Murphy through on goal, well onside, and he coolly rounded the keeper and slotted home from two yards to secure three more points for Rovers and the outright lead at the top of Division 1.
Team
:- Brendan Crowley, Seamus Dromey, Ronan
Prendeville, Ger Hallahan,
Simon Foley Kevin Cotter, Dermot O’Riordan, Richard O’Riordan, Michael
O’Leary Joey Gallagher, Cathal Prendeville Subs :- Olan Murphy, Michael Twomey, Pat O’Shea, Pat Foley, John Kelly 19/9/04 Kilmichael maintain winning ways ARDFIELD……….0 KILICHAEL ROVERS……….1 Kilmichael’s impressive start to the season continued last Sunday with a hard earned away win at windswept Ardfield, although they left it late to snap up all three points. Opting to play against the strong wind in the first half Rovers made light of the elements to press forward in the opening quarter. After just two minutes Rovers carved out a chance when a chip into the box landed for winger Michael O’Leary whose half volley went just wide of the left hand post. Many attacking moves were thwarted by the high grass and a bobbly pitch not to mention the wind, which frustrated both sets of players. Ardfield used the wind to launch high balls into the Rovers defence but the back four coped admirably and Brendan Crowley had little to do in the opening quarter apart from one inswinging corner which he had to tip over from under his own crossbar. Chances were few and far between for both sides, the best for Rovers coming after 30 minutes when a lovely through ball by Michael Twomey saw O’Leary again in beyond the home defence but his first time volley hit the right hand post and spin away to safety, with the keeper well beaten Into the second half Ardfield were first to pick up the pace and try as they might to put pressure on the Rovers defence no clear cut chance presented itself. Rovers were gradually getting to grips with the strong wind at their backs despite a few balls being over hit in good positions. Tim Buckley and Kevin Cotter were making life difficult up front without being rewarded for their efforts with any real chances. However a foul on Cotter gave Rovers a good attacking position. The kick taken by Dermot O’Riordan was on target and while the keeper saved it he only managed to push it out to O’Leary who somehow managed to screw it wide off the side of his boot with the goal gaping. Minutes later another free on the right hand side was taken by O’Leary but it whistled past the left hand post. Tim Buckley had claims for a penalty waved away and it looked then like it wasn’t going to be Rovers day. To emphasise the point substitute Adrian Kelly had a shot which flew across the face of the goal with no one following up for a simple tap in. However, with five minutes to go some good work down the left by Simon Foley and Kevin Cotter saw the latter cross the ball into the box where the in-rushing Ronan Prendeville volleyed the ball into the roof of the net form six yards to send the small travelling band of supporters wild. From the restart, Ardfield attacked a vulnerable Rovers still celebrating the lead goal and almost equalised when an Ardfield attacker beat the last line of defence only to see his shot screw off his boot and harmlessly wide, much to Rovers’ relief. The final action of the game saw O’Leary yet again denied a ( deserved - Ed) goal when his half volley was tipped onto the crossbar then bounced agonisingly on the wrong side of the goal line before being cleared to safety. But the points were in the bag and Rovers left happy as they now sit proudly on the top of division 1 with maximum points.
Team :-
Brendan Crowley, Seamus Dromey, Ronan Prendeville, John Kelly,
John Buckley Simon Foley, Dermot O’Riordan,
Michael Twomey, Michael O’Leary Kevin Cotter, Tim Buckley Subs :- Adrian Kelly, Pat O’Shea, Pat Foley
Copyright © 2003 All rights reserved |
