Kilcoole in control
Goals are the difference as Valleymount are beaten
KILCOOLE VALLEYMOUNT 3-09 1-10
GOALS were key to Kilcoole’s victory over Valleymount in their JCFC quarter-final meeting in Ballinakill last Thursday evening and the three that they managed to get past Conor Harpur was enough to set up a semi-final showdown with the men of Ashford.
Valleymount, four days out from their extra-time victory over Donard-The Glen, paid the price for inaccuracy in front of the posts in the second half and their cause was not helped by a splendid Luke Doyle save from point blank rank range after 26 minutes of the second half from the boot of full-forward San Geoghegan.
A healthy 3-05 to 1-05 half-time lead left Kilcoole sitting pretty as both teams retired into huddles at either end of the field as the sun decided that he had seen enough and prepared for departure from the evening sky.
An early Patrick ‘Pecker’ Woods goal after 15 minutes had made it 1-03 to 0-01 or Kilcoole with the Goosebank side’s points coming frm Woods after five minutes, Conor Scullion and Philip Brien in reply to Valleymount’s only effort from Davy Miley.
Kilcoole were definitely the better side early on but they struggled to come to terms with Valleymount’s kick-out tactic of Conor Harpur looking for Diarmuid Nugent every time in the opening half with Nugent either winning or breaking the ball to friendly hands each time.
Kilcoole’s second goal came from Conor Scullion who profited from the efforts of Rort Whelan who saw his shot saved by the busy Harpur only for the waiting Scullion to finish to the back of the Valleymount net after 19 minutes of play.
Valleymount hit back immedi- ately when Gary Walshe lashed home to the back of Luke Doyle’s net to make it 2-03 to 1-02 and with Kilcoole losing Gary Coady to injury shortly fterwards things were looking up for Valleymount.
Dan Lacy extended Kilcoole’s lead but Valleymount gathered their thoughts and had fine singles from Davy Miley thanks to the fine efforts of Diarmuid Nugent and Sean Geoghegan to close the gap to a goal after 25 minutes.
But Kilcoole’s third goal was a pure stinker from Valleymount’s point of view. A harmless looking undercooked free from Conor Scullion floated in over the hands of two Valleymount men and came to rest in the back of the net. Dis- aster. 3-04 to 1-04.
Amby Miley’s point after 29 minutes was answered by a fine Jason Walsh effort after good work from Philip Brien and the sides headed for the break at 3-05 to 1-05.
Valleymount tried hard in the second half and had fine showings from Sean Geoghegan and Derek Reid and constantly chased and harried but they needed goas and just couldn’t seem to find them.
Patrick Woods opened the second half scoring for Kilcoole while Sean Geoghegan replied and the scoring remained nip and tuck for the remainder of the second half with Valleymount never closing to within closer than five points of Kilcoole and with the goal chance going a begging after 26 minutes any chance of a dramatic conclusion was gone.
It was a tough night for Valleymount with the concession of the three goals. Kilcoole look hungry for success and going on the appetite in the squad they’ll be hard stopped.
Scorers – Kilcoole: Conor Scullion 2-01, Patrick Woods 1-02, Philip Brien 0-01, Dan Lacy 0-01, Jason Walsh 0-04.
Valleymount: Gary Walshe 1-01, Davy Miley 0-02, Sean Geoghegan 0-02, Paul Foster 0-02, Keiv Leonard 0-01, Amby Miley 0-01, Andy Farrington 0-01.
Luke Doyle; Darren Burke, Stephen Kelly, Shane Evans; James Scullion, Gary Coady, Killian Hannon; Patrick Woods, Philip Brien; Alex Ward, Robbert Whelan, Dan Lacy; Jamie Murray, Jason Walsh, Conor Scullion. Subs: Chris Byrne for G Coady (21min, inj); Barry Diskin for D Lacy (51min).
Conor Harpur; Breon Nugent, Aida Miley, Davy Fitzpatrick; David Richardson, Paul Foster, Diarmuid Nugent; Derek Reid, Adam Condon; Gary Walshe, Davy Miley, Amby Miley; Darragh Callaghan, Sean Geoghegan, Keiv Leonard. Subs: Andy Farrington for B Nugent (35min), Gary Geoghegan for K Leonard (59min), Michael Ryan for D Miley (60min).
Gerry Corbett