Kilmacrennan Celtic get job done against Keadue Rovers in Ulster Junior Cup

Kilmacrennan Celtic were narrow 1-0 winners over Keadue Rovers in the Ulster Junior Cup at the Letterkenny Community Centre on Sunday afternoon. 

In a finely balanced contest, where clear-cut opportunities were few and far between, Chris Dillon’s 38th minute strike was enough to secure Kilmacrennans spot in the draw for the next round. 

The visitors enjoyed most of the territory in the opening stages, applying pressure on Kilmacrennan but were unable to threaten thr home side’s goal. 

The first decent chance of the encounter fell to the hosts on 20 minutes. A fine ball over the top of the Keadue defence found Chris Dillon only to see his lofted effort go just wide of the post. 

Fifteen minutes later, Gerard McGranaghan’s outfit came close to hitting the front again. A well-struck free-kick from Matthew McLaughlin was well-stopped by Patrick McGarvey in the Keadue Rovers net before gathering Conor Black’s fizzed rebound. 

On 38 minutes however, the hosts did finally manage to break the deadlock. A superb ball from Matthew McLaughlin found the run of Chris Dillon who’s first attempt was well stopped by Patrick McGarvey but he slipped the ball home at the second time of asking to give his side the lead. 

Keadue responded well to this setback, putting pressure on the home side’s defence in the closing phases of the first stanza but to no prevail, leaving Kilmacrennan a goal to the good at the break. 

Kilmacrennan had an opportunity to double their advantage on the hour mark. A well-worked move concluded with a shot from the edge of the box from Paul Bradley but it was comfortably stopped by Patrick McGarvey. 

Keadue huffed and puffed in the last half hour of this cup contest in search of a crucial goal to possibly swing the game in their favour. 

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They forced pressure into the back four of Kilmacrennan, bombarding the box with crosses at times, but the hosts defence remained resolute and held onto their slender advantage before Mick Lagan called an end to proceedings to mark their progression in the Ulster Cup. 

Kilmacrennan Celtic: Liam McBride; James Doherty, Kieran Gorman, Stephen Black, John Sandilands (Rory McGrenra, 94), Conor Black (Shane McDevitt, 75), Matthew McLaughlin, Caolan Kelly, Paul Bradley, Shane McNamee, Chris Dillon (Caolan Curran, 87). 

Keadue Rovers: Patrick McGarvey; Pauric Neely (Chris Breen, 75), Maurice McGee, Martin Ferry, Brendan McCafferty, Aiden Brennan (Oisin McKelvey, 50), Mark Forker, Callum Boyle (Peter McGee, 60), Paul Boyle, Michael Greene. 

Referee: Mick Lagan