Match Report
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 128
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 Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject: U-18 v 3rd Kilkeel (NI Cup, FINAL) |
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U-18 v 3rd Kilkeel
22/05/2009
(Northern Ireland Cup, Final)
Seventeen years had passed since Knocknamuckley last laid their hands on the Northern Ireland Cup. Since 1992, despite constant attempts from gifted Knocknamuckley sides, many talented players came and went without winning the most sought after competition in the Northern Ireland District. On Friday 22nd May 2009, 1st Knocknamuckley BB final laid the ghosts of the past seventeen years to rest, as they finally reached the summit of Northern Ireland BB football again.
Knocknamuckley met 3rd Kilkeel in the decider of the Northern Ireland Cup in Banbridge, in front of a large Knocknamuckley support. After such a polished performance by Muckley in the semi final against Ardstraw, it was a surprise that Knocknamuckley started the final looking very much out of sorts, with heavy touches, and wayward passing aplenty, but were fortunate that they were not punished by Kilkeel.
Knocknamuckley snapped out of their slow start to the game in perfect fashion. As Kilkeel were beginning to apply some pressure, Gregg Harrison relieved the pressure with a long pass, in behind the Kilkeel defence, to Adam McKeown. McKeown reached the ball before it went out of play and hooked the ball back into the box. John Henderson had ran from his own half to attack the space opened up by the defender tracking the run of McKeown, and made no mistake when he was presented with the perfect ball, and didn’t disappoint, beating the keeper with ease to give Knocknamuckley a vital advantage, and taking his tally to 10 goals in 8 competitive fixtures this season.
The goal seemed to spark Knocknamuckley into life as they began to attack Kilkeel, and test their defence on a more regular basis. A crossfield pass from the right hand side by Stephen Russell picked out McKeown at the back post, but the striker was unable to connect as he would have liked, and his weak effort was saved. Kilkeel were still seeing a lot of possession, but were being pressured in possession and were finding it hard to break down the Muckley defence, limiting them to long range efforts, which were causing little concern to Seth Mathers in the Knocknamuckley goal.
Knocknamuckley soon moved two goals ahead, and took the game by the scruff of the neck, when Harrison doubled his side’s lead, with the assist again provided by McKeown, whose involvement in the final had actually been in doubt due to work commitments in the week leading up to the game. Knocknamuckley then threatened to run away with the game as they looked to make the most of their momentum. A sweeping move from Muckley looked to have further increased their lead. Mathers gathered the ball and took a quick throw out to Stephen Russell on the right hand side, and Russell shipped the ball over to Harrison, who hit the outside of the post with his effort. Knocknamuckley’s period of pressure was helped enormously by the industry of John Henderson in the centre of midfield for Muckley, who ran tirelessly in support of the attack, and in defence, characteristic of the fantastic season which he has enjoyed.
Against the run of play Kilkeel managed to threaten, with a well weighted high ball into the box. As the ball dropped from quite a height it was taken excellently by Mathers, despite pressure from the Kilkeel attack. A series of Muckley attacks and chances soon followed. Harrison saw a shot blocked, before winning the ball back and passing to Russell. A slight opening had occurred but Russell opted to pass right to McKeown who was in more space, but the Kilkeel defence reacted well and blocked the attempt on goal. A headed effort form Russell from the edge of the box was next, before a well constructed move nearly brought the sides third goal. Andy Calvert, who was having yet another solid game for Knocknamuckley, judged his header well, cleverly directing it right to Russell who was in space. The winger shifted his weight, quickly beating his man on the outside, and whipping in a lovely low cross. The goalkeeper managed to dive out to get to the ball, but was unable to hold onto it, however the ball was whipped off the toe of McKeown.
Stuart Campbell was introduced to the fray in attack, and immediately got the crowd going with some fine hassling of the Kilkeel defence. As they tried to pass the ball out, man after man was closed down by Campbell, who successfully won the ball twice, with well timed tackles, but was unlucky to loose possession himself as he tried to make his way into the box.
The next few minutes were rather low key, as Knocknamuckley appeared to ease off the gas slightly as they approached half time with a two goal lead. This mental relaxation from Muckley came back to bite them. The Kilkeel right back wandered into midfield in possession, and was closed down with much less vigour than was apparent in Knocknamuckley’s play earlier on. The right back played the ball back to a Kilkeel midfielder who had enough space to pick out a well executed stab over the top. Mathers advanced off his line to close down the Kilkeel striker, but the ball was lifted over the Muckley keeper perfectly, bouncing once and crossing the line to hand Kilkeel a lifeline.
The goal lead to a more exciting last 5 minutes, as both teams played with a renewed energy, and Kilkeel gained the momentum. Knocknamuckley nearly hit back immediately when John Henderson tried an audacious long range volley, hitting the outside of the post, when the keeper was beat, after Campbell had ran across the path of the ball, diverting the goalkeepers attention, and Colin Irwin had an effort from outside the box, which he hit on the half volley. In the final few seconds of the half, it was hearts in mouth time for Knocknamuckley and their large support when a goalmouth scramble ensued in the Muckley area, taking numerous attempted clearances before the danger passed, and the whistle sounded.
Half time 1st Knocknamuckley 2 v 1 3rd Kilkeel
The start of the second half had a limited amount of action as both teams cancelled each other out. Special praise for this on Knocknamuckley’s side must go to Simon Grey, who was a colossus in the Muckley defence, winning everything in the air with some towering headers, and winning virtually everything on the ground during a commanding performance.
The game was nearly put to bed 10 minutes into the half when Gregg Harrison beat his man on the left hand side and crossed for Henderson. Hendo flicked the ball towards goal, and the goalkeeper pulled off the luckiest of saves, the ball deflecting off the inside of his leg and out for a corner. Moments later and the match was blown wide open with a fantastic goal from the Kilkeel left back. The ball was played back to the Kilkeel player, wide on the left hand side, 20 yards from goal. He fired a left foot shot across goal, catching the ball perfectly, his shot rose into the very top, right hand corner, the roof of the net bulging as his unstoppable shot drew the scores level.
Kilkeel were now on the front foot and trying to press forward at every opportunity. However, Knocknamuckley didn’t allow their heads to drop after conceding a two goal lead, and raised their intensity also as the match hung in the balance.
Stephen Russell picked up the ball in the centre of the park, as Henderson made a lovely run out into space down the right hand side, normally occupied by Russell. Russell fed the ball out to Henderson, who whipped in a pacey cross, which just evaded the Muckley attack. The cross didn’t prove to be in vain as Knocknamuckley got a slice of luck, which could have proved pivotal in the outcome of the game, as the ball cannoned off the defenders legs, just past the back post and diverted into the back of the net to regain the lead for Muckley.
The next twist of the game was even more unexpected as Kilkeel decided to change their goalkeeper, inexplicably choosing to do so when Knocknamuckley had a free kick on the half way line. The instruction came to put the ball into the box on top of the goalkeeper, and Harrison duly complied, hanging the ball up in the air, forcing the goalkeeper straight into the action, and he fumbled the ball under pressure from Grey. The ball broke to Henderson, who swivelled to fire the ball into the net with his left foot and put Muckley firmly in control.
The next goal also came courtesy of a goalkeeping mistake, as the decision to change goalkeepers began to look more and more absurd. A free kick from around half way, this time on the opposite side of the pitch was again knocked long into the box by Harrison. This time the goalkeeper, despite being underneath the ball, and under no pressure, failed to get a touch on the ball as it dropped over his head and into the net for a gift of a goal.
With 8 minutes remaining Kilkeel did manage to pull a goal back from a move down the right hand side. Moments later Mathers was required to pull off a fine low save, as a shot came in from the right, but was turned to safety by the reliable Muckley shot stopper, and the game appeared to be safe. The referee was forced into getting his book out to punish a terrible challenge by Grey, who slid in to try and make the tackle on the edge of his box, but over committed, catching the player on the ankle, but fortunately no damage was done, and the yellow card was punishment enough, for what was nothing more than an over zealous tackle.
As the game wound down Mathers was called into another save at his near post and Knocknamuckley nearly added one more to their tally. Graham Cowan, who had been introduced on the right hand side, won the ball and advanced down the right touch line before crossing for McKeown. The striker got to the ball and was tripped by the advancing keeper, after trying to lift the ball over him, but no penalty was awarded.
The final whistle blew and Knocknamuckley were crowned Northern Ireland Champions after a 17 year wait. The Kilkeel side were presented with their runners-up medals before Knocknamuckley were invited up to collect their winners medals and Gregg Harrison lifted the elusive NI Cup trophy on behalf of his team mates, to complete a great season in which Knocknamuckley played 8 fixtures, securing 8 wins, and a great double, having won the Lurgan BBOB 7’s competition as well. This was victory was well deserved by this group of players, who have given everything, both individually and collectively throughout the season, showing great commitment as well as skill, with each player playing their part and making this victory possible.
Congratulations Knocknamuckley, Northern Ireland Champions 2009.
Full Time 1st Knocknamuckley 5 v 3 3rd Kilkeel
Team: Mathers; Grey, Calvert; Russell, Henderson, Harrison; McKeown: Campbell, C.Irwin, Cowan.
Goals: Henderson 2, Harrison 2, OG.
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