Killymoon end season with defeat

Tobermore United 5

The wet and miserable conditions summed up what the Killymoon players must have been feeling as their slim hopes of Championship 2 survival where dashed at the hands of local rivals Tobermore on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors took the lead just before the twenty minute mark after former Coagh player Donaldson slotted past Dardis in the Killymoon goal unmarked after getting on the end of an in swinging corner from the left hand side at the near post.

The home side nearly responed instantly with a Dunn free kick but it sailed over Well’s goal. Winger McLaughlin’s drilled cross was well cleared by Stewart and only good goalkeeping denied Parkhill from extending the lead further before equally good play in the other end by Well’s denied Brownlee from an equaliser but the big striker wasn’t to be denied.

A fine threw ball by Hunter, skipper for the day, played Brownlee in and he calmly slotted past the visiting keeper.

McLaughlin almost immediately responded up the other end but his effort was comfortably saved by Dardis. The resulting corner taken by Parkhouse was cleared away well by Hunter.

Full back Magee was next to try an effort from range which much to the home side’s relieve went over the bar. The same player hit a first time thunderous effort after the ball fell to him but it sailed wide of the goal.

Killymoon nearly took the lead right before half time before the visitor’s eventually went into half time with a goal advantage. Up one end strong goal keeping by wells denied both Dunn and Brownlee before Parkhouse broke the offside trap to slot the ball home.

The home side felt the player was offside. Killymoon started the second half the must better side and should have been three-one up.

Dunn tried his luck from range was denied by the cross bar and brilliant goal keeping by wells denied Greer. Dunn’s corner fell to Brownlee but his header sailed wide much to the visiting keeper’s relief. Greer popped the ball into the box to try and find Brownlee again but he wasn’t able to capitalise.

Former Killymoon player Harkness pumped up the wing when he could from full back and his drilled cross was enough to worry the home defence but thankfully it eventually sailed wide of the goal.

Killymoon won a soft free kick wide on the right and Dunn’s cross turned shot cannoned off the cross bar.

Substitute Hughes made an almost immediate impact making it 3-1 to the visitors but Hunter responded immediately up the other end rifling a low effort past a helpless Well’s in a crowded penalty area.

Donaghy was almost a supersub for the home side himself getting to the ball before Well’s but his we dink sailed just wide of the goal.

Wells tipped a great chance for a home equaliser over the bar from Brownlee but that’s as good as it got for the home side as the visitors took control to seal the home side’s fate Parkhouse scored twice in quick succession, the second rounding a helpless Dardis to complete his hat-trick.

Killymoon Rangers: Dardis, Ramsey, Stewart, McGaw, Rea, Hunter (c), R. Greer, Dunn, Watson, Brownlee, Leslie. Subs: G. Greer, Donaghy

Tobermore United: Wells, Harkness, Magee, G. Donaldson (c), Parkhill, Clarke, Winton. Subs: McClements, Hughes, Whiteside

The club would like to take this opportunity to thank the supporters, players, coaching staff, committee members and everybody else involved in the club throughout what has been a difficult season. Your support was much appreciated and the club hopes that the same enthusiasm will be shown next season and beyond.

The club would like to offer its condolences to the family and friends of Cookstown Youth player Jordan Scott who tragically past away last week. The club would also like to congratulate Jordan’s team mates in the Under 14 Cookstown Youth side for their victory on Saturday in the semi-final in what in what must have been a difficult match for them. Good luck in the final.