Kilmore show their class against United

Kilmore Rec 4

A TOUGH week for Barn, for after a 0-5 defeat away to Kilmore Rec in a midweek tussle, they had to meet the same opposition at Haslett Park on Saturday, where the Crossgar side grabbed the point they needed to clinch the 1a championship.

Yes, tough for Barn but even more arduous for a Kilmore side who managed to maintain their winning run, despite facing a hefty three-matches-a-week backlog.

As Barn manager Jim Pherson commented afterwards “There was nothing at stake for us, so maybe we didn’t have the same edge, and there was nothing between the sides until they got their first goal. But they are a classy side, composed all over the pitch, and so fast up front – and they never stop working for each other. Worthy champions.”

Barn, though, were giving as good as they got until Kilmore lit the fuse with a well-worked goal on 17 minutes.

Rec doubled that lead just before the half-hour and, presumably already thinking their hard work was done, they eased their foot off the pedal just a little, as it was United who dominated the remainder of the half, pegging a goal back when Andy Kane tucked away Gary McKee’s back post cross.

Barn could have gone off at least level, with Paul Matthews squandering a good chance at the back post, while Paul Mathers had a header cleared off the line.

Kilmore, however, gave themselves some breathing space with a third goal just after the turnaround, before wrapping it all up with a well-taken strike from player-manager Gary Kennedy.

Barn could always say that they had a fairly recent Northern Ireland international playing on their home turf, Kilmore’s Peter Kennedy – and on their last home outing of the season, the Carrick boys had the final word, when Kane notched his second, poking in a David Osborne cross at the near post.

United bring their season to a close on Saturday with a short trip up to Nortel to meet UUJ.

Barn United; Campbell – Kelly, Wakeham, J Mathers, Lammey (Osborne) – J Mathers (McKinty), McKee, Patterson, Matthews – Sharples, Kane. Sub (unused) Coulter.