RAPHOE FELL TO THEIR third Kirk Cup defeat as goals from Gareth Russell and Davy Rae gave Kilkeel victory in the final game of the group stage at the Royal and Prior School Grounds.
Raphoe 0 Kilkeel 2
Rae had to leave the action for a time in the first half after taking a blow to the face from a stick as he battled in the middle of the park. Rae might well be a tooth down, but he was far from toothless with a brilliant finish for Kilkeel’s second goal eight minutes into the second half.
Raphoe put up a spirited display that was in keeping with their campaign to date, but when Alan Meehan saw a penalty stroke saved by the Kilkeel goalkeeper, Sam Morris, it summed up the frustrations for Rodney Bates’s team.
Raphoe fell behind on 19 minutes when Neil Stevenson’s short corner found its way to Russell and, while his initial effort was blocked, he riffled the rebound high into Johnny Rankin’s net.
The concession sparked the home side to life. Although they enjoyed a period of dominance, they couldn’t find a way past Morris.
It wasn’t for the want of trying, either. Matthew Lecky went close from the edge of the circle after a short corner routine and a subsequent effort was deflected off target.
Lecky turned provider in a claustrophobic goalmouth and there were strong Raphoe appeals for a penalty stroke when Kit Regan appeared to be taken to the turf, but their calls fell upon deaf ears.
David Finlay, always a threat for Kilkeel, and Russell both went close to doubling the lead, but Raphoe held firm.
There were moments during which the home side lived dangerously with Russell squaring for the well-placed Mark Stevenson whose prodded attempt along the ground made its way to Neil Stevenson, but his connection lacked conviction and Kilkeel had to make do with a single-goal advantage at the interval.
Two minutes into the second half, Kilkeel flexed the muscles again when Neil Stevenson held off the attention of Alexander Tinney and his teasing ball across the deck just evaded the in-rushing William Annett.
Kilkeel did double the advantage when Neil Stevenson’s short corner was controlled perfectly by Eddie Agnew and Rae drilled into the top shelf of the Raphoe net.
Eddie Agnew was close to polishing off a brilliant Kilkeel move, but the end result saw him flash wide while Regan was prevented from pulling one back when Morris made a strong block on his powerful shot.
Raphoe were awarded a golden chance to get back in the hunt when a foul on Ben Wallace resulted in a penalty stroke, but Moriss saved from sMeehan.
Raphoe survived conceding a third as Annett could only shoot into the side neeting after rounding Rankin.
Raphoe: Johnny Rankin, Matthew Lecky, Simon Goudie, Alan Meehan, Ben Wallace, William Kilpatrick, Alexander Tinney, Keith Meehan, Paul Stewart, Luke Witherow, George Patterson, Ian McGonigle, Alan Lyttle, Stephen Cleverley, Kit Regan.
Kilkeel: Sam Morris, Gary Niblock, Neil Stevenson, Gareth Russell, Mark Stevenson, Davy Rae, Eddie Agnew, David Finlay, William Annett, Luke Russell, Peter Gordon, Conor Crozier, Mark Henning, David Tremlett, Lindsay Beck, Colin McConnell
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