Philip Traynor
Netted a sublime hat-trick in Clarence Cup.

PHILIP Traynor was netted a sublime hat-trick to send Kilmore through to the fourth round of the Clarence Cup.

The Rec, who were missing strikers Ryan Adler, Stevie Rogan and Gary Kennedy, started brightly and with two minutes gone Traynor almost gave them the lead, but he just failed to get a good connection on a loose ball in the box.

However, Traynor didn't have long to wait for the opener and two minutes later Niall Murray played him in with a deft touch and the former Drumaness Mills striker made no mistake with a rocket of a finish from 15 yards out.

Bloomfield tried to disrupt Kilmore's flowing football by getting a bit physical and their left back was booked in the 13th minute for a late tackle on Karl Lewis.

The home side hit back well and with 23 minutes gone their playmaker drilled in a beauty of a free kick to make it 1-1.

Kilmore responded with venom and two minutes later they regained the lead when a dazzling four-man move which ended Traynor slotting home.

Bloomfield then had another player booked before Johnny Cheevers, not noted for his goalscoring achievements, caught a half volley as sweet as a nut and the ball flew to the back of the net to give the visitors a deserved 3-1 lead.

Cheevers' strike was that good even the home supporters applauded the strike.

Just before the break Ian Smyth fired one narrowly over the top as Kilmore finished the first half well on top.

A minute into the second half Lewis had a strike well saved by the Bloomfield custodian and Murray also went close with a well struck shot as Kilmore remained in the driving seat.

Traynor completed a predator's hat-trick in the 64th minute when he was on hand to steer the ball home after the Bloomfield custodian was unable to hang on to a header from Niall McCarthy.

Bloomfield managed to pull a goal back two minutes later following a comedy of errors in the Kilmore defence when Cheevers managed to head the ball past a stranded Ryan Slavin for an own goal.

The home side continued with their aggressive approach and had another player booked in the 73rd minute, but they had their work cut out keeping a rampant Kilmore at bay.

With 82 minutes gone an audacious 40 yard free kick from Paul Greener was well saved by the Bloomfield goalkeeper and the same player had an effort cleared off the line two minutes later.

Sean Bell was also out of luck after being put through by Lewis in the dying stages, but Kilmore were home and hosed by this stage.

Kilmore Rec: R. Slavin, L. Sloan, P. Greener, J. Cheevers, P. Gill, K. Lewis, I. Smyth, N. McCarthy, K. Grant, P. Traynor, N. Murray. Subs: M. Miskelly, S. Bell, M. Murphy.