Stevie Rogan
Scored Kilmore's second goal against Sport & Leisure.

KILMORE failed to gain revenge for their Border Cup final defeat when Sport and Leisure paid Robert Adams Park a visit on Saturday.

This was a game the Rec really should have won.

The visitors played with the gale force wind in their backs in the first half and Emmett Hughes went close in the fifth minute when he fired a stinging shot narrowly over the bar from a free kick.

Two minutes later at the other end Niall Murray and Stevie Rogan both had half chances, but their strikes were well saved by the visiting goalkeeper.

Gary Kennedy then fired a free kick just wide before Kilmore fell behind when they conceded a needless free out on the right and Joe Kearney was on hand to give his side the lead against the run of play.

Things got even worse for Kilmore as a minute leader Dee McErlane was given the freedom of Robert Adams Park and he made no mistake with a cool finish.

Kilmore responded well and Rogan tested the Sport and Leisure goalkeeper with a fierce shot and a Philip Traynor pile driver also went close.

However, it was that man Kennedy who threw Kilmore a lifeline in the 30th minute when he blasted a free to the back of the net, just as he did in the Border Cup final.

With 38 minutes gone the visitors jumped into a 3-1 lead when a free took a wicked deflection and left goalkeeper Kieran Gordon going the wrong way.

It was all Kilmore at the start of the second half and Kennedy showed the way, but Sport and Leisure held firm.

With 56 minutes gone Traynor had a half chance, but shot tamely at the goalkeeper before Kilmore rang the changes.

They went for broke and brought on Neil Obank for Ciaran McGarrity and changed to a 3-4-3 formation, but the visitors proved more than a tough nut to crack.

With 75 minutes gone Kennedy had a free kick tipped over the bar and minutes later his superb cross from the right was headed over by Traynor.

Stevie Rogan then set up a frenetic finish to the game when he made it 3-2 in the 85th minute following a goalmouth scramble.

Kilmore threw everyone forward in a bid to get something from the game, but Traynor headed a Grant corner agonisingly wide as Sport and Leisure held on for a fortunate win.

Kilmore Rec: K. Gordon, P. Gill, L. Sloan, C, McGarrity, K. Grant, K. Lewis, R. Adler, N. Murray, G. Kennedy, S. Rogan, P. Traynor. Subs: M. Murphy, M. Miskelly, N. Obank.