9-Feb-2008

Early errors prove costly

Kildare County  2         Shamrock Rovers   3

County’s new look squad found themselves 3-0 down after 25 minutes of this pre-season friendly and it looked as if they were going to end up on the wrong side of a drubbing. Played in windy conditions the game attracted a good attendance and as it turned out most County fans went home reasonably happy and with much food for thought in relation to the new squad members.

 

New keeper Charlie Treacy (ex Drogheda Utd) made a good save with his legs from Owen Doyle’s close range shot after Sean O’Connor’s left wing cross after 3 minutes and three minutes later  Des Baker curled a right footed free kick past Treacy from just outside the box.

Owen Doyle diverted Sean O’Connor’s mishit shot past Treacy after ten minutes to put the hoops 2-0 up. County’s first shot came after 20 minutes when Barry Slattery fired wide from 25 yards.

A comedy of errors after 25 mins. saw Rovers add their third.  Charlie Tracey sliced his attempted clearance and Will Tyrell failed to clear, the ball fell perfectly to Owen Doyle and he easily slotted past Treacy for his second of the game.

Kildare to their credit plugged away and on 32 mins. a terrific 30 yard Ger Robinson free kick after Philly Gorman had been fouled found the Rovers net and it was game on.

Daragh Maguire headed a Dessie Baker free kick against the County crossbar after 41 minutes.

Just a minute from the break Ger Robinson had a great chance to put the Thoroughbreds right back in the game when a nice piece of skill by Ciaran Kilduff on the edge of the box created a shooting opportunity for Kilduff . Keeper Coleman could only parry Kilduff’s effort and Robinson was first to react but could only put the rebound wide of the post.

The impressive former Kilkenny City player Michael Comerford head wide from a decent position in the 50^th minute as County began to assert themselves.

Craig Mooney is sent tumbling inside the area in the 63^rd. minute by Mark Langtry and a penalty is awarded. Philly Gorman stepped up to take the penalty but Coleman dived full length to push the ball around the post.

County were now creating plenty of chances and John Brophy was unlucky when he curled a 25 yard free kick just past the post with Coleman stranded.

There were nine minutes left when Kildare netted a deserved second. Ciaran Kilduff cut in from the right wing. His 25 yard shouldn’t have been a problem for Coleman but somehow the Rovers ‘keeper let the ball squirm through his hands and into the net.

Kildare County: Charlie Treacy (Colin Cassidy h/t); Paul Donnelly (Eoin Kavanagh 68), Barry Clancy (Alan Clarke h/t), Willie Tyrell (Craig Berrigan 71), John Brophy; Cathal Brady, Barry Slattery, Michael Comerford, Ger Robinson (Craig Mooney 68); Philip Gorman, Ciaran Kilduff.

Shamrock Rovers: Carl Coleman; Ger O’Brien (Mark Langtry 53), Pat Flynn, Daragh Maguire (Corie Treacy 53), Barry Ferguson (Nate White 60); Eric Magill (Keith O’Neill 67), Stephen Rice (Robbie Creeney 48), Danny O’Connor (Chris Mulhall 67), Sean O’Connor (Ross Moran 67); Owen Doyle, Dessie Baker (John Martin 60).

 

 

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