Kilcock Celtic welcomed Leinster Senior League Premier Sunday side Knockmitten United to the Bawnogues on Sunday morning in a thrilling friendly encounter. The game started off even enough in the first ten minutes with both teams feeling each other out. After the ten minute mark Kilcock started to take control of the game and had some good passages of play. The pressure paid off when in the 15th minute Matty Harris slotted the ball home to make it 1-0 to the Celts. Kilcock went close a couple of times to double their lead, when their continued pressure almost paid off and were unlucky not to get a second when Eoin Hannigan went close from short range. Coming towards the half hour mark, Knockmitten started to come into the game more with the Kilcock goalkeeper Cian Ward having to pull off a couple of excellent saves to keep the scoreline at 1-0 Kilcock. However the pressure soon paid off as the Kilcock Celtic defence was breached in the 28th minute and the game was now level at 1-1. Buoyed by the equaliser, Knockmitten applied sustained pressure and won a corner in the 37th minute. It was from resulting corner that Kilcock Celtic counter attacked and once again Matty Harris was through on goal to make it 2-1 to the home side. From the resulting tip off, Kilcock once again sustained pressure and on the 41st minute Eoin Hannigan scored a swerving peach giving the Knockmitten keeper no chance. Shortly after Conor Lawless went close inside the box to make it 4-1 but the Knockmitten keeper pulled off a good save, leaving the scoreline at half time Kilcock Celtic 3-1 Knockmitten United.

Early in the second half Knockmitten pulled one back to make it 3-2 after a defensive error from Kilcock, reducing the deficit now to one goal. That didn’t last long however and on the 51st minute, Matty Harris completed his hat-trick slotting the ball in to make in 4-2 to the Celts. Once again Kilcock started to apply pressure and looked the more comfortable in the game with some good pass and move football leading to a couple of more chances. The home side made a few changes around the 60 minute mark to freshen things up and were caught cold in the 64th minute when Knockmitten once again pulled one back to make it 4-3. It was a nervy few minutes for the home team as the Premier Sunday side pushed for an equaliser and came close on a couple of occasions in particular when a defensive error at the back almost led to a leveller but for an excellent save by the Kilcock goalkeeper Fionn Talbot who came on at half-time. The next goal however came from the home side as a Kilcock attack was slotted home by Aaron Byrne to make 5-3 and for the third time in the game the home team doubled their lead. An exciting end to end final 15 minutes ensued with both teams pushing for another goal that in the end proved elusive. The final score in the Bawnogues, Kilcock Celtic 5-3 Knockmitten United. A lively friendly encounter at the Bawnogues ahead of the return of Leinster Senior League junior football next weekend.

Starting XI:

1 Cian Ward (on 19. Fionn Talbot 45 mins)

2. Kevin Smith ( on 16. Shane O’Rourke 60 mins)

3. Caolin O’Rourke ( on 13. Cormac Browne 45 mins)

4. Lee Casey ( on 12. Dylan Bradley 45 mins)

5. Daragh McArdle

6. Conor Lawless ( on 18. Caomh McAuley 60 mins)

7. Daniel Gilbert (on 15. Aaron Byrne 60 mins)

8. Josh Sherlock (on 14. Ben Kelly 60 mins)

9. Eoin Hannigan (on 17. Mike Brown 60 mins)

10. Eoin McArdle

11. Matty Harris