Ulster Football League Division 1
Group D Round 3
All Saints 2-12 Kilrea 4-13
Kilrea staged a strong finish to sweep aside the challenge of All Saints in a free scoring Ulster League encounter at a floodlit Quinn Park on Wednesday night.
Both sides were understrength for this final Group D encounter with the Derry men worst affected with a host of first choice regulars absent but when they introduced their big guns during the second half the floodgates opened.
It was the Ballymena side who made all the first half running and despite missing a host of chances they looked on their way to victory when they led 2-6 to 2-1 at the break.
Indeed the home side dominated the opening exchanges with Jack Patterson and Darrach Bradley their goal scorers but Diarmuid Bradley’s goal for the visitors late in the half kept Kilrea in touch.
Their opening goal had come from Daniel Madden, both splendid individual efforts, but Baker Bradley would have been reasonably happy with his side at the break though the amount of chances they had missed would surely have given him some concern.
All those concerns seemed to have been unfounded when Darrach Bradley kicked the first three points of the second half with only four minutes gone and when Sean O’Callaghan added another, the home side were 8 ahead.
Their Achilles heel was exposed again as Cathaoir Bradley netted for Kilrea in their first attack of the second half and suddenly the visitors had found another gear.
A superb exhibition of long range shooting saw Cathaoir Bradley, and Paddy Quinn raising a series of Orange flags and when Quinn weighed in with their fourth goal it was all over.
A good workout for both sides with Cathaoir Bradley, Paddy Quinn, Ryan Oliver, Darmuid Bradley, Daniel Madden and Louis McCormick in sparkling form for a Kilrea side who can still qualify for the knockout stages.
James McDonnell, Darrach Bradley, Ciaran Campbell, Sean O’Brien and Michael Read were best for an All Saints side who started well but faded as the game progressed.
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