League Table

1	Bangor Rangers	0	0
2	Annalong Swifts	0	0
3	Kirkcubbin	0	0
4	Queens II	0	0
5	Temple Rangers	0	0
6	Rooftop	0	0
7	Queens Grads	0	0
8	Grange Rangers	0	0
9	Newtownbreda	0	0
10	18th Newtownabbey	0	0
11	McQuiston Rec	0	0
12	Santos	0	0
13	Bangor Swifts	0	0
14	Kilroot Rec	0	0

Pride Restored

REPORT Kilroot 3 Santos 1

Sat 29^th April 08 @Kilroot

With Kilroot battling to stay up and Santos absolutely decimated by injury it was no surprise that the determination of Kilroot would win the day. But it was a superb game of football and Aaron Harmon , captaining Santos at, 17, in the absence of injured skipper Joseph Mc Geehan, turned in a majestic performance to emerge as best player on the park. Indeed the overall Santos performance was a throwback to the heady early season days as they played sparkling football against a very committed Kilroot side. But the emergence of a new side of Santos has become worrying for returning manager Mc Geehan. “We are highly respected everywhere we go but we must lose the ‘Santa Clause’ side of our game.” Two absolute gifts in a five min period in the 30^th and 35^th mins killed off the young side despite a total dominance thereafter. First a hopeful punt saw both ‘Squire’ Maguire and Keeper Hughes apparently in total control, yet neither took a decision and for the second week running an opponent, in this case Gary Mc Cahon, was presented with an open goal chance that he could not have believed. Then 5 mins later Conor Mc Cormack and Gerry Brady, under no pressure, presented the ball to Kilroot’s Large. Startled, the defence was caught napping and the hopeful cross found Tony Matthews totally unmarked and it was two nil. To their credit the youngsters fought back and as Barry Doherty delivered the perfect cross ,young ‘Lazio’ Mc Carthy rose brilliantly to head home a beauty.

So Ht saw Kilroot lead 2-1

The second have opened with Santos full of determination. O Gorman pulled back to stiffen the defence was a rock and Maguire put his mistake aside to have a brilliant second spell. But fate took a hand as Ryan Large picked up a clearance and with nothing on, hit a marvellous , blistering shot from 25 yds to stun Santos again. But heads didn’t fall… ..in fact the standard of the Santos passing was magnificent and both the tireless O Gorman and Mc Carthy missed sitters before Mc Veigh, too, incredibly missed fom 6 yards. The fact that Russel Wallace goalkeeper of Kilroot was voted Kilroot Man Of the Match speaks volumes for the attacking prowess of the depleted Santos side. Skipper Mc Geehan made a brief appearance, although suffering from severe ankle problems, and his ability ,just to hold the ball up and lay it off saw Santos absolutely dominate the final stages and were incredibly unlucky to be denied what looked a stone wall pen and then to see Ossaway’s rocket shot ,goal bound, bring out an amazing save from keeper Wallace.

So all in all Kilroot were delighted to stay up and Santos were delighted with a superb display, but ruefully manager Mc Geehan’s wish “ Let’s keep Christmas to one day a year and……not a match day.”


Player	Position	Rating	Info
Aidan Hughes	Goalkeeper
Conor McCormack	Right Back
John Ossawy	Left Back
Stephen Walker	Centreback
Liam Maguire	Sweeper
Aaron Harmon	Center Midfielder		MAN OF MATCH
Patrick Parker	Center Midfielder
Gerard Brady	Right Winger
Conor McCarthy	Striker
Manus O'Gorman	Forward
Barry Doherty	Left Winger