Match Report v Knockbreda – 2/11/24
Lisburn Distillery v Knockbreda (Playr-Fit Teamwear Premier Intermediate League) — Saturday 2nd November 2024
Distillery got off to a bright start in this first PIL game for four weeks with Matthew Hanna shooting across the goal in the opening minute. Breda forced a corner but a confident catch and throw-out by Lorcan Donnelly saw Hanna break away only to blaze his shot over. Mark McKee then had his shot blocked inside the box and from the rebound play moved up the other end where Donnelly made an excellent save with his feet close in when it looked like Breda would score. Minutes later the Whites keeper made another point-blank save. It was end-to-end stuff in those opening fifteen minutes as Owen Sames made a good save from Matthew Hanna.
On 23 minutes Kyle Anderson was booked for a foul on Aaron Cochrane just outside the penalty area. Jack Kinner hit the resulting free-kick straight into the ‘wall’. A spell of pressure from the visitors around the half-hour mark gave Lorcan Donnelly plenty of action — making confident saves from Francis Nolan, Ruairi Wright and Peter McDermott. The Whites had a couple of free-kicks at this time but they didn’t amount to anything.
A dangerous Breda free wide on the right was headed clear by Fra Brennan on 40 minutes and Lorcan Donnelly fisted away the resulting corner under pressure. A persistent run by Aaron Cochrane saw him force a corner but the kick was wasted by Jack Kinner. Then just before the break Justin Grattan (wearing an unfamiliar no. 23 shirt) shot wide from an excellent cross by Dean Lewis.
Half Time: Lisburn Distillery 0-0 Knockbreda
The home side started the second half on the attack but play soon moved to the other end where Francis Nolan’s shot was just wide of the left-hand post. On 55 minutes Sam Morrow was booked for pulling down an opponent. At this moment both managers decided to introduce some fresh legs — Josh Lynch, making his 50th appearance in a white shirt, came on for Mark McKee and Breda brought on Adam Irwin for Curtis Kenny. Two minutes later it was Irwin who out-witted Jonny Angus out on the right and crossed for Francis Nolan to tap in the opening goal for Breda.
Bobby Higgins was then booked for a foul and Josh Lynch saw his resulting free-kick easily saved. On 61 minutes Jack Kinner’s name went into the referee’s book just before Jonny Angus made an important interception from another Irwin cross. Breda introduced Jay Patterson and Ethan Irwin for Ruairi Wright and Callum McVeigh and Barry Johnston replaced Jack Kinner with Padraig McVicker who immediately got himself booked.
Breda had a good spell but the Whites defence were able to deal with anything that came their way. The managers made their final substitutions on 74 minutes with Jamie Devenny and Ryan Sharkey on for Justin Grattan and Sam Morrow. Breda brought on Cormac Lawlor for Francis Nolan. Jay Patterson then missed a great chance to seal the game on 77 minutes but he shot wide from 18 yards after beating the offside-trap. Two minutes later a Josh Lynch header was tipped over by Owen Sames. Then on 84 minutes the Whites equalised when a long free-kick from Josh Lynch out on the right was headed in by Adam McCart.
The home side then finished the stronger team with good work by Aaron Cochrane forcing a corner before an excellent turn and shot from the same player went just wide of the right-hand post. Late on Jamie Devenny got a booking for a challenge on the keeper and Adam McCart also got booked for bringing down an opponent. Then deep into added-time Breda’s lively Adam Irwin put a half-chance wide.
Overall a draw was probably a fair result.
Full Time: Lisburn Distillery 1-1 Knockbreda
Lisburn Distillery; Donnelly, Lewis, Brennan, Cochrane, McKee, Morrow, Grattan, Angus, Kinner, Hanna, McCart Lisburn Distillery substitutions; Newell, Sharkey (for Morrow, 74 mins), Lynch (for McKee, 55 mins), Glackin, Devenny (for Grattan, 74 mins), McVicker (for Kinner, 63 mins)