Match Report - Kilbarry Rangers 3-3 Lismore AFC

Our game went ahead after an early morning pitch inspection in the RSC as we welcomed a strong Lismore team boasting plenty of talent for our league opener.

With 5 debutants the lads showed no signs of gelling issues as it was us who raced into an early lead, Daniel Mihalache picked up the ball and unleashed a screamer from 25 yards into the top corner.

And things only got better as Danny slipped in debutant Jack Power for a debut goal who unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner.

However Lismore pulled one back against the run of play when they’re skilful no.10 danced past challenge after challenge to set up a piledriver into the bottom corner past stand in keeper Adam Daniels.

With only one sub on the bench we knew it would be difficult to keep Lismore out and they started to take control of the game in the second half, they drew level after a wonderful goal once again by their no.10.

And it was the same man who gave Lismore the lead after a screamer of a free kick went into the top corner. That was comeback complete for Lismore and it looked like that was to be it for us, we played really well but ran out of steam with a lack of bodies around……

However there was one final twist, the boys dug in and battled hard despite being out on their feet and all of a sudden there was a momentum shift and in the 93rd minute new skipper Conor Burke carried the ball up from back and played the most beautiful through ball you could ever imagine and on rushing was Daniel Mihalache who timed his run to perfection and he ran clear and buried the ball into the back of the net to rescue a point!

So a point a piece on opening day, always frustrating to give up a lead but the boys were simply out on their feet so it ended up being a really good point and a great show of character in our first game as a newly promoted side. Well done boys let’s build on this now.

Next up is a trip Portlaw United this coming Monday with a kick off time of 6:45pm.

Starting XI: Adam Daniels, Sean Purcell, Gavin Burke, Conor Burke, Zach Power, Jamie Dalton, Padraig Spillane (Alex Power 75), Adam Bowe, Conor Houlihan, Jack Power, Daniel Mihalache.

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