THE scoreline suggests a comfortable enough passage for the reigning champions in this second SFC quarter final at the Gaelic Grounds last Saturday evening.

However it was anything but, though it was a fully merited win for Kit Henry's side whose greater experience and know-how shone through at different stages of what was a well contested encounter.

The Joe Ward title holders found themselves five points in arrears after just 11 minutes but didn't panic, stuck to the game plan, and at the interval were ahead 0-9 to 1-5.

A four point second half lead looked threatened after Shane Lennon reduced the deficit to the minimum as the match entered added time. Kilkerley had the momentum with them at that stage as they went in search of an equaliser but again Mattock kept their composure and responded with a David Reid point. Then substitute Keith Brennan made certain of victory with a goal in the last action of the match.

It was that type of class that suggests it will take a mighty effort to dislodge Mattock in their attempt for back to back title.

A tally of 1-15 was also an impressive score and not even the brilliance of Kilkerley full forward Shane Lennon could deny them.

Lennon accounted for 1-5 of his sides tally but for long periods he ploughed a lone furrow in attack.

Mattock had many more options, ranging from the magnificent Christy Grimes at midfield to corner forward Niall Sharkey who had his best game to date in a Rangers shirt.

It seemed as if the Collon men had repelled the Kilkerley challenge when they stretched their lead by 0-13 to 1-6 at the three quarter way mark.

The champions were in the ascendancy at that stage but were then rocked when a long delivery into their goalmouth was met by the fist of full back David Brennan who only succeeded in knocking the ball past his own keeper Mike Englishby for a Kilkerley goal.

It was game on after that but Mattock showed the character of true champions as they responded to finish in fine style.

Full back Brennan made amends for that earlier lapse when he made a terrific block in added time with his side just two points ahead to deny Cathal Bellew at a stage when a goal would probably have won it for Kilkerley.

Two points from Lennon and another from James Fagan had the underdogs ahead by three after nine minutes of the game.

Christy Grimes opened his sides account but then Lennon found the net on 11 minutes to give his side a 1-3 to 0-1 advantage. Sean Hand and Cathal Bellew were involved before Lennon turned his marker and ished to the net.

Grimes and David Reid (two) all from frees responded for Mattock before Cathal Bellew left it 1-4 to 0-4 after 16 minutes.

From there to half-time the eventual winners had the better of the exchanges as they outscored their opponents five points to one.

Niall Sharkey got off the mark with two of those points while Grimes added his third score of the game.

Both sides

had

fin-

goal chances before the end of the half, Andrew McGuill missed the target for Kilkerley after being set up by Shane Lennon while in added time Robbie Brennan was denied by keeper Cillian Quigley and the follow up by Sharkey was thwarted by Fintan Clarke.

Shane Lennon levelled matters within 10 seconds of the restart but then the Collon men scored four successive points from sub Daniel Bannon, Grimes, Sharkey and David Reid.

David Brennan's own goal gave Kilkerley a lifeline but it was going to take much more than that to dethrone the champions. MATTOCK RANGERS: Mike Englishby; Martin Sherlock, David Brennan 1-0 og, Pauric Bannon; Sean Gilsenan, Daire Englishby, Earnan Roche; Niall Callan, Christy Grimes 0-4 (2f); Adrian Reid, Mark Brennan 0-2, David Reid 0-5 (2f); Niall Sharkey 0-3 (1 45), Robbie Brennan, Darren Brennan. Subs: Daniel Bannon 0-1 for Roche (h/t), Keith Brennan 1-0 for D Brennan (45), Ryan Leneghan for Sharkey (60+). KILKERLEY EMMETS: Cillian Quigley; Fintan Clarke, Gerard Scully, Alan McGuill; Sean Doherty, Alan McGeough, Emmet Hughes; Sean McElroy, James Fagan 0-1; Niall Lennon, Cathal Bellew 0-1, Andrew McGuill; Sean Hand, Shane Lennon 1-5 (03f), Raymond Mulholland. Subs: Ronan Lennon for Alan McGuill (23), Conall McGeough for N Lennon ( 41), Ultan McElroy for Doherty (49), Patrick Hughes for Scully (53), Cormac Bellew for E Hughes (59). REFEREE: Tommy McEnteggart.

- Sean WALL at the County Grounds