CORK AUL Waterloo Celtic 1 Killowen 4 AN improved second half display enabled Killowen to take maximum points following Sunday's AUL 2A clash in Grenagh. Killowen manager, Declan Cassidy, made one change to the Killowen line-up with Dave Lynch replacing David McCarthy in the centre of defence.

A sluggish opening period from the visitors was punished by an early goal in the seventh minute. Waterloo took full advantage of a stray pass in midfield to create a scoring opportunity inside the area which was duly despatched by Gary Timothy past Brian Kane in the Killowen goal. The home side's dominance continued and the advantage should have been doubled in the 17th minute, but Eoin O' Sullivan's prevented a certain goal with a well timed tackle inside the area.

Waterloo wasted an even better opportunity minutes later when their striker broke through on goal only to shoot straight at 'keeper Kane. That miss proved costly as Killowen equalised on the half hour mark, Declan O' Donoghue accepting a pass in midfield before unleashing a powerful drive past the Waterloo custodian for his eight goal of the season. The home side were now on the defensive for the remainder of the opening half as Patrick Bermingham and Brian O' Sullivan saw goal bound efforts turned away by the previously under worked 'keeper.

Killowen resumed the second half in dominant fashion with top scorer Declan O'Brien flashing a free kick wide after 52 minutes. Midfielder, Patrick Bermingham, went closer minutes later as his long range free struck the crossbar. A long punt from defence almost opened up the Waterloo defence after 55 minutes, but Brian O'Sullivan failed to divert the ball on target. However, Killowen's second goal arrived a minute later, Eoin O' Sullivan's raking pass freed O'Brien on the wing, he cut inside his marker before finishing clinically into the far corner.

The contest was far from over and this was evident after 60 minutes as Waterloo once again failed to score with only the 'keeper to beat. Killowen required a third goal to make the game safe and it duly arrived after 65 minutes, Patrick Bermingham notching his seventh goal of the season with a powerfully struck free kick from 25 yards out. Killowen were comfortable now and should have added a fourth after 76 minutes but the usually reliable O' Brien blazed over from a good position.

Waterloo had one final opportunity from a free kick in a favourable position but a poorly struck shot failed to trouble Kane. Killowen's fourth goal came in the 86th minute, substitute David McCarthy scoring with a well placed shot from inside the area and giving him the distinction of scoring Killowen's first and final goals of this season's league campaign. Indeed, McCarthy could have netted a second for himself in the dying minutes only to shoot wide after good build up play from Denis O'Regan.

A good end to a season that promised so much for Killowen - but narrowly missrd out on promotion.

WATERLOO CELTIC: Connie Harkins, Brian Linehan, Damian Desmond, Dinny Hegarty, Ross Lynch; Pa Murphy, Brian McSweeney, Stephen O'Regan, Steve Flynn

KILLOWEN: Brian Kane; Eoin Scannell, Eoin O' Sullivan, Dave Lynch, Kevin Collins; Paul Lynch, Declan O' Donoghue, Denis O' Regan, Patrick Bermingham; Declan O' Brien, Brian O' Sullivan Subs: David McCarty for Brian O' Sullivan, Greg Creedon for Collins, Kieran Casey for Bermingham, Declan Cassidy, Eamonn Murphy