Resolute Kilcoo take advantage of poor finishing

Resolute Kilcoo take advantage of poor finishing

10 October 2012

WHEN the dust settles and people take time to reflect on why the outcome of this county SFC semi-final happened as it did, they will cite that the main reason for Kilcoo emerging victorious was their ability to convert the chances they created during the hour.

Bryansford started the brighter, owning the opening five minutes, but they were only able to put a solitary point on the scoreboard in that time, a Chris Brannigan free.

Kilcoo took over in the next five minutes and by 10 minutes led 0-3 to 0-1. This was without really threatening to score from play as the ‘Ford gave away a trio of soft free kicks in the scoring zone and on each occasion Darragh O’Hanlon ensured that the due punishment was dealt. David McKibben responded for the pre-match underdogs with a nice point off the right boot, but Paul Devlin stepped up with a wonderful score to ensure Kilcoo kept their distance at this stage.

For the remaining ten minutes of the first half Bryansford managed to score five times, Kilcoo just once, but the key statistic was that the Magpies forced a goal in this period.

After points from Timmy Hanna and Chris Brannigan, Conor Maginn, who was the man of the match, played a high ball in to Conor Gribben who opted to flick it, sending it wide of the post when it seemed he may have had the time and space to catch it.

Kalum King made a great tackle in front of the Bryansford bench to start a move which he himself finished to send his side into the lead for the last time as Kilcoo went down the field, and having got through the heart of the Bryansford defence with consummate ease, Paul Greenan palmed the ball to the net.

Again, there was a brace of ‘Ford points to draw them level from Conor Maginn and Ciaran Brannigan, but just before the whistle a second clear goal chance was created for Timmy Hanna and he caught the ball when he could have punched it to the net.

Having caught it, he was forced to turn back inside and Kilcoo goalkeeper Steven Kane made a good save.

Kilcoo got the important first score of the second half with a Paul Greenan point, but Ciaran Brannigan shot Bryansford level. Jerome Johnson did well to open the one point gap again and then Darragh O’Hanlon punished another bad technical mistake in the Bryansford full back line where the ball was touched on the ground and he had the easiest of tasks tapping the free over the bar.

The score of the match followed as Daniel McDonald pointed magnificently from beneath the stand and then the impressive Chris Brannigan knocked a free over, which he had created for himself with good tackling in the forward line.

Again it was Jerome Johnson who edged Kilcoo’s noses back ahead again and a free from Paul Devlin preceded a fisted Conor Laverty effort and the gap was quickly a goal.

Chris Brannigan pointed a free before Ryan Johnson scored well on the run.

In the last five minutes Bryansford fought valiantly to launch a revival, but a duo of Chris Brannigan points, both from play were not enough leaving Kilcoo to run out one point winners.