Seventh heaven for Kilcoo side

Seventh heaven for Kilcoo side

22 October 2025

KILCOO signed their names into the history books once again when they beat a spirited Carryduff side to claim their seventh consecutive Down Senior title at Páirc Esler on Sunday.

The Magpies showed why they are the kings of the county from the word go, opening the scoring through Darryl Branagan and establishing a 1-6 to 0-5 advantage at the change of ends.

Carryduff struggled to curtail the reigning champions’ tide in the second half and although they hit 1-6 of their own, Kilcoo maintained a six-point buffer to clinch their 23rd Frank O’Hare Cup.

Saturday and Sunday’s torrential rain threatened a postponement, with the Newry venue at the mercy of the elements, but throw-in was delayed by an hour-and-a-half instead.

When action eventually got underway, James Guinness and Odhran Sherry failed to make the slippery ball stick, and the Kilcoo title charge started from there. 

Although Jerome Johnston fired wide of the upright with the opening chance, Darryl Branagan set the ball rolling a minute later.

Aaron Branagan and Anthony Morgan displayed great chemistry, linking up for the latter to double the early margin.

Carryduff came up short in the hunt for a response, and the juggernaut Kilcoo side, littered with county players, pointed through Aaron Branagan.

Still, the men in purple and yellow were not to be shut out for long, getting off the mark courtesy of captain James Guinness, who fooled Niall Branagan and arrowed over, before his brother, Daniel, cut the deficit down to one.

Chasing a maiden Down SFC title, Carryduff began to dominate the midfield areas, but decision making and wasted opportunities from Owen McCabe and Ronan Beatty did not help their case.

Ryan Johnston came to within a hair’s breadth of landing a punishing blow, as he punched goalward and saw his effort cleared off the line by Sherry.

Knowing that was a let-off, Carryduff pushed forward and produced a shock equaliser, with Pearse McCabe clipping over.

However, Kilcoo refused to wilt under pressure and their next forward drive resulted in a penalty, when Owen McCabe was adjudged to have thrown the ball in his own square.

Fourteen-time Down Senior champion Paul Devlin stepped up to the spot and fired past goalkeeper Ronan Lavery.

Shealan Johnston increased the gap and while the challengers briefly responded with a James Guinness two-pointer, goalkeeper Niall Kane’s free left the margin at four points before the break.

Carryduff’s struggles in front of goal continued after the interval, with James Guinness and John McGeough failing to convert chances, and the Magpies’s showpiece experience came to the fore.

Devlin, Jerome Johnston and Aaron Branagan’s scores overshadowed the point of Sherry at the start of the second period.

Veteran Devlin splits the posts with a pair of blinding efforts on the next two attacks and despite McGeough pulling one back, Aaron Branagan kept the Kilcoo half of the scoreboard ticking.

Ryan Johnston left nine between the sides, while Carryduff looked down and out, and Jerome Johnston hit his second point off the bench.

Substitute Joe McFlynn made an instant impact for the South Belfast outfit, replying with a point, before Michael McGrath followed up with one of his own.

They stunned their opponents with a goal against the odds, as Liam Blaney reacted to collect his blocked shot and pick out Eoin Donnelly, who kept his composure to hit the net.

The Carryduff resurgence continued with a McGeough two-pointer, leaving just four in it, but Kilcoo’s Sean Og McCusker and Ryan Johnston hit the final two points of the game.

Kilcoo will now set their sights on the Ulster Championship, where they will face the winners of Sunday’s Tyrone SFC final, Trillick or Loughmacrory.

Carryduff: R Lavery, L Toal, C Cassidy, O Sherry, M McGrath, D Guinness, P McCabe, E Donnelly, T McCarroll, G Henderson, J Guinness, O McCabe, J Tunney, R Beatty, J McGeough.

Subs: J McFlynn, L Blaney, S McGonigle.

Kilcoo: N Kane, A Branagan, R McEvoy, N Branagan, M Rooney, D Branagan, C Rogers, Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan, C Doherty, R Johnston, S Johnston, P Devlin, E Branagan, J Johnston.

Subs: J Devlin, S Og McCusker, B McEvoy, C Laverty.