Champions Kilcoo go marching on with victory over Burren

2 September 2020

KILCOO booked their spot in the last eight of the Morgan Fuels Down SFC following a tasty clash with Burren at Pairc Esler.

A skirmish after the final whistle cast a bit of a shadow over what had gone before.

After a bright start, the defending champions marshalled their back line well, with Ryan Johnston in particular playing a starring role.

Both sides had periods of superiority inside the first half hour. However it was Kilcoo who made the most of their dominance as they took a 1-6 to 0-7 lead into the half-time interval.

Jerome Johnstone netted a crucial early goal when he got free of marker Darragh O’Hanlon and buried the ball beyond Cathal Murdock at the near post.

O’Hanlon’s late inclusion in the side came as something of a surprise as he lined up alongside Gerard McGivern in the full-forward position.

Burren’s early midfield tactics gave them a decent initial foothold on proceedings as they kicked five of the next six scores following that early goal from Johnston.

The elder Johnston brother, Ryan, was doing his best to keep the champions in the contest at this relatively early stage as he displayed a great range of passing, as well as two wonderful scores in this period.

Both sides came close to landing goals immediately after the restart. When Burren’s Liam Kerr fired in a shot from the left wing, Danny McGill was relieved as the ball came back off the post and into his arms.

The scoreline read 1-7 to 0-9 when McGovern was involved in another pivotal incident in the contest. He blocked off the supporting run of Darryl Branagan and referee Con Reynolds issued the black card.

The Magpies took this as their chance to make hay and kicked another fine score, this time from Shealan Johnston.

The directness of Burren’s running had been smothered by an efficient Kilcoo back line as the white shirts struggled to penetrate to any great degree. Beyond the 13th minute, they scored just once from play.

As Burren tired late on, man-of-the-match Ryan Johnston, brother Jerome and Darragh O’Hanlon hammered home late scores as the Magpies rubber-stamped their progression.

Kilcoo: N Kane, R McEvoy, N Branagan, N McEvoy, D Branagan (0-1), A Branagan, C Doherty, P Greenan (0-1), R Johnston, (0-4), E Branagan, J Johnston, (1-2), S Johnston (0-1), P Devlin (0-1), C Laverty, D O’Hanlon (0-1). Sub: A Morgan for Greenan (45).

Burren: C Murdock, S Fegan, G McGovern, C McGovern, P Fegan, A McAvoy, C Foy, C Toner, K McKernan, D O’Hare (0-3), L Kerr (0-3), R McGrath, D Magill, R Treanor (0-3), T Travers (0-1). Subs: D McEntee for Foy (36), S McArdle for McKernan (39), P Poland for D Magill (55), R Cunningham

for Travers (55), Mc McAvoy for A McAvoy (59).

Burren 0-9

Kilcoo 1-11

MORGAN FUELS SFC

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