Double delight for Kilcoo

Double delight for Kilcoo

4 December 2013

KILCOO completed the county double when they added the ACFL Division 1 title to the SFC crown after they overpowered Castlewellan at Pairc Esler, Newry, on Sunday.

The Magpies were the hungrier side from the off, but given that they hadn’t played a competitive game in almost three months, Castlewellan gave the favourites a run for their money.

Kilcoo started in a hurry and stormed into an early lead. Paul Greenan and Aidan Branagan were dominating the exchanges in the middle of the park and the roaming Conor Laverty clipped over the first two points of the game, one from either flank.

These were followed by a point from play from the exciting Ryan Johnston and converted frees from the reliable Paul Devlin and Darragh O’Hanlon.

Kilcoo’s five point lead was justified as the Castlewellan rearguard was breached time after time, but the Town slowly settled and with Finty McGreevy, Kevin Duffin and Colm Flanagan imposing their physicality on the game, Castlewellan came storming back into contention.

The wily Liam McKibben opened Castlewellan’s account in the 15th minute before Conor Laverty responded with a sensational score at the other end of the pitch.

Scores from Liam McKibben and McGreevy kept Castlewellan ticking over and with 22 minutes gone there was only a few points between the sides.

However, Kilcoo finished the first half in style and despite Castlewellan points from Duffin and McGreevy, they went in at the break with a three point lead thanks to scores from Sean O’Hanlon and two Paul Devlin frees.

Kilcoo were again quickly out of their traps at the start of the second half and they extended their lead to four points when Darragh O’Hanlon converted yet another free. Castlewellan don’t know the meaning of the word defeat and they battled back into the game with excellent scores from Sean Dornan and McGreevy.

There was just two points in it at this stage and the game was there for the taking, but it was Kilcoo who grabbed the initiative with 48 minutes gone.

A period of sustained pressure paid dividends when Jerome Johnston calmly scored from close range after some exceptional approach play from Aaron Morgan and Niall McEvoy.

Somehow, Castlewellan picked themselves up, dusted themselves down and hit Kilcoo with all guns blazing.

Their endeavours were rewarded when Liam McKibben hoisted a Hail Mary ball into the danger zone and the prolific McGreevy was perfectly placed to soar above everyone else and fist the ball to the Kilcoo net, game back on.

Castlewellan had it all still to do, but nobody ever doubted that they would give it a lash in the dying stages of the game.

However, Kilcoo played a waiting game and simply picked their neighbours off with points from Ryan Johnston and Darragh O’Hanlon to crush Castlewellan’s brave bid.

Castlewellan’s misery was further compounded in the dying embers of the game when Barry Travers was red-carded.

Kilcoo manager Jim McCorry was delighted to hear the final whistle and more than happy to see his side lift their second title of the year.

“It’s a great not to finish the season on. We created a wee bit of history in completing the double.”

Kilcoo: S. Kane, N. Branagan, N. McEvoy, N. Morgan, D. O’Hanlon (0-3), S. O’Hanlon (0-1), Gary McEvoy, P. Greenan, A. Branagan, P. Devlin (0-3), R. Johnston (0-2), J. McClean, J. Johnston (1-0), C. Laverty (0-3), Gerard McEvoy. Subs: D. Branagan, A. Morgan.

Castlewellan: M. Cunningham, B. Travers, R. McArdle, R. Brogan, C. Flanagan, K. Duffin (0-1), D. Morgan, F. McGreevy (1-4), P. Boyle, A. Brogan, D. McKibben, L. McKibben (0-2), A. Burns, S. Dornan (0-1), C. Crilly. Subs: D. McGrady, D. Gilmore, M. Stratton, R. Burns.

Kilcoo 1-12

Castlewellan 1-8

ACFL DIVISION 1 FINAL