End of the road for Kilcoo in Ulster bid

End of the road for Kilcoo in Ulster bid

20 November 2013

KILCOO’S dreams of making a second successive Ulster final were shattered by a Ballinderry team who will now play in their first provincial decider since 2008.

There were two trains of thought before this clash. One pointed towards the fact that Kilcoo had serious momentum behind them, having come through 160 minutes with Crossmaglen.

The other questioned what the Magpies had left in them after those gruelling duels.

Would they have enough in the tank to outplay Ballinderry for 60 minutes?

In reality Kilcoo did look a bit flat. However, Ballinderry were simply the better team.

They won the majority of battles in their defence and attack and they were particularly prominent at midfield.

The Derry champions blew their Down counterparts away in the first 20 minutes.

They assumed a 1-05 to 0-03 three lead. Michael McIver’s facile goal ensuring that his team established a five point cushion.

A controversial red card for former county star Kevin McGuckin in the 21st minute provided for a major talking point as it seemed rather unjust.

Ballinderry also lost Ryan Scott in the 41st minute to a second yellow card which ensured that they would have to see out the game with thirteen men.

When Scott departed the scene Martin McKinless’s troops were 1-9 to 0-5 to the good.

Cue a Kilcoo comeback. The Magpies banged over the next four scores in the game as Sean O’Hanlon and Sean Devlin converted along with frees from Darragh O’Hanlon and Paul Devlin.

With under ten minutes to go Kilcoo began to wilt. Ballinderry took charge at midfield and with Conor Laverty rendered redundant by Gareth McKinless and Conor Nevin holding strong at full back, the Derry side looked like they could hold on.

And hold on they did. Only 26 players remained on the pitch at the end of the game as Paul Greenan and Ryan Johnston also got their marching orders.

Kilcoo will regret the fact that they didn’t push forward more when they held the numerical advantage.

If they had of shown a bit more abandon and patience with kicking points from distance then things could have been very different.

Ballinderry showed immense resilience with Conleth Gilligan and co in the attack proving to be difficult customers for the Kilcoo rearguard.

Enda Muldoon’s introduction late also steadied the ship and with the experience that this team possess, few would doubt their chances of taking Ulster.

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

Ballinderry: M. Conlan; R. Scott, C. Nevin, M. McIver (1-2); R. Wilson, G. McKinless, D. Lawn; K. McGuckin, J. Conway; D. McKinless, K. M. McGuckin, D McGuckin (0-1); C. Devlin (0-3, 3F), R. Bell (0-2), C. Gilligan (0-2). Subs: D. Conway for K. M. McGuckin, E. Muldoon for Gilligan, A. Devlin for D. McKinless, F. Bell for D. McGuckin, P. Crozier for Wilson.

Kilcoo 0-9

Ballinderry 1-10

ULSTER CLUB SFC SEMI-FINAL