It’s never over until it’s over for Kilcoo

25 May 2016

KILCOO eventually saw off a determined Bryansford in a wet and windy St. Patrick’s Park Newcastle on Friday evening, thanks mainly to the impact of substitute Aidan Branagan, who led Kilcoo to victory in the closing stages.

Both teams started with depleted sides mainly due to the fact the county team were playing a friendly and with these two clubs supplying Eamon Burns with nine county panellists between them, it gave others an opportunity to stake a claim for a long term place in their respective sides.

The away side opened the scoring with Gerard McEvoy getting forward to kick a lovely score and Bryansford replied immediately via Jack Maginn.

A Martin Devlin free restored Kilcoo’s lead in the fourth minute, but once again the ‘Ford went straight back up the pitch and one of the scores of the evening was kicked by midfielder Joe Ireland.

With wind advantage Brian Burns’ side upped the ante and in Stephen McKibbin they had a player who knew where the posts were. He kicked a great score from play in the eighth minute, as well as two converted frees, to give his side a three-point lead midway through the first half .

Kilcoo improved as the half wore on and reduced the deficit to a point with 25 minutes played, Conor Laverty scoring from play and a 40m free brilliantly pointed by goalkeeper Nial Kane after Laverty was fouled.

Ireland scored a dubious point from distance and Danny Savage kicked from 50 metres before Martin Devlin scored a free just before the half time whistle to leave the score Bryansford 0-7 Kilcoo 0-5 at the interval.

In the second half Bryansford adapted well to playing against the elements with Savage their main go-to man.

By the 40th minute he had scored twice and at this stage his side lead by a point after Kilcoo had clawed their way back into contention with frees from Devlin and Laverty and an excellent long range score from James McClean.

With ten minutes to play the Magpies stepped it up a gear and further points from Laverty and Devlin gave them the lead.

Scores were hard to come by in the next five minutes, but disaster then struck for the county champions with three minutes to go when a defensive error let Jack Maginn in on goal and he finished to the net, much to the delight of the home support.

At this stage Kilcoo trailed by two and with time running out it looked like a home win was on the cards.

Then Aidan Branagan, who had impressed since his introduction, carried the ball 50 metres and after an exchange with Laverty planted the ball in the back of the net.

A wonderful bit of fight and leadership had Kilcoo in front and in injury time Ceilum Doherty kicked the insurance score to leave his side two-point winners.

Overall Kilcoo will be delighted to come away with both points. They didn’t perform anywhere near their best, but still had the grit and determination to dig deep when the chips where down.

Experienced defenders Sean O’Hanlon, Gerard McEvoy and his brother Nial were solid at the back while Felim McGreevy had another superb hour at midfield. In attack it was the scoring accuracy of Conor Laverty and Martin Devlin that kept Kilcoo in the game. Aidan Branagan was superb for the Magpies when introduced, his running ability and determination was the reason Kilcoo won the game in the end.

Bryansford will be disappointed to lose a game they looked like winning with three minutes to play. They played well for long periods as a team and frustrated Kilcoo. They will take away many positives and their break ball count was much superior to that of their derby rivals.

Paddy Sheridan at half back got his hands on so much ball and impressed greatly on the night. Danny Savage was another who had so much possession and overall he was Bryansfords most influential player.

Many others gave Kilcoo trouble, including Joe Ireland and Jack Maginn, but in the end it was Paul McIver’s men who just done enough to shade a close contest that

lacked in quality but not in excitement.

Bryansford: S J Branagan, A Ward, S Toner, R McDonald, D McDonald, N O’Higgins, P Sheridan, R Wells, J Ireland (0-2), A Sommers, L Kelly, R McInerney, D Savage (0-3, 2 frees), J Maginn (1-1), S McKibben (0-3, 2 frees). Subs used: K King, C Laverty, P Bonny.

Kilcoo: N Kane (0-1, free), N Branagan, N McEvoy, A Fulcher, Gerard McEvoy (0-1), S O’Hanlon, D Branagan, J McClean (0-1), F McGreevy, J J McLaughlin, A Morgan, C McClean, M Devlin (0-4, 3 frees), Conor Laverty (0-3, 1 free), Gary McEvoy. Subs used: Aidan Branagan (1-0), C Doherty (0-1), D Ward, M Rooney and D McEvoy.

Referee: R Barry (Tullylish).

Bryansford 1-9

Kilcoo 1-11

ACFL DIVISION 1

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder