Kilcoo go close to causing big upset

6 November 2013

THE bravehearts of Kilcoo and Crossmaglen will have to do it all again this Sunday after they couldn’t be separated in this pulsating battle at Pairc Esler on Sunday.

Both teams were fully committed fully throughout, no quarter was given or taken. On the balance of play the Magpies were just about the more cohesive unit and there will be lingering disappointment that they didn’t wrap the game up in normal time.

They were boosted before throw in with the news that Aaron Cunningham and Aaron Kernan wouldn’t start for Crossmaglen due to injury concerns.

However, they will have their own worries over key personnel for the replay. Anthony Devlin, Paul Devlin, Felim McGreevy and Jerome Johnston all picked up knocks and they will need to be closely monitored this week.

Despite being understrength, Crossmaglen were actually two up at a stage in extra-time, despite trailing for most of the game.

This was the strongest they had looked all game as at times they seemed very vulnerable to Kilcoo’s forages forward. The Down side were 1-3 to no score up early on.

Gerard McEvoy bagged the first point before Ryan Johnston palmed to Paul Hearty’s net. In between this action, Kilcoo ‘keeper, Stephen Kane, was called into play when he acrobatically denied a Crossmaglen attacker.

Another Kilcoo point was followed up by a free from Darragh O’Hanlon as Jim McCorry’s men went six clear after a quarter of an hour. Crossmaglen finally got their act together in the 18th minute as Tony Kernan swung over a free.

The manager’s son then floated over another in the 26th minute before the Armagh kingpins got their first point from play from Stephen Kernan on the stroke of half-time.

Kilcoo were quiet towards the end of the first half and this continued into the second half. Two frees from Tony Kernan made it a two point game before Kilcoo rang the changes with Aaron Branagan and James McClean entering the fray.

The Magpies finally got their mojo back in the 42nd minute when Paul Devlin glanced over a well taken free. Crossmaglen then pegged Kilcoo back with a score before Devlin popped up again with 15 minutes remaining.

Goalscorer Johnston then hit a point before Devlin got in on the act again as Kilcoo sauntered four clear with the finishing line in sight. Then in a split second Kilcoo made an error in their defence on which Kyle Carragher pounced. His initial shot was saved, but the ball fell to Stephen Kernan who rasped the net.

The pressure was on now for both teams with only five minutes left.

Crossmaglen’s undoubted experience at this level then shone through as veteran Martin Aherne pointed to draw the game level and send it to extra-time.

Tony Kernan drew first blood with a free before Kilcoo raised their supporters’ emotions when big Paul Greenan fisted over Paul Hearty after getting on the end of a lobbed ball.

Crossmaglen continued to push hard though and two scores in a row from former Newry Bosco player, Kyle Brennan, brought the contest level again at half-time in extra time.

On the restart it was evident that both teams were tiring badly. Tony Kernan sliced over a free before Johnny Hanratty kicked from play.

With time running out the ever reliable Darragh O’Hanlon was called into save the day for the Magpies.

Two eye-catching late scores from Darragh O’Hanlon enabled Kilcoo to draw level and ensure that they would get another chance to take on the might of Crossmaglen.

Kilcoo: S. Kane, N. Branagan, N. McEvoy, D. Branagan, D. O’Hanlon (0-4, 3f), S. O’Hanlon, Gerard McEvoy (0-1), P. Greenan (1-0), Aidan Branagan, P. Devlin (0-3, 1F), A. Devlin, R. Johnston (1-1), J. Johnston, C. Laverty, Gary McEvoy. Subs: F. McGreevy for J Johnston, Aaron Branagan for A. Devlin, J. McClean for McGreevy, Sean Devlin for Gary McEvoy, S. Devlin for A. Bran-agan, M. Devlin for R. Johnston, N. Morgan for M. Devlin.

Crossmaglen: P. Hearty, P. Hughes, P. McKeown, S. Finnegan, M. Aherne (0-1), G. Carragher, D. O’Callaghan, J. Hanratty (0-1), S. Kernan (1-1), P. Og Grant, T. Kernan (0-6, 6F), M. McNamee, K. Brennan (0-2), K. Carragher, C. Cumiskey (0-1). Subs: D. McKenna for Brennan, C. O’Neill for McNamee, M. Boyce for Cumiskey, K. Brennan for Grant.

Kilcoo 2-9

Crossmaglen 1-12

ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL

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