Kilcoo master class takes out Scotstown in opener

19 October 2016

DOWN champions Kilcoo went into the lion’s den of Clones for this Ulster Club preliminary round clash and after a titanic battle they ran out two-point winners over a fine Scotstown side, Ryan Johnston’s second half goal proving to be the all-important score in the end.

The Monaghan champions went into this game as favourites and for Kilcoo to win it was imperative that they nullified the impact of the Hughes brothers, Darren and Kieran, two of the finest players in Ulster.

Over the hour the Magpies did a brilliant job collectively on them, but early on Darren was proving dangerous on the edge of the square, opening the scoring himself in the fourth minute and nearly adding a goal soon after when his fisted effort went agonisingly wide.

Captain Donal Morgan put his side two points to the good in the sixth minute as Kilcoo took a while to get into their stride. But a brilliant seven-man move of intricate passing led to an Aaron Branagan score with his left foot in the tenth minute and this was quickly followed by a Donal Kane free to level matters after Conor Laverty was fouled.

The Magpies were now going well and further scores from the Devlin brothers, Martin and Paul, put them into the ascendancy against the breeze. Scotstown’s shot selection over the first half was wayward and after hitting seven wides, frees from Beggan and Carey reduced the gap to the minimum going in at the break in a wet St Tiernach’s Park.

Mattie McGleenan’s side levelled matters a minute after the resumption from a Shane Carey free before Martin Devlin and Carey from play exchanged scores.

Then the game changer came in the 37th minute. County star Ryan Johnston, on the comeback after nearly a year out after shoulder surgery, was now on the pitch for the injured Aidan Branagan and he finished wonderfully to the net after great approach play by Paul Devlin and Laverty. It gave Paul McIver’s men a lead they would never relinquish.

An Bhoth responded well to the Kilcoo major with two Carey frees before that man Johnston had the ball in the back of the net again, but bizarrely it was ruled out as referee Sean Hurson adjudged it as a square ball which seemed harsh on first viewing.

A fantastic effort from impressive playmaker Paul Devlin in the 53rd minute sent Kilcoo two clear and this was followed by an Aaron Morgan point four minutes later, after sublime play from Conor Laverty.

Shane Carey reduced the gap to two on the 60th minute as five additional minutes were signalled, but the Down champions defended resolutely as they had done the whole game to hold out for a two point win.

Scotstown battled to the end, but in injury time lost their discipline, Brian McGinnity being sent off for striking and Francis Caulfield for two yellows. Kilcoo kept their cool and now meet Glenswilly of Donegal in the quarter-final on Sunday week in Pairc Esler.

Kilcoo fully deserved their victory. Over the hour they played the better football, held Scotstown’s key men and were much more economical up front.

Their defence was superb and restricted the home side to 0-4 from play. Niall Branagan and Darragh O’Hanlon were immense in the full back line while Daryll and Aaron Branagan offered plenty offensively as well as defensively.

In attack Conor Laverty and Paul Devlin had great games while Aaron Morgan and Martin Devlin had some good moments.Ryan Johnston’s impact and goal alone was so crucial also and the 30 minutes will bring him on greatly.

Scotstown: Rory Beggan (0-1, free), Paul Shercock, Mark Duffy, Damian McArdle, Fergal McPhillips, Sean Mohan, Emmett Caulfield, Francis Caulfield, Kieran Hughes, Ross McKenna, Donal Morgan (0-1), James Turley, Orin Heaphy, Darren Hughes (0-1), Shane Carey (0-6, 4 frees). Subs: Padraig Keenan for McPhillips, Brian McGinnity for Orin Heaphy, Brendan Boylan for Sean Mohan.

Kilcoo: Niall Kane, Niall McEvoy, Darragh O’Hanlon, Niall Branagan, Daryll Branagan, Aidan Branagan, Aaron Branagan (0-1), James McClean, JJ McLaughlin, Ceilum Doherty, Aaron Morgan (0-1), Donal Kane (0-1), free, Martin Devlin (0-2), Paul Devlin (0-3, 2 frees), Conor Laverty. Subs: Ryan Johnston (1-0) for Aidan Branagan, Dominic McEvoy for Kane, Felim McGreevy for McClean, Cillian Laverty for Doherty, Gary McEvoy for Devlin (59).

Referee: Sean Hurson (Galbally, Tyrone).

Scotstown 0-9

Kilcoo 1-8

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