Kilcoo shoot the breeze to see off Loughinisland

21 August 2013

KILCOO completely overwhelmed Loughinisland with a mesmeric display of attacking football at Pairc Tomas Ruiseil on Sunday afternoon.

The reigning champions were in ebullient mood from the off and they wove a rich tapestry of clinical, passing football that completely bamboozled Loughinisland.

Kilcoo had far too much pace and power in crucial departments and Loughinisland were unable to negate the prowess of Conor Laverty and Jerome Johnston, two of Kilcoo’s county players.

Aaron McClements pointed Loughinisland into a first minute lead, but this stunned the champions into immediate retaliation and points from Jerome Johnston and Darragh O’Hanlon put Kilcoo into a lead they were never to loose.

Paul Devlin grabbed the first of their four goals in the sixth minute after a pacy interchange between Conor Laverty and Jerome Johnston.

Dominic McClements and Aidan Nixon fired over points for Loughinisland, but Kilcoo just moved up another gear. Jerome Johnston and Jamie O’Reilly exchanged points before a Jerome Johnston goal gave Kilcoo a 2-4 to 0-4 lead after 16 minutes.

Jerome Johnston and Ben O’Reilly swapped points before Kilcoo went on the charge and unanswered scores from Anthony Devlin, Paul Devlin and Gary McEvoy (2) gave the Magpies and 2-9 to 0-5 lead at the break.

A goal from Darryl Branagan in the first few seconds of the second half killed the game off as a spectacle as Kilcoo went into overdrive.

Points from Cillian Laverty, Paul Greenan, Cillian Laverty and Darragh O’Hanlon were answered by minor scored from Jamie O’Reilly and Aidan Nixon as Kilcoo took a 3-14 to 0-7 lead after 42 minutes.

Darragh O’Hanlon tagged on another free before Gary McEvoy found the back of the Loughinisland net after yet another dazzling passing movement to make it 4-15 to 0-7.

Ryan Johnston and Conor Laverty added points for Kilcoo before Jamie O’Reilly scored a goal for Loughinisland with practically the last kick of the game.

Kilcoo: S. Kane, N. Branagan, Cillian Laverty (0-2), D. Branagan (1-0), D. O’Hanlon (0-4), S. O’Hanlon, Gerard. McEvoy, N. McEvoy, P. Greenan (0-1), P. Devlin (1-2), S. Devlin, Gary McEvoy (1-2), J. Johnston (1-3), Conor Laverty (0-1), A. Devlin (0-1). Subs: R. Johnston (0-1), N. Morgan for Sean Devlin, Seamus Devlin for Paul Devlin, A. Branagan for O’Hanlon.

Loughinisland: C. Turley, P. Cochrane, Conor O’Toole, R. Nixon, P. Martin, Cormac O’Toole, J. Flynn, J. McCarthy, D. McClements (0-1), C. Megoran, B. O’Reilly (0-1), A. Nixon (0-2), P. Digney, A. McClements (0-1), J. O’Reilly (1-2). Subs: S. Cochrane for Martin, O. Teague for R. Nixon, P. Megoran for Flynn, C. Killen for B. O’Reilly.

Kilcoo 4-17

Loughinisland 1-7

DOWN SFC

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