Masterful Kilcoo in final

Masterful Kilcoo in final

21 November 2012

KILCOO delivered a knock-out blow to St Galls’ when they sent them sprawling at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh, to book their spot in the Ulster final against Crossmaglen Rangers, the reigning Ulster and All-Ireland champions, on December 2.

A wasteful St. Gall’s fired seven wides in a poor first half but the Antrim side still led 0-4 to 0-3 at the break. St. Gall’s were three clear when Kilcoo’s Niall McEvoy was red carded after an off-the-ball incident, but Sean Devlin netted on 53 minutes as the Down champions launched their comeback and two late points secured victory.

The Antrim champions dominated for long periods in the first half, but they wasted an awful lot of scoring chances and you just don’t give that latitude to Kilcoo.

St. Gall’s were seeing a lot more of the ball in the opening exchanges with Aodhan Gallagher ruling the roost, but all the Belfast side could register in the first half was four points.

Kilcoo made the most of their limited possession and only went in at the break trailing by a single point, 0-4 to 0-3. Karl Stewart slotted over three points for the Belfast team while Darragh O’Hanlon, Paul Devlin and Conor Laverty were on target for Kilcoo.

But, St. Gall’s shot seven first half wides, as well as C. J. McGourty and Kevin Niblock spurning two great goal chances.

St. Gall’s continued to control things at the start of the second half and stretched their lead to three points, 0-7 to 0-4 after 43 minutes, but Kilcoo were simply biding their time.

Their indomitable spirit shone like a beacon and even the loss of Niall McEvoy to a red card after he clashed with Stewart failed to prevent Kilcoo taking control.

Two minutes after McEvoy’s dismissal, Kilcoo struck gold. Conor Laverty, who had been shackled by Andy McClean, broke free from his marker and fired the ball into Sean O’Hanlon.

Devlin, who had just replaced Gary McEvoy, fisted the ball into Sean Devlin and he made no mistake from a couple of yards out. Darragh O’Hanlon followed this up with a super point to put Kilcoo ahead for the first time since the seventh minute.

Back came St. Gall’s, thanks to a long-range point from Sean Kelly, but a voracious Kilcoo side were on fire and points from Gerard McEvoy and Paul Devlin secured a memorable victory.

Manager Jim McCorry couldn’t contain his delight after the final whistle and was full of praise for his players.

“ “We never stopped working, we believed in ourselves more as the game went on and even when we had a player sent off. I’m very proud of the players, to be a man down and come away with a victory was superb,” he said.

“Taking on Cross in the final is a daunting task, but we’ll bring our own style and intensity to the game and we’re looking forward to it.”

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

St. Gall’s: C. Kerr, P. Veronica, A. McClean, M. Kelly, A. Healy, S. Kelly (0-1), T. O’Neill, S. Burke, A. Gallagher, N. O’Neill, K. Niblock (0-3), K. McGourty, C. J. McGourty (0-1), M. Pollock (0-1), K. Stewart (0-4). Subs: Kieran McGourty for Burke, D. O’Hare for C. J. McGourty, C. Brady for Veronica.

Final score: Kilcoo 1-9 St. Galls 0-10