Magpies breeze past Carryduff to claim record-breaking seventh senior title
Kilcoo 1-17
Carryduff 1-11
By Peter McGrath Jnr
ENTERING this Morgan Fuels Senior Football Championship final, the difference in the level of experience between both clubs of such occasions was stark.
Kilcoo were in a 14th consecutive senior final, seeking a record-breaking seventh win in a row, while Carryduff were only in their second ever senior final, their sole previous appearance coming back in 2020 when Kilcoo proved far too good.
This time round, throw in was delayed by an hour and a half due to the incessant overnight and early morning rain but the Pairc Esler sod held up well and weather conditions faired nicely for the duration of play. In the end, Kilcoo may well look back with some surprise at the ease with which they retained the Frank O’Hare Cup.
Early on, Carryduff battled well and, in many ways, it was an even game in those opening stages but, the Belfast side will reflect on a lack of pace and punch in many of their first half attacks as a defining storyline around this game.
Too often play slowed at the 45. Too often a Carryduff line-breaker was doing it alone, getting crowded out and turned over as a consequence. Too often their shots lacked real conviction.
On the flip side, Kilcoo at times were electric.
The pace that has been synonymous with them for years was in abundant evidence as they took the game to their rivals.
In a majestic third quarter they turned the screw. The Magpies were hungry. They had been doubted, questioned. Their answer was clear and defiant.
Winning a high percentage of balls in the middle third after the break, they asserted their authority on the game.
Winning that quarter 0-8 – 0-2, Kilcoo put themselves in a match-winning position and, while Carryduff tried to respond thereafter, Martin Corey’s men never looked in any real danger.
Kilcoo turned to their experienced campaigners from the start as Jerome Johnston, Eugene Branagan and Aaron Branagan were all drafted into the starting line up at late notice and they began the game well.
They notched the first three points with Aaron Branagan among the scorers alongside his brother Darryl and Anthony Morgan.
Carryduff appeared to have weathered the storm as they worked their way back into it with three on the bounce themselves.
James and Daniel Guinness got one each before Pearse McCabe converted the third.
Daniel Guinness’ score was probably the pick of the bunch as he broke past three black jerseys before scoring.
In a sense too though, that score highlighted Carryduff’s big problem.
All too often it was individual efforts getting them up-field without the necessary support arriving to repeatedly trouble their opponents.
In the midst of the flurry of Carryduff points, Kilcoo could have had a goal but Ryan Johnston’s looping palmed effort was swept off the goal line by Odhran Sherry who had covered in behind.
Arguably, the defining score of the game was Paul Devlin’s converted penalty.
A brilliant Kilcoo move began patiently before Paul Devlin and Miceal Rooney orchestrated a dynamic forward shift. As Rooney flicked the ball to Callum Rogers, Ceilum Doherty made a run at the back post.
Rogers tried to find him but a Carryduff defender was covering. With his momentum about to take him over the line, he threw it out and a penalty was awarded.
Paul Devlin, who went on to win the Man of the Match award, belted it high down the middle to the roof of the net as the large Kilcoo support rose as one to celebrate.
As Carryduff tried in earnest to respond, Daniel Guinness was surrounded by three defenders with Kilcoo winning the ball and then breaking rapidly, with Shealan Johnston squeezing over from a tight angle.
Carryduff got a lift with a massive two pointer from play, James Guinness’ left boot the source but, the benefit of that score was undone with the final scoring act of the first half – a Kilcoo two pointer courtesy of Niall Kane from a free kick just beyond the edge of the 40m arc.
The third quarter is traditionally known as the ‘championship quarter’ and it was here that Kilcoo stamped their authority on the game to ensure their name will again be etched onto the Frank O’Hare Cup. In that 15-minute spell, Odhran Sherry and John McGeough were Carryduff’s only registrars on the scoreboard, while Kilcoo had four and, of those four, Paul Devlin landed three points. Aaron Branagan and Jerome Johnston hit two each and Ryan Johnston also got in on the act.
One of the scores from Jerome Johnston was a stunning kick from near the sideline on the terrace side but, as he was inside the 20m line, it was only a one-point effort.
Paul Devlin had one from a tricky angle on the other side but his standout score from that Kilcoo flurry was a point he flicked while on his knees. Linking up with Shealan Johnston, Devlin tried to cut in along the endline but, with his path blocked by a covering challenge the ball dropped from his grasp. Showing wonderful ingenuity and improvisation, the experienced corner forward who is one of six on the Kilcoo panel to gather a 14th county medal as a consequence of this success, scooped it over the bar with a clever flick of the wrist.
Trailing by ten (1-14 – 0-7), Carryduff were in need of a miraculous comeback but, even Lazarus himself may have struggled to rise had he been ten points behind against Kilcoo.
Joe McFlynn, freshly onto the field did try and ignite a spark with a well struck point and Carryduff hearts were further lifted by a thrilling diving block from Eoin Donnelly and a subsequent Mick McGrath point.
There was, however, a sense of the wind coming out of their sails somewhat as Darryl Branagan survived a suspicion of overcarrying en-route to clipping over a timely point.
The final flicker from Carryduff came via a goal and a two-pointer scored in quick succession but they came too late to build real momentum and, with a four-point deficit even after those scores, Finnian Moriarty’s troops had left themselves too much to do.
The goal was finished by Eoin Donnelly but came about through Liam Blayney’s persistence in keeping the ball alive and hooking it over his head to the unmarked Donnelly who slotted coolly home at the back post.
John McGeough’s free from outside the arc just a minute after left the crowd sitting in momentary anticipation.
It was Kilcoo who were able to see it out with late scores from Sean Og McCusker and Ryan Johnston paving the golden road to a magnificent seven in row.
TEAMS
Kilcoo: Niall Kane 0-2; Aaron Branagan 0-3, Ryan McEvoy, Niall Branagan; Miceal Rooney, Darryl Branagan 0-2, Callum Rogers; Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan 0-1; Ceilum Doherty, Ryan Johnston 0-2, Shealan Johnston 0-1; Paul Devlin 1-3, Eugene Branagan, Jerome Johnston 0-2.Subs: Jack Devlin for E Branagan (33), Sean Og McCusker 0-1 for J Johnston (49), Barra McEvoy for M Rooney (55), Conor Laverty for P Devlin (58), Christopher Rooney for S Johnston (60).
Carryduff: Ronan Lavery; Lorcan Toal, Conor Cassidy, Odhran Sherry 0-1; Michael McGrath 0-1, Daniel Guinness 0-1, Pearse McCabe 0-1; Eoin Donnelly 1-0, Tom McCarroll; Gareth Henderson, James Guinness 0-3, Owen McCabe; Joe Tunney, Ronan Beatty, John McGeough 0-3.Subs: Cian Clinton for J Tunney (37), Joe McFlynn 0-1 for O McCabe (43), Liam Blayney for M McGrath (47), Sean McGonigle for P McCabe (48), Ryan Elliot for O Sherry (54).
