Morgan Fuels Down Senior Football Championship semi-final: Mayobridge 1-7 Kilcoo 2-9
MAYOBRIDGE had four men sent-off as they exited the Morgan Fuels Down Senior Championship to holders Kilcoo. The final minutes of this semi-final descended into near farce, with referee Brendan Rice dealing with a brawl and flashing several cards.
Mayobridge, just as in last year’s semi-final, got off to a flying start, with Kevin O’Rourke pointing three times in the first eight minutes – a free and two from play, the second of these a delightful score from away out on the right flank.
In the early stages, the Sky Blues held the upper hand but, gradually, the Magpies edged their way back into contention.
Darragh O’Hanlon grabbed the opening Kilcoo point on 16 minutes and, in the next five minutes, the black-shirted Magpies chiselled out a couple of goal chances. Jerome Johnston cut through the Bridge defence but, with the hard work done, the corner-forward blazed wide. And then Darragh O’Hanlon played in Conor Laverty, but the normally reliable Down man mishandled and the chance was gone.
However, a very-much-on-top Kilcoo pulled back another point on 20 minutes, O’Hanlon again doing the business with a second free. On 23 minutes, in a rare attack, the Bridge prised open the gap to a couple of points when their excellent corner-back Conor Fitzpatrick surged upfield and hit a magnificent long-range score.
Still, in the final minutes of the half, the Magpies squared the match with points from Daryl Branagan and a Paul Devlin free.
On the resumption, Jerome Johnson pointed with 20 seconds gone. It was the first time Kilcoo had led in the match.
The Bridge had a great opportunity to net on 39 minutes when O’Rourke and Coulter combined superbly, but Cory Quinn couldn’t find the target. A minute later, Martin Devlin hit a massive point, with the accurate O’Rourke squaring matters at six apiece with a free kick at the other end.
O’Rourke again pointed from a dead ball on 44 minutes, but Kilcoo’s reply was immediate and deadly. They went straight up the park, with Ryan Johnston setting up brother Jerome who blasted right down the middle of the Bridge net to put his side two in front.
The match was hotting up and Mayobridge showed great character on 49 minutes when they plundered a goal. Cory Quinn played in Caolan Gallagher, who flashed down the end line before beating Steven Kane from a tight angle.
The last 10 minutes were forgettable for the Bridge as referee Brendan Rice sent-off Benny Coulter, after issuing him with a second yellow, and then he red-carded Conor Garvey. Meanwhile, Jerome Johnson was on fire and netted a goal on 54 minutes as well as adding a further two points.
In injury time, the match degenerated into a full-blooded brawl, with players from both sides getting involved. When the dust settled, referee Rice then sent-off another two Bridge men - Shane McNamee and Cory Quinn, as well as a Kilcoo substitute.
MATCH STATS
Mayobridge: CJ Barr; S McNamee, C Garvey, C Fitzpatrick (0-1); R Brady, M Lively, K McClorey; E Woods, B Coulter; A Barry, S O’Hare, C Gallagher; C Quinn, K O’Rourke (0-5), C O’Hare (0-1); Subs: C Gribben for Barry (32), R Hughes for Woods (34).
Kilcoo: S Kane; N Branagan, A Branagan, A Fulcher, Aaron Branagan, D O’Hanlon (0-2), D Branagan (0-2); F McGreevy, P Greenan; A Morgan, C Laverty, P Devlin (0-1); R Johnston, J Johnston (2-3), M Devlin (0-1); Subs: N McEvoy for Morgan (47), C Doherty for McGreevy (56).
Referee: B Rice (Warrenpoint).
