KILCOO RATINGS
Niall Kane: His kick-outs were generally of a high standard but his one bad kick-out just before the break led directly to a Slaughtneil point and it hurt Kilcoo on the scoreboard. 7
Eugene Branagan: This lad has some size of heart. Giving height and weight away to Meehaul McGrath he was a pest all afternoon. Made a fantastic late run and shot for goal but his effort was turned away by Antoin McMullan. 8
Darragh O’Hanlon: Apart from giving away an early free that was converted, the county ace kept a tight rein on Se McGuigan. Hit some excellent passes into the Kilcoo forward line but squandered one great chance and Slaughtneil profited from his misplaced pass in the 50th minute. 6.5
Niall Branagan: Never gave Cormac O’Doherty a minute’s peace throughout this final and given his level of performance, the corner-back must feel desperately unlucky to be on the losing side. 7.5
Daryll Branagan: The Slaughtneil defence struggled to contain the powerful Kilcoo wing-back when he broke forward. Broke Slaughtneil lines and took a fine first half point. 7.5
Aidan Branagan: Held the centre well and tried to be the extra man in attack when Kilcoo were chasing the game in the second half. Shane McGuigan stole a couple of points off him but emptied the tank. 6
Aaron Branagan: Picked up an early booking but broke forward well at times and had good spells on ‘Sammy’ Bradley. 6
James McClean: Won the turnover that led to Kilcoo opening their account. He won couple of breaks and had a good first half. A black card ended his day though in the 40th minute. 6
JJ McLoughlin: A late change for Felim McGreevy, JJ never saw much ball. Plenty of perspiration and picked up a first half booking before being replaced in the second period. 5
Ceilum Doherty: A real scoring threat for Kilcoo from start to finish. Any day you hit three points from play in a final is a good day. Fulfilled his end of the bargain. 7.5
Aaron Morgan: Composed in possession and almost all of his kick passes bounced neatly into the hands of the Kilcoo forwards. Impressive performance in midfield. 7.5
Ryan Johnston: Ran at the Slaughtneil defence and was rewarded with a 16th minute point. Always a dangerous runner but sometimes took too much out of the ball. Couldn’t find the holes in the opposition’s defence in the second half. 6.5
Martin Devlin: Subdued first half and never saw many balls but was twice involved in the score he converted in the 38th minute. Tired in the closing stages. 6
Paul Devlin: Not a natural full-forward and ran into a brick wall in the form of Brendan Rogers. Got off the mark with a fifth minute free but his shooting was disappointing thereafter. 5.5
Conor Laverty: His quick free gifted an early score to Ceilum Doherty and nearly always gave the right pass. Assisted for Ceilum Doherty’s 52nd minute point. Drifted too deep at times in the second half. 6.5
Substitutes:
Donal Kane: Gave a nice lay-off to Eugene Branagan who was unlucky not to find the net. 5
Dylan Ward: Tried to spoil Patsy Bradley in the closing stages. 5
Dominic McEvoy: Not on long enough to be rated.
Niall McEvoy: Not on long enough to be rated.
SLAUGHTNEIL RATINGS
Antoin McMullan: Made an outstanding save down to his left to deny Eugene Branagan with three minutes left, at a stage in the game when a goal would have put Kilcoo in the lead. 7
Francis McEldowney: The Slaughtneil captain an intriguing battle with the pacy Ceilum Doherty, which the Kilcoo man edged. One burst upfield almost ended in a goal when his fisted pass was put into touch in the 27th minute. 7
Brendan Rogers: Inspirational. Nullified the threat of Paul Devlin and proved dangerous at the other end of the field, bounding forward to bag two first half points. 8.5
Karl McKaigue: A man-marker supreme. Kept a close watch on Conor Laverty in the first half, and curtailed the influence of Ryan Johnston – Kilcoo’s most dangerous player in the first 30 – after the break. A good afternoon’s work. 8
Paul McNeill: Started well on Martin Devlin but struggled when moved on to Johnston. Finished the game on Laverty and was more comfortable, although the Kilcoo attacker did threaten occasionally. 7
Chrissy McKaigue: Calm and composed as always, carefully choosing his moments to break the lines and burst forward. One such move resulted in a superb fisted score towards the end of the first half. 7.5
Keelan Feeney: After starring against Killyclogher in the semi-final, Feeney impressed again as he shackled Martin Devlin, keeping his man scoreless. 7.5
Patsy Bradley: Came into the game in the second half, especially when Kilcoo carried the momentum following a strong start after the break. Showed a good passing range and drove Slaughtneil forward at every opportunity. 7.5
Padraig Cassidy: Has had a great year, but wasn’t at his influential best yesterday. Struggled to get to grips with Aaron Morgan, who saw plenty of the ball. 6.5
Shane McGuigan: His pace and power troubled Aidan Branagan from the off. Scored three points from play, the last of which - after 50 minutes - was vital as it was their first of the half. 8
Paul Bradley: Unerring from frees, Bradley was always available and rarely gives away possession. 7
Meehaul McGrath: Had a good tussle with Eugene Branagan, who bombed forward at every opportunity. Played his part in a solid rearguard action. 7
Christopher Bradley: Not at his best, but ‘Sammy’ still contributed an outstanding score when, after scuffing a 45, the ball was worked back and he made no mistake at the second time of asking. 7
Se McGuigan: Got very little change out of a dogged Kilcoo defence. Substituted late in the game. 6
Cormac O’Doherty: Lively as always but found himself surrounded by black jerseys most of the time the ball came his way. Profited from a poor Kane kick-out to score his solitary point. 6.5
Substitutes
Ronan Bradley: Introduced 10 minutes after half-time when Kilcoo were on top, and helped steady the ship. Yellow-carded not long after coming on. 6.5
Gerald Bradley: After a Slaughtneil period of possession that seemed to last for an eternity, Bradley played the final pass to Shane McGuigan but he was denied by Niall Kane in the Kilcoo goal. 6.5
Brian Cassidy: Not on long enough to be rated