TWO late Conor Toner goals saw Burren beat 12-man Kilcoo 2-10 to 1-7 in last night’s Down SFC clash in Newry.
Call it shadow boxing or keeping the powder dry, Sunday’s primetime clash between defending Champions Kilcoo and Burren produced an underwhelming opening half which marginally improved. Burren were without Donal O’Hare, while Down captain Kevin McKernan warmed the bench.
The Johnston brothers Jerome and Ryan also started the game among the substitutes and didn’t feature, but the Magpies did have Paul Devlin, Conor Laverty and Darragh O’Hanlon in their team. It took Kilcoo 24 minutes to register a score from play and it was a beautiful fisted point from Conor Laverty.
Up to that point Burren looked comfortable and points from goalkeeper Cathal Murdock, Sean Murdock and Eamonn McGovern put them five points to the good. Kilcoo were thrown a lifeline on 20 minutes when Paul Devlin was upended in the square and Darragh O’Hanlon coolly converted the spotkick.
But there was no response from Burren and Kilcoo’s first score failed to inspire.
Burren led 0-6 to 1-1 at the break, a lead which was extended by David McEntee’s point but Kilcoo started to make inroads as the second half progressed. Having established a hold in midfield, after Burren dominated the opening period, Martin Devlin and Paul Devlin (free) tapped over scores to narrow the gap to a point.
The intensity picked up, the physical challenges increased and the quality of football dramatically improved as Paul Devlin’s second point levelled the game on 45 minutes. Darragh O’Hanlon then edged the Magpies ahead with a beautiful longrange score but Jamie McGovern replied with a strike as equally impressive to level the score.
Daryl Branagan became the second Kilcoo player to receive a black card, which left Paul McIver’s men playing the last nine minutes with 14 men. But it didn’t impede on Darragh O’Hanlon launching another fine point. Shadow boxing or not the scores were traded blow by blow as Burren’s Tommy Farrell pointed with his first touch to tie the game for third time.
Kilcoo were then reduced to 13 men after James McClean received a black card and Burren took immediate advantage as Conor Toner palmed Conaill McGovern’s pass into the net. It was the break that Burren needed as they led by four points with four additional minutes to be played, which is when Conor Toner raced through to bag his second goal.
Kilcoo were left with 12 players on the pitch when Niall McEvoy received a second yellow card and there was no way back as Burren booked their place in the quarterfinals. Burren scorers: C Toner (2-0), S Murdock (0-3), C Murdock (0-2 frees), C McGovern, D McEntee, J McGovern, T Farrell, E Toner (0-1 each). Kilcoo scorers: D O’Hanlon (1-1, 1-0 pen), P Devlin (0-3, 0-2 frees), C Laverty (0-1), M Devlin (0-2).
- Ballyholland ran out 2-11 to 1-9 winners and dumped a 13-man Glenn out of the Down SFC in a game that failed to live up to expectations. Niall McParland’s goal seconds before the half-time whistle gave Glenn a fighting chance in a game they were out-thought and outfought but Dennis Murtagh’s dismissal immediately at the restart seemed to indicate the contest was Ballyholland’s to lose. Harps could have been out of sight by that stage as they had squandered eight first half scoring chances. In the other weekend games, Longstone beat Saval 1-13 to 0-10 and Loughinisland beat Annaclone 2-10 to 0-15. Tonight, Warrenpoint play Downpatrick in Clonduff (8pm) with a place in the quarter-final at stake. Also tonight, Rostrevor and Ballymartin compete for a right to stay in the competition at Burren (8pm).
