Ulster Club SFC final: Slaughtneil (Derry) v Kilcoo (Down), Athletic Grounds, 2.30pm
OUTSTANDING teams from two of Ulster’s premier clubs do battle in the Cathedral City on Sunday and a hit here and a miss there could decide the outcome.
Before a ball was kicked in the race for the provincial title, it was clear that these were the sides with genuine championship pedigree: Kilcoo began their campaign having wrapped up their fifth Down title in-a-row, while Mickey Moran’s Slaughtneil had three consecutive Derry crowns behind them.
If Down’s Magpies finally land the Seamus McFerran Cup they’ve been chasing for the past five seasons, no club will have deserved it more.
But the same is equally true of their opponents Slaughtneil who were provincial champions back in 2014 and travel to the Athletic Grounds on the cusp of history.
The remarkable Oak Leaf county outfit has already captured Ulster titles in hurling and camogie and will complete a remarkable treble with victory at the Athletic Grounds.
Since retaining their Derry crown, Slaughtneil have breezed past Fermanagh’s Derrygonnelly by five points and Tyrone’s Killyclogher by six while Kilcoo had their toughest test in the preliminary round against Monaghan’s Scotstown in Clones.
After a slow start, they recovered to lead by a point at half-time and two at the finish thanks to a superb goal from Ryan Johnston who created time and space where there seemed to be none and sent a slide rule finish past Rory Beggan.
Since then, Donegal’s Glenswilly stayed with them for a while but after Darragh O’Hanlon’s penalty the Down champions powered to a
six-point win and in the semi-final they swept Ulster first-timers Maghery aside and won by 13 points.
The Magpies hammered home four goals against the Armagh men and will look for more tomorrow because despite the loss of Jerome Johnston the strength of their side remains in their attack.
In Paul Devlin they have a quality playmaker and alongside him there are finishers like his brother Martin, Ryan Johnston, the unsung Ceilum Doherty and the unselfish running of joint captain Conor Laverty.
Laverty will be one of the key players tomorrow and the Emmet’s will need a defender of the calibre of Karl McKaigue to shadow him.
Tigerish and composed, McKaigue doesn’t concede many from play, but Laverty is quick and clever and doesn’t look for scores for himself, his role now is as a provider and a free-kick winner.
Maghery couldn’t handle him and the former Down star won free after free for Paul Devlin. He is also liable to come deep to get on the ball and instigate a running game with slick passing and movement.
To counter Kilcoo’s attacking threat, Slaughtneil have some excellent man-markers in the shape of Karl McKaigue, Brendan Rodgers and the experienced Francis McEldowney.
Elsewhere, Chrissy McKaigue marshals the side from centre half-back between pacey wing-backs Keelan Feeley and Paul McNeill.
Ahead of them, Slaughtneil should have the edge at midfield. In their semi-final against Maghery, Kilcoo’s pairing of Felim McGreevy and James McClean came off second best in a predictably physical battle against the youth-and-experience pairing of Ben Crealey and James Lavery.
The class and physicality of Patsy Bradley and the emerging Padraig Cassidy means Slaughtneil should be able to win primary possession in the middle third and it’s then a question of what they are able do with it.
They should have options to hit because the Slaughtneil attack is packed with quality performers like Se McGuigan, Shane McGuigan, Christopher ‘Sammy’ Bradley and dependable free-taker Paul Bradley.
Against them, Kilcoo will utilise the tenacity of Darragh O’Hanlon – who has dealt with three county captains in Darren Hughes, Michael Murphy and Aidan Forker so far – Niall McEvoy and the Branagan brothers Niall, Daryl, Eugene and Aaron.
They can count on support from Laverty and Aaron Morgan, a player who can turn defence into attack in a flash and spark attacks that often lead to the goals which could be the key to this game.
Only 2 days left until these 6 clubs do battle for @AIB_GAA #Ulsterclub glory. Who will emerge the 2016 Champions? #Yoursupportcounts pic.twitter.com/jKyVB4Vtb4 — Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) November 25, 2016
Kilcoo hunt for goals and have hit 20 in the championship this year but and Slaughtneil don’t concede them so something has to give. Goalkeeper Antoin McMullan hasn’t conceded a single major in the championship (Derry or Ulster) so far this season.
His opposite number, Niall Kane, shipped one against Glenswilly but kept out Maghery and Scotstown and to go along with that, his kick-outs are excellent.
With a minimal run-up Kane , whose elder brothers Stephen and James were previous Kilcoo custodians, can land the ball on a sixpence
On the sideline, both clubs are managed by Derry natives. Former Derry and Mayo manager Mickey Moran has the Slaughtneil reins.
During his time on the inter-county scene Moran took Mayo to the All-Ireland final and he guided Slaughtneil to the All-Ireland decider last year.
Meanwhile, McIver, son of former Derry banisteoir Brian, is a former Oak Leaf minor manager. He hails from the Emmet’s neighbours and fierce rivals Ballinderry and has improved the attacking fluency of the side since he took over from Jim McCorry last year.
McIver’s side can switch between a long ball game, a pacey counter-attacking running game and a patient build-up style as they probe for a way through the Slaughtneil defence.
The Derry men play with variety too and while they do rely on frees for scores, ‘Sammy’ Bradley and the McGuigans are all dangerous forwards.
The final result is difficult to predict, but several factors are beyond question. Both sides are packed with experience and will play with non-stop hunger and passion. Time on the ball will be in short supply in their opponents’ half and a low-scoring affair could be on the cards because the finalists will hold on to the ball and probe for an opening.
The side that converts half-chances into scores will win tomorrow and another shut-out could be enough for Slaughtneil.
Meanwhile, Kilcoo will have to produce more than they’ve showed up to now but they have the competitors, ball players and finishers to win tomorrow.
It will take a hell of a fight. But in their second final, Ulster success may finally arrive for the Magpies. One for sorrow, two for joy…
