KILCOO defender Aidan Branagan is hoping for “the rub of the green” as he embarks on his eighth Ulster Club Championship campaign with the Down champions against Derry’s Magherafelt on Sunday.
Branagan is a veteran of two finals and two semi-finals but the ‘Magpies’, who have lost to the eventual champions in their last three Ulster campaigns, have never been able to get over the line in the provincial competition.
After losing their six-year grip on the county title to Burren in 2018, Kilcoo recaptured the Frank O’Hare Cup by beating Warrenpoint and now return to the Ulster scene against a Magherafelt side that ended a 41-year wait for a Derry title thanks to their dramatic win over Glenn.
After so many near-misses, could this be Kilcoo’s year?
“We’ve been a bit unlucky,” said experienced defender Branagan.
“We had a few injuries at different times and the rub of the green didn’t go our way but that’s just Ulster football. It’s good to be back in it and we’re glad to be here.
“There were a couple of years we were very close but 2013 in particular was a great year because we had those couple of games against Crossmaglen (replayed quarter-final). You could never forget them.”
Derry opponents have accounted for Kilcoo three times in Ulster. Lavey knocked the Magpies out in 2009 and Slaughtneil, who were managed at that stage by Mickey Moran, did the same in the 2016 final and in the preliminary round the following year.
Maghera native Moran took over as Kilcoo manager from Paul McIvor at the beginning of this season and his management team – Conlieth Gilligan and Paul Devlin – also hail from the Oak Leaf county.
“It’s a privilege to get Mickey on board and every club would feel the same,” said Branagan.
“Everything he is showing us, we’re taking it on board and hopefully we can get over the line on Sunday.”
Highly-rated coach Devlin was also present at Monday night’s Ulster Championship launch at the Athletic Grounds. He says he knows the O’Donovan Rossa team “inside out” but he’s not pinning Kilcoo’s hopes on that.
“The management team are all based in Derry so we know Magherafelt inside out,” he said.
“Whether that’s much of an advantage or not, I don’t know.
“Magherafelt are probably thinking they’re in bonus territory but every team that comes out of Derry is usually very competitive in the Ulster championship. We’ll not be dismissive of them, we’ll give them full respect and whether they’re in bonus territory or not, it’s going to be a big challenge for us.”
Kilcoo got over the line against a talented Warrenpoint side by a single point in the Down final and Devlin says the Magpies would settle for a repeat of that winning margin on Sunday. He predicts a nip-and-tuck affair against a Magherafelt side that also won their county title by a point.
“We’re happy to do just enough,” he said.
“I think that’s just the way football is, there’ll be very few teams blowing others away. We’ll come up against a very, very defensive Magherafelt team and we’ve been faced with that week-in, week-out in Down football all year.
“We’ve tried to be a bit more attacking but, at the end of the day, you have to mind your house as well. I can’t see it being open, free-flowing football in November time.”
