Morgan Fuels Down SFC final: Eoghan Rua, Kilcoo 1-13 Cumann Pheadair Naofa, Warrenpoint 0-15 (after extra-time)
THERE were men celebrating an 11th county championship title when they brought the Frank O’Hare Cup back to Kilcoo again last night – but few, if any, have been as hard-earned as this.
At Pairc Esler yesterday, Warrenpoint simply refused to budge. Their path to the final, and those penalty shoot-out victories over a fancied Burren then Loughinisland, told a tale of its own about the strength of spirit within the ’Point ranks.
Taking on the reigning All-Ireland kingpins in the big one, though? Surely a step too far, at least that was the consensus, yet not for the first time Shane Mulholland’s men made a mockery of pre-match predictions.
Twice the Magpies moved into four point leads - once in the second half of normal time, then in the first half of extra-time. Normally when Kilcoo carve out that kind of margin after the break, it’s time to reach for the cigar and slippers, the result a foregone conclusion as the remaining minutes are whittled away.
Yet on both occasions the ’Point roared back, battling until the death as Alan Davidson’s late free left one in it with 80-plus minutes played as afternoon turned to evening in Newry.
The finish was frenetic after that, but it was the familiar black and white ribbons that adorned the trophy as joint captains Conor Laverty and Aidan Branagan held it aloft – a 20th county crown, the 10th in 11 years and fourth in-a-row, a relentless reign that shows no sign of stopping.
“The champions,” declared Down chairman Jack Devaney, “are still the champions.”
And yesterday’s victory owed much to Laverty and the ingenuity that he still offers on the field, even as managerial duties with Down loom in the weeks and months ahead.
The 37-year-old - part of the 11 county medal club along with Aidan and Niall Branagan, Paul Devlin, Jerome Johnston, Stephen Kane Felim McGreevy and Gerard McEvoy - was at the centre of the game’s only goal in the 23rd minute. And, when it came, it was a study in brilliant simplicity.
With the teams level at 0-4 apiece, Shealan Johnston delivered an inch-perfect diagonal ball into the veteran forward. With Johnston’s brother Ryan already making tracks, Laverty showed incredible sleight of hand and speed of thought to offload into his path.
Johnston didn’t have to break stride once the ball landed in his chest, finding himself in acres of space as he ran across the square before calmly sliding into the net.
“It was a great pass from Shealan – a great weight on it,” said Laverty, “it was probably the weight that allowed me a chance to take a glance and I just caught a glance of Ryan and he finished it brilliantly…”
Yet, as was the case all afternoon, Warrenpoint – the last club to beat Kilcoo in the Down championship back in 2020 – remained unperturbed.
Goalkeeper Gary McMahon defied the dislocated shoulder that forced him out of that penalty shoot-out win over Loughinisland early on, ending hours of rumour and counter-rumour suggesting Conor Darcy or even the retired Gary Boyle could start between the sticks.
Forward Ross McGarry, who hadn’t seen a minute of championship action before yesterday due to a broken jaw, was surprisingly named among the substitutes, coming off the bench to impressive effect as the ’Point found a way back into the game late on.
Even at the beginning of the game, the constant rotation of personnel in the final third caused Kilcoo problems. Niall McGovern was relishing his battle with Niall Branagan, while the deployment of the towering Jamie Grant into the square signalled they were going to try and cause the Magpies bother with the high ball, just as Clonduff had done for a spell three weeks earlier.
Yet, despite only trailing by two at half-time, it looked ominous when the Magpies came flying out of the blocks in the second half, Devlin and Miceal Rooney excellent as control was assumed.
With Kilcoo happy to play keep-ball, Warrenpoint had to wait 17 minutes for their first score. McGovern was the man who got it but, perhaps with more time than he realised after collecting John Boyle’s flighted pass into the square, he might regret not going for the jugular.
Having trailed by four, 1-7 to 0-6, that at least stopped the rot and Mulholland’s men came on strong towards the finish – although some soft frees came their way too.
Ceilum Doherty made a brilliant block as Paddy Murdock went for goal with five minutes left before Davidson held his nerve with two frees to force extra-time.
Both had opportunities to ensure it didn’t get that far but, given how competitive this championship has been, it was only fitting that we found ourselves back on familiar terrain.
Again Kilcoo looked to have moved out of sight when a point from sub Eugene Branagan put them four ahead nearing half-time in extra-time, but the ’Point weren’t done yet as Jack Howlett and Davidson led the fightback in the second period.
But, as they have done so often, to the extent it has almost become expected, the Magpies held their nerve to ensure another crack at Ulster, while their defence of the All-Ireland crown remains alive and well.
These moments, however, must always be savoured insists joint manager Conleith Gilligan.
“Maybe outside of Kilcoo or outside of Down everybody talks about us looking further afield, and I keep saying we’re not,” said the Ballinderry man.
“Genuinely, winning your county championship is so special and so hard. You never know when you might be back.
“As a player, we were going for back to back Ulster clubs, got caught by a controversial goal in 2014, and we haven’t been back in a county final since. So you see the pitfalls, you see the difficulties.
“When you’re at the top, it’s probably easier staying there than it is getting back because once you go it gets very difficult.”
Either the Armagh champions or Monaghan’s newly-crowned kingpins Ballybay – managed by Kilcoo stalwart Jerome Johnston sr, whose three sons are key figures for the Magpies – are up next on the weekend of November 12/13.
Recent history has shown that the provincial stage is when the Magpies really hit their straps. The fear for the rest must be that the tests passed so far will only stand to them the longer the campaign carries on.
Kilcoo: N Kane; R McEvoy, N Branagan; Anthony Morgan; Aaron Branagan, Darryl Branagan, M Rooney (0-3); Aaron Morgan, D Ward; C Doherty (0-2), R Johnston (1-1), S Johnston (0-1), P Devlin (0-4, 0-3 frees); J Johnston, C Laverty. Subs: T Fettes (0-1) for N Branagan (47), E Branagan (0-1) for J Johnston (53), S Og McCusker for Laverty (59), J Johnston for R Johnston (70, ET), M Hynes for Rooney (70, ET), C Laverty for S Johnston (79)
Black card: E Branagan (80+2)
Yellow card: D Ward (53)
Warrenpoint: G McMahon; P Sweeney, R McGivern (0-1); J Boyle; E Byrne, C McCartan, R Boyle; P Murdock (0-1), N McCartan, R McCormack (0-1); S O’Hare, A Davidson (0-6, 0-3 frees, 0-1 45), D McAleenan (0-2); N McGovern (0-2), J Grant (0-1, mark). Subs: A Darcy for N McCartan (42), A Magee for O’Hare (47), R McGarry for Byrne (48), J Lynch for McAleenan (57), C Madden for McGovern (60+2), S O’Hare for Sweeney (63, ET), J Howlett for Murdock (68, ET)
Yellow card: R McGivern (60+2)
Referee: D O’Hare (Burren)
