Morgan Fuels Down SFC quarter-final: Kilcoo 0-11 Clonduff 1-8 (after extra-time, Kilcoo won 4-3 on penalties)
Neil Loughran at Pairc Esler
THE All-Ireland champions are still standing – just – after Kilcoo kept their cool amid the chaos of last night’s penalty shoot-out to see off rivals Clonduff on a night of high drama in Newry.
In truth, the Hilltown men deserved better than to bow out this way after a niggly contest. Having had their noses in front for most of normal time, it looked as though a seismic shock was about to be sent through the championship, only for their dreams to be dashed in such cruel fashion.
Indeed, the first time Kilcoo led was courtesy of a Daryl Branagan point two minutes into added time. Having so confidently despatched the same opponents four weeks earlier, the Magpies were expecting a kick, and they got it.
As extra-time morphed into a staring competition at times, neither wanting to take the risk that might reap ultimate reward, there was a strange inevitability about penalties.
Paul Devlin, Ryan McEvoy and Ceilum Doherty converted for Kilcoo, with Jerome Johnston and goalkeeper Niall Kane seeing their efforts saved by Mark Devlin.
Aidan Carr, Padraig Wilson and Eamon Brown converted for Clonduff, with Arthur McConville screwing wide and Tom Close seeing his penalty saved as the shoot-out entered sudden death.
With the pressure cranked up and hardly a breath take inside Pairc Esler, Devlin was first up again – he made no mistake, hammering to the net.
Aidan Carr was next to make the long walk for a second time but, after so coolly slotting home his first, the Clonduff veteran’s low effort struck Kane’s shins this time around.
And while Carr buried his head in his hands, there was pandemonium - and a fair sigh of relief - among the Magpies as they finally sealed safe passage into tonight’s semi-final draw.
For so much of the night, though, that looked far from certain.
Clonduff were clearly chastened by what happened here the last day and so, in the same way Kilcoo had hunted them like demons a month before, Clonduff set the terms of engagement this time around.
In the face of a stiff breeze, and without the dynamism of Dylan Ward and Jerome Johnston – both of whom were introduced as second half substitutes – the Magpies struggled to penetrate the yellow wall.
Ross Carr was popping up everywhere around the middle, winning ball and overlapping every time the Hilltown men countered while, time and again, brother Charlie played the role of Clonduff quarter-back searching for Arthur McConville.
In that opening half hour in particular, it paid off.
The warning signs were there within the first few minutes, the first score coming when a long Carr ball dropped dangerous before being palmed out by Kane. Wilson made no mistake from the 45.
In 14th minute the same play could have ended up in a penalty as Arthur McConville looked to be tripped by Miceal Rooney in the square when intercepting another Carr pass. Referee Brian Higgins wasn’t convinced.
And then came the breakthrough Clonduff had hoped for 22 minutes in. Carr drifted one in, Kane came out and punched but it bounced off one of his own players, and when Daryl Branagan uncharacteristically spilled possession Eamon Brown poked into the net from a metre out. Barry O’Hagan scored from a mark five minutes later to leave Clonduff 1-3 to 0-1 ahead as half-time loomed.
A couple of Paul Devlin frees narrowed the gap before the break, and when the Magpies came roaring out for the second half, landing the first couple of scores, it looked as though the balance had shifted.
But, although Clonduff managed only three points in the second half, the anticipated Kilcoo onslaught didn’t materialise, the game falling into a familiar pattern until a frantic final 10 minutes.
A brilliant fetch from Ward eventually led to McEvoy pinging over the leveller with eight to play, then Daryl Branagan put the Magpies ahead as the clock ticked down, before a brilliant mark taken - and converted - by Eamon Brown sent the game into extra-time.
After an uneventful first period, McConville put Clonduff 1-8 to 0-10 up. A tenatative roar went up from the Hilltown faithful. Could they hold on?
As they have done so many times, however, Kilcoo weren’t flustered, showing the spirit of champions to dig in and force another opportunity - Kane striding up from goal to send over the equalising free that took the game to penalties.
It was in the lap of the Gods then – and, on this night, they were smiling on the reigning All-Ireland champions.
Kilcoo: N Kane (0-1, free); R McEvoy (0-2, 0-1 free), M Rooney, N Branagan; T Fettes, Aidan Branagan, D Branagan (0-1); Aaron Morgan (0-1), Anthony Morgan; E Branagan, R Johnston, S Johnston, P Devlin (0-6, 0-5 frees); C Doherty, C Laverty. Subs: D Ward for Anthony Morgan (42), J Johnston for Laverty (49), S Og McCusker for E Branagan (50), M Hynes for Aidan Branagan (50), Aaron Branagan for Rooney (59), E Branagan for Fettes (70, ET), C Laverty for S Johnston (77, ET)
Yellow card: D Ward (58)
Clonduff: M Devlin; L Branagan, Conal Brown; D O’Hagan; R Lively, J Gribben, J O’Hagan; A Carr, R Carr; P Lively, B O’Hagan (0-1, mark), C Carr, P Wilson (0-1, 45); A McConville (0-4, 0-2 frees), E Brown (1-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 mark). Subs: R Branagan for C Carr (52), Conor Brown for P Lively (57), P Clancy for R Carr (60+3), R Carr for R Lively (70, ET), P Cowan for B O’Hagan (72, ET), D Rafferty for J O’Hagan (77, ET)
Yellow cards: P Wilson (6), R Lively (30+1), A McConville (36), B O’Hagan (57), J O’Hagan (58)
Referee: B Higgins (Annaclone)
