Morgan Fuels Down Senior Football Championship semi-final: Kilcoo 1-9 Mayobridge 0-4
From Andy Watters at Pairc Esler
KILCOO progressed to their 11th consecutive final (they’ve won 10) with a workmanlike victory over an obstinate Mayobridge in Newry last night.
Mathematically, the ’Bridge were in the game until the closing stages but this was a slow death for them. To force a shock, everything they kicked had to go over the bar but they lacked the finishing power to really challenge Kilcoo and their keep-ball tactics only served to prolong an issue that was finally decided when the defending Down, Ulster and All-Ireland champions forced the only goal of the game late in the second half.
There was only one score from play in an insipid first half that ended with Kilcoo 3-1 ahead, and although the action improved in the second half, the Magpies never looked in any real danger of being caught.
The scene was set from the throw-in. CJ Barr won the ball and Mayobridge hung on to it for four and-a-half minutes. Kilcoo retreated and the ’Bridge played back-and-across and across-and-back until they finally launched a long ball towards the Kilcoo posts.
The Magpies won the ball and broke out and – after an Adam Crimmins’s effort had fallen short –opened the scoring with a Ceilum Doherty point after seven minutes none of us will get back.
Mayobridge left Conleth O’Hare up front on his own and massed ranks inside their own 45. Kilcoo forced a free when Lee Quinn fouled Eugene Branagan but Ryan McEvoy’s shot didn’t have the legs and, as Mayobridge played the ball out, referee Conor Curran spotted a foul off the ball. This time Crimmins split the posts to level the game.
At the other end, Daryl Branagan pushed forward and played in Jerome Johnston but he was suffocated by a posse of ’Bridge defenders and another period of keep-ball ensued. Again there was no end product - O’Hare was fouled but goalkeeper Charlie Smyth sent a free wide from inside the Kilcoo 45.
Eugene Branagan did likewise for Kilcoo and Jamie Barr made a good run to field the kickout but Mayobridge lacked attacking ambition. Handpass followed backpass until another off-the-ball foul was spotted and again Smyth shot wide from the free.
Soft-ish frees from impetuous tackles meant Kilcoo led at the break. First Dylan Ward, surrounded by light blue shirts, was bundled over and Paul Devlin sent the ball confidently over the bar. Then Devlin was fouled himself a little further out and Niall Kane struck the placed ball sweetly to leave the reigning champions 3-1 up at the interval.
A championship match broke out in the second half. Mayobridge manager Stephen Poacher made three changes at the break but Kilcoo had a goal chance inside 30 seconds when Daryl Branagan, usually deadly in front of goal, fired over the bar. Crimmins cancelled it out with a superb mark from the right touchline and then Kilcoo shot wide four times – the second from Shealan Johnston hit the top of the post – before Devlin’s free left it 5-2.
Mayobridge were much more ambitious but their final ball was poor until substitute Conall Gallagher found the space to score their first point from play 10 minutes into the half.
Chants of “UTM, UTM” broke out when Daryl Branagan took Ward’s pass, rode a tackle and kicked the best score of the game. But Mayobridge were batting ferociously and, after Kevin McClorey had helped keep the ball as big hits rained in, another Crimmins free kept them within touching distance.
Eugene Branagan converted an excellent mark and Smyth’s third wide meant the gap remained at three (0-7 to 0-4) as the final 10 minutes began.
Ryan Johnston added another point for Kilcoo and the coup de grace finally came when Niall Kane’s long-range free skimmed over heads in a packed goalmouth. Mayobridge ’keeper Smyth looked to have gathered the ball safely but Eugene Branagan quickly closed him down and bundled the ball into the net.
Ryan Brady went close for Mayobridge but Kilcoo survived and McEvoy’s free was the final act as the champions progressed to meet St Peter’s Warrenpoint in the final.
Kilcoo: N Kane (0-1 free): P Devlin (0-2 frees), R McEvoy (0-1 free), Aaron Branagan; Aaron Morgan, D Branagan (0-1), M Rooney; Aaron Morgan, D Ward; C Doherty (0-1), R Johnston (0-1), S Johnston; C Laverty, J Johnston, E Branagan (1-1, 0-1 mark)
Subs: S Og McCusker for S Johnston (58), T Fettes for Rooney (60), M Hynes for Ward (60), Aidan Branagan for Doherty (60)
Mayobridge: C Smyth; K Lynchehaun, C Fitzpatrick, C Linden; S McNamee, K McClorey, L McManus; CJ Barr, J Barr; L Quinn, S Annett, A Crimmins (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 mark); C Gallagher, C O’Hare, R Brady
Subs: Conall Gallagher (0-1) for Lynchehaun (HT), S O’Hare for J Barr (HT), S Smyth for Quinn (HT), C Poland for McManus (41), E Woods for CJ Barr (54)
Yellow card: Poland (21)
Referee: C Curran (RGU Downpatrick)
