Morgan Fuels Down SFC final
Burren 0-4 Kilcoo 1-10
FOR all the negative elements of this match – and there were many – Kilcoo won’t mind in the least as they comfortably cruised to a sixth consecutive crown and their 12th Down senior title in 13 seasons.
As for Burren, though, this was arguably worse than last year’s decider, especially given that this is their centenary season. The losing margin was the same, nine points, but their scoring tally was less than half of the 0-9 they managed then.
They had only two scorers this time, and only one point from play, and that came in the 54th minute. They went without scoring from the eighth minute to the 52nd minute.
They had as many men dismissed as scorers, with both Danny Magill and Liam Kerr sent off for second card offences in the closing stages as frustration got the better of the two Down stars.
To cap it all off, Kilcoo joint-captain Darry Branagan slammed in a goal deep into added time to spark loud and prolonged celebrations from the black-clad hordes.
Sure, Kilcoo only managed two points from play themselves, both of those after Burren got theirs, one of them in injury time – but they were much the better team.
In truth, they probably knew this final was won long before the end, even though their side largely played well within themselves, certainly in terms of attack. Kilcoo’s defensive display was outstanding.
The first chant of ‘UTM, UTM’ (‘Up the Magpies’) actually came in the 29th minute of the first half. Perhaps that was because it was the first point from play, perhaps because that score from Jerome Johnston put them four up – that is, more than a goal clear.
Already by that stage Kilcoo looked well in command, and the knowledge that they had only conceded one goal in the entire championship, against Clonduff, surely gave them supreme confidence that they would retain the trophy.
The next minute Kilcoo came close to grabbing a goal themselves. Jerome found Darryl Branagan on the charge into the small square but on that occasion he was bottled up and Peter Fegan came out with the ball.
Yet even without a goal to their name until almost the end Kilcoo looked utterly assured of finishing on top.
The nature of the game played into their hands.
Rather than ‘score for score’ early on, it was ‘score for yellow card’, in fact there were three of the latter inside the first five minutes and only a free converted by Burren goalkeeper Donal O’Hare.
Two early cautions for Kerr and Shealan Johnston, then another for Burren’s Ryan Treanor, all stemmed from young referee Michael Moore stamping his authority on proceedings.
There was still plenty of off-the-ball niggle, but not much else in the way of entertainment.
Burren had opened the scoring, and went ahead again in the eighth minute, another O’Hare free, but that was as good as it got for them.
Odhran Murdock took some fine catches from Burren kickouts but they wasted the possession with poor, snatched shooting.
Slowly, surely, Kilcoo got the game in their grip, their multi-functional, multi-talented players seeming to outnumber their opponents. Paul Devlin was tackling back as well as converting frees. Callum Rogers was keeping tabs on Danny Magill but also pushing way up the field, while Ceilum Doherty was shackling Kerr.
Even with their patient possession play the Magpies still threatened to open Burren up at times. Shealan Johnston should have found Anthony Morgan free inside after a burst up the left but delayed; however, he was fouled and Ryan McEvoy scored the free.
Clever kick-passing brought marks, both scored by the Rooney brothers, Miceal and Chrissy, either side of Jerome’s sweet score from play, and it was 7-2 at half-time.
Burren clearly had to respond, and they at least showed some attacking intent, but still could not break through the Kilcoo ranks.
Twice got ball in hands, twice he hesitated and the opportunity was lost, or found itself swarmed by Kilcoo men.
The Burren management quickly made a double substitution, sending on Ryan Cunningham and David McEntee, while O’Hare began pushing up into his former role as a forward.
Even their defenders joined the fray, but no one could breach Kilcoo’s disciplined, massed defence, with a wild wide from Paddy Burns, then another from the other corner-back, Malachai McAvoy.
When Burren finally got a score from play, though Kerr, that seemed only to antagonise Kilcoo.
Paul Devlin lofted a lovely left-footed effort – and then the red mist came down for Burren. First Danny Magill was black-carded for a bad challenge on Ryan McEvoy, imperious at full-back, to add to the Burren man’s earlier yellow, before Kerr received his second yellow after a scuffle.
Kilcoo took advantage of the two extra men, Anthony Morgan pointing, then Miceal Rooney setting up Darryl Branagan to lash gleefully high into the net.
Kilcoo were delighted to get the job done, while Burren were probably relieved it was over.
Burren D O’Hare (0-2 frees); P Burns, G McGovern (joint-capt.), M McAvoy; P McCarthy, R Magill, P Fegan, C McGovern; A Cole, O Murdock (joint-capt.); D Magill, L Kerr (0-2, 0-1 free), R McGrath; N Toner, R Treanor.
Subs R Cunningham for C McGovern (35); D McEntee for Toner (35); R Kelly for Treanor (42); K McKernan for Cole (49); C Toner for McAvoy (53)
Kilcoo N Kane (0-1 free); N Branagan, R McEvoy (0-2 frees), C Rogers; M Rooney (0-1 mark), D Branagan (joint-capt.) (1-0), C Doherty; Aaron Morgan (joint-capt.), Anthony Morgan (0-1); P Devlin (0-3, 0-2 frees), C Rooney (0-1 mark), S Johnston, E Branagan; J Johnston (0-1), S Og McCusker.
Subs J Devlin for C Rooney (49); C Laverty for McCusker (56); N Rogers for Devlin (65).
Referee Michael Moore (CPN, Warrenpoint)
