Kilcoo 1-10 Burren 0-4
It is Down senior county title 22 for Kilcoo after they cruised past rivals Burren with minimum fuss in Sunday's final in Newry.
Played in Newry’s Pairc Esler, Kilcoo were in control for much of the game against a disappointing Burren team who saw the game slip away the harder they tried.
It is the sixth county title in a row and 12th in 13 years for the Magpies, which is a remarkable achievement.
It was a poor spectacle of football where both defences dominated. Darryl Branagan bagged Kilcoo’s goal on the hour, so that added a touch of gloss on an otherwise drab finale.
Burren were not at the races, they brought a bit more physicality than last year’s dampener final, but the fight came too late, with Liam Kerr and Danny Magill picking up red cards.
Kilcoo will go into the Ulster Championship in four weeks’ time against the Cavan champions having not been properly tested on Sunday.
Burren, who are celebrating their centenary year had a final to forget, they were predictable, forcing shots that weren’t on and walked into Kilcoo’s cul-de-sacs. Both defences were on top and played well and while the players on the pitch say it was a tough battle, it looked as if Kilcoo didn’t have to put their best foot forward because Burren had so little to offer.
It is disappointing because Burren are a good team, their half forward line is made up of Down players, Armagh’s All-Ireland winner Paddy Burns and former Down star Gerard McGovern backed them up.
Odhran Murdock won ample early ball early on but scores proved hard to come by as Kilcoo’s Jerome Johnston scored the only first half score from play, on 28 minutes.
Goalkeeper Donal O’Hare scored Burren’s two first half scores from frees, Liam Kerr got the other two during the second period, one from play, as Kilcoo dictated the tempo without having to stretch themselves.
Young Callum Rogers won Player of the Match for his marking job on Danny Magill, while Down team-mate Ceilum Doherty frustrated Kerr all afternoon.
Paul Devlin, winning his 13th county title, converted two first half frees, goalkeeper Niall Kane converted another free, Ryan McEvoy fired over his free, while the Rooney brothers Miceal and Christopher both tagged on marks, which along with Johnston’s fine point gave Kilcoo a 0-07 to 0-02 lead at the break.
Burren tried make more of an impact with the early ball during the second period but got no joy. Ryan McEvoy (free) extended Kilcoo’s lead before a brace of points from Kerr made it 0-08 to 0-04 on 53 minutes.
But there was to be no dramatic comeback, instead Burren lost their discipline and were reduced to 13 players and Kilcoo didn’t need an invitation to punish.
Anthony Morgan scored a great point and Darryl Branagan’s goal came on the hour to put a shiny finish to anything but a polished finale.
Kilcoo did what they had to, for Burren it will be tough to take because they know they are better than what they produced on today and they will bounce back.
The Magpies have four weeks before they face the Cavan champions in the Ulster championship, which gives them plenty of time to enjoy the celebrations.
Kilcoo: Niall Kane, Niall Branagan, Sean Og, Callum Rogers, Miceal Rooney (0-01, m), Darryl Branagan (1-00), Eugene Branagan, Aaron Morgan, Ryan McEvoy (0-02, 2fs), Christopher Rooney (0-01 m), Anthony Morgan (0-01), Shealan Johnston, Jerome Johnston (0-01), Paul Devlin (0-03, 2fs), Celium Doherty.
Subs: Jack Devlin for C Rooney (48’), Conor Laverty for McCusker (56’), Nathan Rogers for P Devlin (60+4).
Burren: Donal O’Hare (0-02fs), Paddy Burns, Gerard McGovern, Malachai McAvoy, Patrick McCarthy, Ryan, Peter Fegan, Aaron Cole, Odhran Murdock, Ryan Treanor, Liam Kerr (0-02,1f), Conaill McGovern, Danny Magill, Niall Toner, Ronan McGrath.
Subs: David McEntee for Toner (34’), Ryan Cunningham for C McGovern (34’), Ronan Kelly for Treanor (41’), Kevin McKernan for Cole (48’), Conor Toner for M McAvoy (54’).
Referee: Michael Moore (CPN).
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