In the end, Kilcoo had just too many holes to plug against Corofin.

Forget the destination, it was the journey that thrilled Kevin O’Brien.

Kilcoo trained on New Year’s Eve night and would have trained on Christmas Day too if their management team hadn’t called a halt.

Kilcoo continue to make a mockery of favourites’ tags and bookies’ odds, a superb dismantling of the Dublin and Leinster champions Ballyboden on Saturday earning the first-time Ulster winners a place in the All-Ireland final on January 19.

Kilcoo’s enchanting story has one more intriguing chapter to be written, and it will be penned in Croke Park when they meet defending champions Corofin in the All-Ireland Club SFC final.

Finally at last, with the Ulster Club Championship won and all that he had been striving for over the past decade secured

The GAA is not only about identity of course, but the first Ulster Club title for the hardest of hardcore GAA clubs in Kilcoo Eoghan Rúa will forever sustain this miniscule community of shepherds in a hollow of the Mourne mountains.

On the wall of a diner on Derrylin’s main street, hangs a picture of two men, tracksuited and beaming.

Derrygonnelly will have a long winter to wonder how they were so wasteful as Kilcoo, who did more with less possession, took a big step towards an elusive first AIB Ulster club title.

A Jerome Johnston goal proved crucial as Kilcoo overcame the stubborn resistance of Magherafelt in today's Ulster Club SFC quarter-final at Páirc Esler.

When the disaffected demand change, they should have a fairly spectacular back-up plan at the ready.

Slaughtneil (Derry) 0-12 Kilcoo (Down) 0-9: They’ve had many great days in the last few years, but Slaughtneil had their sweetest moment yet in the Athletic Grounds yesterday, shrugging off the pressure to complete an unprecedented Ulster treble.

Kilcoo (Down) 4-13 Maghery (Armagh) 0-12: It was far easier than they expected, and Kilcoo impressive enough yesterday to suggest they’re going to take a lot of stopping in the Ulster Club SFC final.

Aidan Walsh of St Mary’s makes his league debut as Kerry make seven changes for tomorrow’s Allianz FL Division 1 clash with Down at Páirc Esler in Newry (2pm).

Crossmaglen (Armagh) 0-12 Kilcoo (Down) 0-8: Stephen Kernan was the dominant figure as Crossmaglen reached their first Ulster Club SFC final since 2012.

No Declan O’Sullivan in the team, no Colm Cooper in the squad and two changes to the side that beat Mayo.

Reigning AIB Ulster Club SFC Champions Crossmaglen Rangers bowed out following a replay defeat to Kilcoo today.

Kilcoo (Down) 2-09 Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 1-12 (aet)

Former All-Ireland Club SFC Champions Crossmaglen Rangers must face Kilcoo again in Ulster, where Ballinderry Shamrocks, Glenswilly and Roslea recorded wins; Dr Crokes and Ballinacourty were victorious in Munster, while Longford Slashers beat Rathnew in the opening game of the 2013 AIB Leinster Club SFC.

Kilcoo 0-9 Burren 0-7

Senior Football titles were up for grabs in Armagh, Donegal, Kerry, Laois, Meath, Down, Limerick and Waterford this afternoon.

The pity of it is that all the headlines today should have been shouting out the fact Oisin McConville and Paul Hearty claimed their 10th Ulster Club titles in Armagh yesterday.

The Ulster Council will investigate claims made by Crossmaglen Rangers forward Aaron Cunningham that he was racially abused during yesterday’s Ulster SFC Club final in Armagh.

Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 3-9 Kilcoo (Down) 1-9

St Brigid’s forward Frankie Dolan hopes the Roscommon champions will renew acquaintances with Crossmaglen Rangers in February’s All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final.

St Brigid’s 1-12 Ballaghaderreen 0-06

Enda McGinley has backed All-Ireland club champions Crossmaglen to make it three in a row.

Kilcoo (Down) 1-09 St Gall’s (Antrim) 0-10

Kilcoo (Down) 0-13 Ballybay (Monaghan) 0-07

It was a busy day of action in the provincial Football Championships in both Munster and Ulster, while new SFC champions were crowned in Donegal, Tipperary and Waterford.

Ballaghadereen are the new Mayo SFC champions after dethroning last year’s winners Ballintubber by 1-9 to 0-4 in Castlebar this afternoon.

Kilcoo (Down) 1-11 Loup (Derry) 1-12

The race to replace Crossmaglen as AIB Ulster Club Senior Football champions heated up this afternoon, with the four rescheduled quarter-finals taking place.

Kilcoo 2-9 Loughlinisland 1-4