Kilcoo make big impression

County champions Kilcoo are through to the knockout stages of the Down SFC and sent out a strong message to their rivals yesterday with a 4-17 to 1-7 win over Loughinisland.

Pete McGrath’s Bryansford, Mayobridge and Clonduff are also safely through to the knockout stages with one game of the round robin series still to be played.

Down star Conor Laverty pulled all the strings up front for the champions in their big win in Downpatrick.

Paul Devlin, Jerome Johnston, Daryl Branagan and Gary McEvoy got the goals while Jamie O’Reilly netted a consolation for Loughinisland.

Longstone hit a late goal to draw 2-12 to 0-18 with Downpatrick in Castlewellan last night.

Meanwhile, league leaders Castlewellan beat Liatroim 1-11 to 1-6. Colin McCrickard scrambled a goal for Liatroim. Liam McKibben grabbed a goal for Castlewellan after the break to put them back in control. Down star Liam Doyle hit the crossbar for Liatroim before Castlewellan sub Cahal Crilly scored three points from play.

Clonduff made the knockout stages after hammering Annaclone by 2-10 to 0-7.

Annaclone only scored one point from play in the entire game and hit nine wides in first half. A 53rd minute penalty from Tony McGreevy, who finished the game with a personal haul of 2-2, made sure of Clonduff’s safe passage.

Danny Savage hit 0-4 as Bryansford beat Ballyholland 0-15 to 1-9. The sides were level at 0-5 at half-time. Two Paddy Quinn frees put Ballyholland ahead early in the second half and a goal from Kieran Murphy left them close to an upset result. However, late points from Aaron Summers and sub Conor Gribben rescued Pete McGrath’s side.

Saval beat Rostrevor 3-10 to 1-11 in Newry. Fergal McConville and Jarlath McCarthy goals gave Saval the edge throughout.

Mayobridge kept up their winning ways with a 1-16 to 1-10 victory over Warrenpoint. Benny Coulter scored two points for Mayobridge in the first half, with the scores tied at 0-7 at half-time.

Conleth O’Hare hit two points and then lobbed the goalkeeper to put Mayobridge 1-12 to 0-8 ahead after 43 minutes. Two more points from Benny put them 1-14 to 0-9 ahead after 51 minutes before Gary McMahon scored a consolation goal for the losers.