Rampant Kilcoo hit four goals to fly into another Ulster final

Kilcoo will meet the winners of Scotstown and Newbridge in the final

Kilcoo have reached their seventh Ulster final in the last 10 years. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Ulster Club SFC semi-final: Kilcoo (Down) 4-12 Erne Gaels (Fermanagh) 1-10

Last year’s beaten finalists Kilcoo blasted their way through to another Ulster Club SFC decider with an efficient and systematic dismantling of Fermanagh title-holders Erne Gaels at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

Two goals in each half helped the Down champions ease to a comfortable 11-point success and a meeting with the winners of Sunday’s semi-final between Scotstown and Newbridge.

Remarkable levels of consistency and unquenchable desire have taken the Magpies to a seventh provincial final in ten years, on the back of sustained dominance locally which has seen them win 13 of the last 14 Down titles.

First half goals from Paul Devlin and Eugene Branagan were followed by strikes from Shealan Johnston and Ceilum Doherty, and overall they packed too much punch for an opponent that could have done without the added disruption of the wedding bells which robbed them of one of their most influential players.

The Fermanagh champions were without centre forward Tommy McCaffrey, who got married in Rome on the eve of the game.

Kilcoo made the thunderous start they wanted with a goal after just three minutes, Ceilum Doherty sending Paul Devlin through to smash his shot past Brian Ryder.

The Fermanagh men, with the wind in their backs, got off the mark with a Ryan Lyons two-pointer, and while Brian Mullin added a point, poor finishing saw them fail to exploit a spell of territorial dominance.

True to their tradition and form, Kilcoo were always dangerous on the breakaway, Jerome Johnston sending Anthony Morgan away for a point and a 1-3 to 0-4 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Fermanagh star Lyons, who flew back from team-mate McCaffrey’s wedding late on Friday night, worked tirelessly in the engine-room, but Kilcoo’s highly organised defensive system turned back a series of attacks.

Devlin almost grabbed a second goal when his angled shot grazed the wrong side of a post, but moments later they did grab a second, Eugene Branagan powering through to hit the net in the 23rd minute.

However, Erne Gaels were still very much in contention, just three points behind at the turnaround after Barry McCann raised an orange flag, Kilcoo on the way to the dressing room with a 2-4 to 0-7 advantage.

Shealan Johnston’s pace troubled the Gaels defence, while Darryl and Eugene Branagan were constantly on the move to stretch their opponents.

They picked off early scores through Callum Rogers and Doherty, and while the Belleek men did have their moments, shot selection was a failing that would contribute to their downfall.

As energy levels dropped, the Gaels struggled to track the runners, and paid the price, out-scored by 2-5 to 0-3 between the 39th and 58th minutes.

Shealan Johnston intercepted a kick-out to go through for a third goal and within five minutes they had made it four with a delightful Ceilum Doherty lob to open out a 14-point lead with seven minutes remaining on the clock.

Substitutes Jack Devlin and Barra McEvoy also got on the score-sheet as the contest withered towards an inevitable conclusion, but the Fermanagh side did pull back a stoppage time goal through sub Seamus Ryder.

They finished with 14 men, following a second booking for Shane Rooney.

Scorers for Kilcoo: C Doherty, S Johnston, E Branagan, P Devlin (0-1f) 1-1 each, R Johnston, Anthony Morgan 0-2 each, M Rooney, C Rogers, J Devlin, B McEvoy (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Erne Gaels: S Ryder 1-0, R Lyons 0-4 (2tp), B McCann 0-2 (tp), S Rooney (f), B Mullin, M Og McGarrigle, D McCann 0-1 each.

KILCOO: N Kane; T Fettes, R McEvoy, N Branagan; M Rooney, D Branagan, C Rogers; Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan; C Doherty, R Johnston, S Johnston; P Devlin, J Johnston, E Branagan.

Subs: S Og McCusker for J Johnston (45), L Ward for Anthony Morgan (49), J Devlin for R Johnston (54), B McEvoy for S Johnston (57), C Laverty for P Devlin (58) 

ERNE GAELS: B Ryder; S Mimna, U O’Reilly, M Gilfeddar; O Kelm, J McCann, B McCann; M Og McGarrigle, R Lyons; D McCann, B Mullin, A Kelm; S Rooney, U Kelm, O Johnston.

Subs: S Ryder for McGarrigle (h-t), P Johnston for Mimna (45), McGarrigle for D McCann (49), E Og Magee for Gilfeddar (54) 

Referee: D Boylan (Monaghan).