Kilcoo hit goal trail in search for perfection

Last year’s beaten Ulster finalists were always in control against Erne Gaels.

Ryan Johnston of Kilcoo. Pic: INPHO/James Lawlor

The search for perfection continues at Kilcoo as they reflect on an 11-point rout of Erne Gaels for a seventh Ulster Club SFC final appearance in ten years.

Veteran attacker Paul Devlin grabbed the first of four goals just two minutes in at the Box-It Athletic Grounds to lay the foundation, and he was desperately unlucky not to net again in the opening half, ahead of strikes from Eugene Branagan, Shealan Johnston and Ceilum Doherty, “We’re there on merit, but we have a lot of work to do based on that performance,” said Devlin.

Last year’s beaten finalists were always in control as they carved out a 4-12 to 1-10 win, an efficient and systematic dismantling of the Fermanagh champions.

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.

“That goal at the start gave us a wee bit of a foothold in the game in terms of dictating things,” said Devlin.

“We knew Erne Gaels were coming here with a depleted squad, we knew they had a wedding on, and it’s very hard for them.

“But they put in a performance and they kept in touch with us throughout the whole game until that wee period in the second half when we got on top and put it to bed.” 

The Down kingpins led by three points at the interval, finding it hard to shake a dogged Gaels side, but a dominant second half unfolded as they stepped up the intensity and cranked up the pace.

“They got two two-pointers in the first half that kept them in touch with us, and we knew going in at the break that we were playing within ourselves.

“Second half, we came out and rectified that in the championship quarter and pushed on a wee bit more.”

For Erne Gaels manager Declan Bonner, the final whistle signalled his farewell following two years in charge, ahead of switching his focus to his new role as Fermanagh boss.

“It’s been a brilliant two-year journey, it’s been beyond our wildest expectations to go back to back and to be playing in an Ulster semi-final is new territory for the club,” said the former Donegal manager.

“I’m really looking forward to that challenge, we’ll get it going in the McKenna Cup and the start of the National League, I’m enjoying it.

“I’m very happy with the backroom team that I’ve set up, and we’re ready for that challenge now.”