Down SFC Final

Kilcoo 2-12 Burren 0-9

By Steve Malone at Páirc Esler

The Frank O’Hare Cup is back in Kilcoo for the 11th time in 12 years after they took care of Burren with minimum fuss. 

The Magpies were a class above Sunday’s opponents and seem to be finding their groove at the right time ahead of the Ulster Championship which starts next month with the Fermanagh champions facing Kilcoo. 

Played in Newry’s Pairc Esler, Kilcoo hits six points in a row after Burren had initially taken a two-point lead and never really looked back. It was almost too comfortable for Kilcoo who gave starts to Down senior footballer Conor Laverty and Aaron Branagan for the first time this season and they impressed. 

Player of the Match Miceal Rooney bagged the opening goal on 39 minutes which put the game out of Burren’s reach, who trailed 0-03 to 0-08 at the break. 

Shealan Johnston, Niall Kane (free), Aaron Morgan, Ryan Johnston, Aaron Branagan and Eugene Branagan were all on target before Burren’s impressive teenager Dara Mussen’s second point on 25 minutes. 

A brace of points from Paul Devlin gave the Magpies a healthy lead at half-time and Rooney’s goal left Kilcoo in command and Burren trying to conjure up a goal. They did create chances, but failed to rattle the net. Odhran Murdock, Ronan McGrath and Liam Kerr scrambled a few points, but the Magpies were never rattled. 

With Ryan McEvoy excelling against Donal O’Hare and county team-mates Ceilum Doherty and Kerr in a dual, there were a few sub-plots, as Burren captain Gerard McGovern impressed, but the overarching story was that Kilcoo were not going to be caught. Even with Jerome Johnston limping off early in the game, they looked sharp and played with power and pace and importantly picked off scores. Kane converted a 45’ and Paul Devlin finished top-scorer with 1-04 after his penalty conversion at the death. 

It was disappointing from Jim McCorry’s Burren, they are better than they showed on Sunday, but Kilcoo have done it the hard way, beating Carryduff, Mayobridge, Clonduff and Burren and they are only really getting started. 

Kilcoo: Naill Kane (0-02. 0-1 free, 0-1 45’), Aaron Branagan (0-01), Ryan McEvoy, Eugene Branagan (0-01), Miceal Rooney (1-01), Darryl Branagan, Aaron Morgan, Ryan Johnston (0-01), Shealan Johnston (0-01), Jerome Johnston, Anthony Morgan, (0-01) Paul Devlin (0-04, 0-2 frees), Christopher Rooney, Ceilum Doherty. 

Subs: Sean Og McCusker for J Johnston (8’), McDarragh Hynes for E Branagan (33’), Jack Devlin for S Johnston (48’), Callum Rogers for C Rooney (58’), Nathan Rogers for Laverty (62’). 

Burren: Kevin McKernan, Ryan Magill, Gerard McGovern, Ardan McEvoy, Paddy McCarthy, Paddy Burns, Peter Fegan, Odhran Murdock (0-02), Conail McGovern, Darra Mussen (0-02), Ryan Cunningham, Danny Magill, Donal O’Hare, Liam Kerr (0-03, 0-2 frees), David McEntee. 

Subs: Ronan McGrath (0-02) for C McGovern (24’), Paudie Poland for A McEvoy (42’), Shay McArdle for D McEntee (42’), Steven Feagan for R Cunningham (54’), Connor Murphy for Mussen (58’). 

Referee: Brian Higgins (Annaclone).