Ryan McEvoy of Kilcoo celebrates after blocking a Ballybay goal chance during the AIB Ulster GAA Football Senior Club Championship Quarter-Final match between Kilcoo and Ballybay Pearse Brothers at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan.
AIB Ulster Club SFC quarter-final
KILCOO 2-14 BALLYBAY PEARSE BROTHERS 1-7
By Dan Bannon at St.Tiernach’s Park, Clones
Reigning All-Ireland club champions Kilcoo sent out a stern message throughout the province and indeed the country with a double score victory over Ballybay in this one-sided Ulster quarter final.
Two second half goals from Ryan Johnston and Miceál Rooney rubber stamped the dominance for the Down men on the day as they began their provincial campaign with aplomb.
Ballybay showed character and prised openings in the first half especially, but notedly left them behind and duly paid the price after the break. Full forward Christopher McGuinness forced magpie goalkeeper Niall Kane into a marvellous save as well as carving out a half chance in the opening seconds.
The basic skill of picking up the ball was under duress in the game's opening stanza as both sides fumbled their way into the game. With all the talk of his father in the opposing camp it was no surprise that his eldest son and namesake Jerome would open the scoring from Kilcoo's first attack.
That allowed the Mourne men to open up a four point lead but the sides would soon be level. When Colm Lennon’s shot from distance hit the upright, Daniel Caraher was quickest to react. In collecting the dropping ball, the wing forward was bundled over for a penalty.
For the second week in a row, Shane McGuinness made no mistake from the spot and levelled the game for the first and last time.
Kilcoo full back Ryan McEvoy is a great out ball for Conleith Gilligan’s side and such was his driving force he landed two points in another unanswered run of four points to see Kilcoo lead 0-8 to 1-2 at half time.
There was an air of inevitability around the grand provincial venue that there would be no fightback such was the All-Ireland champions ability to control possession.
Despite Ballybay and Monaghan stalwart Paul Finlay landing two early second half points Kilcoo firmly tightened their grip on things when Johnston found the net from a tight angle.
Paul Devlin saw the game out with ruthless accuracy and Miceál Rooney palmed to the net after yet another relentless running move. Ryan Johnston turned provider after substitute Seán Óg McCusker did all the spade work. Enniskillen Gaels are next for the magpies in a fortnights time.
Scorers for Ballybay Pearses: Shane McGuinness 1-0 (1-0 pen), Colm Lennon 0-2, Paul Finlay 0-2 (0-1free), Ciaran Galligan 0-1, Thomas Kerr 0-1 (0-145’), Dessie Ward 0-1 (0-1f).
Scorers for Kilcoo: Ryan Johnston 1-1 Paul Devlin 0-4 (0-3f, 0-145’), Miceál Rooney 1-0, Ryan McEvoy 0-2 (0-1f), Ceilum Doherty 0-2, Aaron Branagan 0-2, Niall Kane 0-1 (0-1f), Jerome Johnston 0-1 (0-1m), Conor Laverty 0-1.
Ballybay Pearses: Julius Sniauksta; Micheal Hannon, Tiernan McSkean, Eoin McKearney; Ryan Wylie; Colm Lennon, Shane Monaghan; Drew Wylie, Dessie Ward; Ciaran Galligan, Shane McGuinness, Daniel Caraher; Paul Finlay, Christopher McGuinness, Thomas Kerr. Subs: Aaron Toner for Caraher (ht), Shane McQuillan for Ward (Blood 45-48), Brent Wylie for Monaghan (50), Patrick O’Neill for McKearney (57), Shane McQuillan for D Wylie (61),Thomas Keenan for Finlay (61).
Kilcoo: Niall Kane; Niall Branagan, Aaron Branagan, Ryan McEvoy; Miceál Rooney, Darryl Branagan, Anthony Morgan; Aaron Morgan, Dylan Ward; Ceilum Doherty, Ryan Johnston, Shealan Johnston; Paul Devlin, Jerome Johnston, Conor Laverty. Subs: Tiernan Fettes for Anthony Morgan (40), Sean Óg McCusker for Doherty (53), Aidan Branagan for N Branagan (59), Christopher Rooney for R Johnston (61), McDarragh Hynes for Rooney (61).
Referee: Niall Cullen (Erne Gaels)
