Magpies march on into Ulster semi-final

Kilcoo continue their quest for the Ulster title having made it past the first hurdle in maiden Tyrone Champions Loughmacrory at a rain-drenched Healy Park on Saturday evening.

There was only five points in it at the full-time whistle, but it felt like it should have been more as the Magpies were always in control of this quarter-final.

That’s not to say that Loughnmacrory didn’t put it up to the vastly experienced Down Champions, they showed their opponents no respect and certainly in the first half when they had the breeze made it tough for the Magpies. But while they kept fighting back every time Kilcoo looked to be pulling further clear, the Magpies were superb at the back when required and did what they had to do to win.

There was just two points in it at the break with Kilcoo leading 0-7 to 0-5. The wind had dropped somewhat since the previous match between Saval and Clonoe, but the rain remained relentless making the ground slick underfoot and ball control difficult.

That didn’t stop Anthony Morgan for converting the first point of the game in the first minute with a well-taken score and Pauraic Meenagh responding with an even better two-point score.

The excellent Shealan Johnston was pulled back for a free and while Niall Kane came down from his goal to take it, the Kilcoo netminder kicked wide from a tight angle.

Loughmacrory won a free from a similar position moments later and Ruari McCullagh made no mistake to give his side an 0-3 to 0-1 advantage with seven minutes on the clock.

It wasn’t long before Martin Corey’s men rectified that however, as Paul Devlin converted his first free of the evening and after a couple of wides, Shealan Johnston levelled proceedings with a terrific score midway through the half and the same player converted another moments later that just about sneaked inside the post.

Kilcoo pulled away after that hitting the next two scores via Darryl Branagan and Ryan Johnston with a lovely turn and point but Loughmacrory weren’t going anywhere as they scored two of the last three points of the half.

It was all to play for in the second half then with McCullagh kicking the first point effort wide for Loughmacrory after the restart.

Eoin McElholm took the wrong decision going for a goal when a point was on and straight away the Magpies tore down the pitch with Paul Devlin drilling a two-pointer over the bar and Darryl Branagan tagging on a point to stretch they’re lead to five 0-10 to 0-5.

McElhom pointed at the other end from distance, making up for his earlier mistake and Meenagh converted a free to make it a one score game again with Kilcoo leading 0-10 to 0-7 seven minutes into the half.

There was a lot of loose ball at that stage, particularly from Loughmacrory and while they were certainly showing the Magpies no fear, the Tyrone side seemed to tire as the clock ticked on and the Magpies pulled away again.

Cathoir Gallagher and Miceal Rooney traded points but a Shealan Johnston two-pointer gave Kilcoo the cushion they wanted again leading 0-13 to 0-8 and when Celilum Doherty fisted the next over the bar after Rooney came close to a maximum, it was a case of seeing the game out.

Devlin scored the next low over the bar with the goal at his mercy and while he held his face in his hands at the miss, it mattered little in the end.

Loughnacrory needed a major or a few orange flags with just five minutes of normal time remaining but Kilcoo were a fortress at the back giving them no opportunities for big scores.

They did make a push with points from McElholm, Cathoir Gallagher from a free and another from Gareth Donaghy sent low over the bar aided by Niall Kane, but Sean Og McCusker got the last point of the game and with a fist pump he and everyone else knew it was more than enough with the match finishing 0-16 to 0-11 and Fermanagh Champions Erne Gaels awaiting Kilcoo in the semi-final.

MATCH STATS

Loughmacrory: Oisin O’Kane; Dara Curran, Nathan Kelly, Arnoldas Macidulskas; Shane Dobbs, Ronan Fox, Shea Conway; Aodhan Donaghy, Cathal Donaghy; Gareth Donaghy (0-1), Eoin McElholm (0-2), Cathaoir Gallagher (0-3, 1f); Pauraic Meenagh (0-4,1tp, 2f), Ruairi McCullagh (0-1,1f), Michael McNamee

Subs: Ryan Grimley for Meenagh (52mins), Enda Donaghy for Fox (52mins)

Kilcoo: Niall Kane; Aaron Branagan, Ryan McEvoy, Niall Branagan; Miceal Rooney (0-1), Darryl Branagan (0-2), Calum Rogers; Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan (0-1); Ceilum Doherty (0-1), Ryan Johnston (0-1), Shealan Johnston (0-4, 1tp); Paul Devlin (0-5, 2f, 1tp)), Jerome Johnston, Eugene Branagan

Subs: Christopher Rooney for A Branagan (11mins), Sean Og McCusker (0-1) for J Johnston (41mins), Barra McEvoy for Rooney (53mins)

Referee: Martin McNally