AIB Ulster Club SFC: Kilcoo turn on the style in the second-half

​AIB Ulster club senior football championship semi-final

KILCOO (DOWN) 4-12 ERNE GAELS BELLEEK (FERMANAGH) 1-10

By Paul Keane at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh

Kilcoo will contest their fifth AIB Ulster club SFC final in the last six seasons after producing a power-packed second-half performance to burn off Belleek.

The BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh was an unhappy hunting ground for the seven-in-a-row Down champions last year as they lost the Ulster final to Errigal Ciaran there.

And they weren't exactly home and hosed at half-time upon their return, leading Declan Bonner's Belleek by three points at that stage.

But when they moved up a gear after the break, they sped comfortably clear and outscored their opponents by 2-8 to 1-3 in the 30 or so minutes, the consolation Erne Gaels goal coming deep into stoppage time.

Paul Devlin and Eugene Branagan struck the first-half goals for 2022 All-Ireland winners Kilcoo and the second-half majors came courtesy of Shealan Johnston and Ceilum Doherty.

Kilcoo had 10 different scorers in total but, in truth, probably still have more to offer with Scotstown (Monaghan) or Newbridge (Derry) their opponents next month.

That will be Kilcoo's seventh Ulster final in 13 seasons while this was their 13th win from 16 games in the province since the start of their seven-in-a-row dominance in Down.

Still, they haven't won an Ulster title since 2021 and were beaten in last year's final so manager Martin Corey will demand his players' full focus and an improved display in a fortnight.

Kilcoo arrived in Armagh with a patchy record at the venue; seven wins and five losses from their dozen provincial outings there.

A more positive stat was Kilcoo's three wins from three when facing Fermanagh teams in Armagh city.

They had the more comfortable quarter-final too, seeing off Loughmacrory of Tyrone with five points to spare whereas Belleek needed extra-time to dismiss Kingscourt in Cavan.

That was the four-time Fermanagh champions' first ever win in the province and they chased another landmark success here.

But with the wind behind them initially, they probably needed to hit the interval at least a point or two ahead.

They did pick off two two-pointers - one from Ryan Lyons early on and a second from Barry McCann approaching half-time - but still trailed at the interval.

In fact, Kilcoo probably should have led by more than 2-4 to 0-7 at the turnaround given the amount of opportunities they created.

That 2-4 total came from a dozen scoring opportunities in the first-half, four of which went wide and two of which dropped short.

Devlin recorded one of the wides in the 22nd minute when he was played in by Miceal Rooney and slammed a shot off the outside of an upright.

They did at least grab a goal shortly after that miss, winning back possession from the kick-out and working it out to Eugene Branagan on the left who raced through and converted.

That left Kilcoo 2-3 to 0-4 clear, their first goal coming from Devlin in the third minute after he was fed by Ceilum Doherty.

Belleek fielded without centre-forward Thomas McCafferty who got married in Rome on Friday. Full-back Paul Ward was unavailable too and they missed him in a defence that Kilcoo cut through too easily at times.

Kilcoo took over completely in the third quarter and put the game out of sight well before full-time.

Points from Callum Rogers and Doherty straight after the restart hinted at what was to come.

The Magpies put a big press on the Belleek kick-out and Ryan Johnston drilled back-to-back points before Shealan Johnston snatched their third goal.

He pounced on a short kick-out that went astray and Doherty grabbed their fourth goal in the 54th minute, lobbing the 'keeper with a precise finish.

Kilcoo were in cruise control and even veteran attacker Conor Laverty, the Down manager, got a run out for the closing minutes.

Belleek clawed back a consolation goal in stoppage time when sub Seamus Ryder squeezed a snap shot from close range beyond Niall Kane.

Kilcoo scorers: Paul Devlin 1-1, Eugene Branagan 1-1, Ceilum Doherty 1-1, Shealan Johnston 1-1, Anthony Morgan 0-2, Ryan Johnston 0-2, Miceal Rooney 0-1, Callum Rogers 0-1, Jack Devlin 0-1, Barra McEvoy 0-1 (0-1f).

Erne Gaels Belleek scorers: Ryan Lyons 0-4 (2 tp), Barry McCann 0-2 (tp), Shane Rooney 0-1 (0-1f), Brian Mullin 0-1, Michael Og McGarrigle 0-1, Dan McCann 0-1.

Kilcoo: Niall Kane; Tiarnan Fettes, Ryan McEvoy, Niall Branagan; Miceal Rooney, Darryl Branagan, Callum Rogers; Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan; Shealan Johnston, Ceilum Doherty, Eugene Branagan; Paul Devlin, Ryan Johnston, Jerome Johnston.

Subs: Sean Og McCusker for Jerome Johnston 46, Lorcan Ward for Anthony Morgan 50, Jack Devlin for Ryan Johnston 55, Barra McEvoy for Shealan Johnston 55, Conor Laverty for Paul Devlin 58.

Erne Gaels Belleek: Brian Ryder; Martin Gilfeddar, Ultan O'Reilly, Shane Mimna; Barry McCann, Jack McCann, Oisin Kelm; Michael Og McGarrigle, Ryan Lyons; Brian Mullin, Ultan Kelm, Aogan Kelm; Shane Rooney, Odhran Johnston, Dan McCann.

Subs: Seamus Ryder for McGarrigle h/t, Padraig Johnston for Mimna 46, McGarrigle for Dan McCann 50, Eamn Og Magee for Gilfeddar 55.

Referee: Diarmuid Boylan (Monaghan).