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AIB Ulster Club SFC: Holders Kilcoo survive

Conleth McGuckian, Glen, and Conor Laverty, Kilcoo, in AIB Ulster Club SFC action.

Conleth McGuckian, Glen, and Conor Laverty, Kilcoo, in AIB Ulster Club SFC action.

AIB Ulster Club SFC Semi-Final

KILCOO 1-11 GLEN 0-11

By Declan Bogue at the Athletic Grounds

Defending Ulster champions Kilcoo are not going to allow a year of Covid derail them from defending the Seamus McFerran Cup.

They squeezed home here in a tense semi-final against Derry champions Glen, in a game that hung that hung in the balance all the way to just moments before the break of the two extra-time periods. Glen goalkeeper Conlann Bradley tried an intricate kickout short to full-back Ryan Dougan.

There was a moment’s hesitation, enough to allow Paul Devlin to steam in and make the turnover. He then transferred to Jerome Johnston who read the play and made a beeline for the goalmouth. Johnston was leaning over when he lashed his shot to the roof of the net. In such a tight encounter, a score like that was always going to be decisive.

Waiting for Kilcoo in the final are Fermanagh club Derrygonnelly Harps, who they played in the semi-final of 2019 and just about hung on for a 1-8 to 0-9 win.

It was a 0-4 apiece scoreline at the break with just three points scored from play.

There was always a danger that this could be an over-analysed spectacle, with Glen clubman Mickey Moran in charge of Kilcoo and Glen manager Malachy O’Rourke not averse to being conservative.

The impression it gave, after lengthy passages of play from both sides when they were turned back continuously, was that it was counter-productive to actually have possession. It was better instead to be defending and hope for a turnover to launch a counterattack into space.

Scoring was opened by Ryan Johnston for Kilcoo, after they had forced Glen into a wide, a shot dropped short and a turnover, all in the first seven minutes.

A Paul Devlin free stretched out Kilcoo’s lead and it was replied to by Emmett Bradley’s long-range free.

Ryan McEvoy found Dylan Ward in some rare space and he made goalwards, exchanging passes with Conor Laverty before clipping over. Conor Glass came back again for Glen with a monster score, shoving Jerome Johnston into the bargain with a strong hand-off.

A successful ‘45’ from goalkeeper Niall Kane ended Kilcoo’s scoring for the first half on 21 minutes, and Glen got back on level terms through two Danny Tallon frees.

Although the second half produced the same scoreline, things had opened up somewhat. The pattern remained however with Kilcoo hitting two early scores and it took two consecutive Glen points to rescue matters and take it to extra time.

The move of Ciaran McFaul to full-forward provided them with the physicality they were missing in that sector as well as doing something to curtail the growing influence of Ryan McEvoy.

But then came the goal from Johnston. It was all they needed.

Scorers for Kilcoo: J Johnston (1-0), P Devlin (0-3f), M Rooney (0-2), S Johnston (0-2), D Ward (0-1), C Doherty (0-1), R Johnston (0-1), N Kane (0-1, ‘45’)

Scorers for Glen: D Tallon (0-4f), C Glass (0-2, 1f), E Bradley (0-2, 1f), P Gunning (0-1f), T Flanagan (0-1), S O’Hara (0-1f)

KILCOO: N Kane; N Branagan, R McEvoy, A Branagan; M Rooney, Anthony Morgan, E Branagan; D Ward, Aaron Morgan; C Doherty, J Johnston. S Johnston; C Laverty, R Johnston, P Devlin.

Subs: D Branagan for Anthony Morgan (50m), C Rooney for Laverty (57m), Aidan Branagan for Aaron Morgan (59m), J Clarke for E Branagan (ET 10m), P Greenan for Ward (ET 14m), C Laverty for D Branagan (ET 16m)

GLEN: C Bradley; M Warnock, R Dougan, C Carville; T Flanagan, C McFaul, E Doherty; C Glass, E Bradley; E Mulholland, J Doherty, C McDevitt; P Gunning, D Tallon, C McGuckian

Subs: A Doherty for Gunning (45m), C Convery for McDevitt (50m), C Gallagher for Carville (60m), S O’Hara for McGuckian (ET 6m), A McGonigle for Mulholland (ET 10m).

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)