ST EUNAN'S (Donegal) 0-9
KILCOO ( Down) 0-13
By C.J McGinley
THREE in a row champions St Eunan's are out of the Ulster Club Championship after a bitterly disappointing quarter final defeat at the hands of provincial rookies, Kilcoo, at Newry yesterday.
The Down champions, who won their last county title 72 years ago, proved too strong for the Cathedral Town team and now advance to a semi-final meeting against Derry champions, Loup next Sunday.
Eamon O'Boyle's side, who were aiming to become the first Donegal team to reach the Ulster final since 1991, played second fiddle to the Down men for most of the contest - apart from a brief ten minute opening spell.
They trailed 0-6 to 0-4 at half time and midway through the second period they were double scores (0-10 to 0-5) in arrears as the Kilcoo men, led by superb Man of the Match, Paul Devlin seized control.
Devlin, an Under-21 All-Ireland winner, bagged six points and along with tenacious corner back, Niall McEvoy, midfielder, Paul Greenan, and the Kane cousins, Barry and Donal they were the stars of the show.
For St Eunan's it is a bitter pill to swallow.
However, the fact that only one other player apart from Dunne hit the scoreboard for 50 minutes speaks for itself.
After three county titles in a row, hopes were high St Eunan's could make a vital breakthrough this year but they were a pale shadow of themselves. Without the influence of county star, Rory Kavanagh for three quarters of the contest they lacked guile in key areas.
While they plugged away in the face of adversity the Letterkenny men were always playing catch up and yielded vital possession at midfield where Kilcoo had the upper hand all afternoon.
While they squandered three goal chances in the second period few would argue with their defeat.
The post mortems will continue for some time.
St Eunan's made two changes from their county final winning team with Eamon Doherty and Ross Wherrity replacing the unlucky Eddie Brennan and injured county star, Rory Kavanagh respectively.
Kilcoo, were without the services of influential defender, Adrian Brannigan while their captain, Gerard McEvoy had to settle for a place on the bench due to injury.
Brannigan missed the contest after losing his appeal against a late red card in the county final win over Loughanisland.
After a nervous start, St Eunan's settled down and led 0-3 to 0-1 by the end of the first quarter. Down Under-21 All-Ireland star, Paul Devlin opened the scoring when he fired over a '45' - against the run of play- after the Cathedral Town team had hit three wides in the opening five minutes.
However, with Conal Dunne weaving his magic in the half forward line the Donegal champions settled down and three points in a blistering two minute spell between the 13th and 15th minutes had them two clear.
Captain, Brendan Devenney, opened the St Eunan's account and two more from county star, Conal Dunne, put them in the ascedency.
Kilcoo boss Jim McCorry, sensing trouble, opted to bring his injured captain, Gerard McEvoy off the bench and into the cauldron and he was a major influence on proceedings.
Kilcoo, seized control in the latter stages of the first period and three points from midfielder, Marty McClean, Donal Kane and Barry Kane gave them a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage.
It was a purple match they richly deserved.
Indeed lively corner forward Kane opted to fist over a point with the goal at his mercy in the 27th minute.
The Down men had showed greater appetite for the heat of battle but to be fair the difficult underfoot conditions made it hard for O'Boyle's men to find their rhythm.
They struggled at centre field with John Haran and Kevin Rafferty failing to get a grip and this starved their inside forward line of any decent possession.
Indeed their best score of the first half came when experienced centre back, Ciaran Ryan opted to drive the ball at pace into Brendan Devenney for a marvellous score after 13 minutes.
St Eunan's found the intensity of the Kilcoo tackle difficult to contend with and they also lacked the calming influence of Rory Kavanagh.
Kilcoo's Paul and Anthony Devlin were the stars of the first half orchestrating all their offensive moves while Barry and Donal Kane were workmanlike and hungry for the ball.
Conal Dunne ended a barren 16 minute spell without a score for the Cathedral Town men when he tapped over a 13 metre free - his third of the game - to leave the half time score 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.
Two minutes after the restart, Conal Dunne hauled St Eunan's to within the minimum and a minute later they squandered a glorious goal chance.
Kevin Rafferty and Ross Wherrity combined to put Cillian Morrisson in the clear on goal but with the net at his mercy his soft finish was smothered by goalkeeper, Stephen Kane. Barry and Donal Kane hit two scores without reply for Kilcoo to give them a 0-8 to 0-5 lead by the 37th minute.
Clearly in trouble, St Eunan's forced Rory Kavanagh into action and he immediately got into the action setting up David McGinley for a second goal chance but disappointingly he hit the side netting from close range with the goal at his mercy in the 42nd minute.
Man of the Match, Paul Devlin, stepped up to the mark again and he hit a fantastic point to give the Down men a 0-9 to 0-5 lead by the 44th minute. Midway through the second half they led by double scores (0-10 to 0-5) after Donal Kane hit his third point
Conal Dunne kept St Eunan's in touch with his fifth point of the game- a free from close range- and attacking wing forward, Mark McGowan reduced the arrears to a three point margin (0-10 to 0-7) with ten minutes left.
Crucially, in that vital last ten minute period it was Kilcoo who had the vital edge with Devlin firing over a superb point from a sideline free to give them an unassailable 0-11 to 0-7 lead.
St Eunan's plugged away in the face of adversity and big midfielder, John Haran, was unlucky when his shot on goal was blocked and so ended the St Eunan's chances of a semi-final.
Substitute, Ciaran Sharkey and experienced midfielder, Kevin Rafferty hit two late points for the Cathedral Town team but it was too little too late.
Kilcoo, held on and their estatic supporters raced on to greet their heroes. For St Eunan's it is a tough lesson.
St Eunan's: Damien Martin, Eamon Doherty, Michael Martin, Damien McClafferty, Adrian McClafferty, Ciaran Ryan, Ciaran Greene, John Haran, Kevin Rafferty (0-1), Mark McGowan (0-1), Conal Dunne (0-5, four frees), Ross Wherrity, David McGinley, Brendan Devenney (0-1,captain ) and Cillian Morrisson.
Subs: Eddie Brennan for Michael Martin (39mins), Rory Kavanagh for Cillian Morrisson (43 mins), Ciaran Sharkey (0-1) for David McGinley (48mins), Brian McDermott for Brennan (injured 58mins)
Kilcoo: Stephen Kane, Niall Branagan, Niall Morgan, Niall McEvoy, Brian O'Hanlon, Felim McGreevy, Sean O'Hanlon, Paul Greenan, Martin McClean (0-1), Dominic McEvoy, Paul Devlin (0-6, three frees), Conor Laverty, Barry Kane (0-2), Anthony Devlin (0-1) and Donal Kane (0-3, frees)
Subs: Gerard McEvoy for F McGreevy (10 mins), Gary McEvoy for Dominic McEvoy (44 mins), Diarmuid McLaughlin for O'Hanlon (52mins), Conor Morgan for Conor Laverty (59mins)
Referee: M Sludden (Tyrone)
