Kilcoo (Down) 1-16

By Tony McGee

It was a cracking Ulster Club Minor Football quarter-final, at St Paul's in Belfast, last Saturday but that is little consolation to Naomh Conaill who lost out after extra time to Kilcoo on a 1-16 to 1-12 ticket. Both teams played superb football in crisp, dry conditions with not an ugly tackle in the whole match and not one player, from either side, questioning referee Marty McErlane's decisions.

In the closing minutes of overtime Kilcoo midfielder James McClean was dismissed on a second yellow card but it was just for a heavy charge on Michael Gallagher. The game marked an extra-ordinary amount of combined football by both teams with the football flowing at all times and some excellent scores taken. The sides were level four times during the second half, in the 33rd, 52nd, 57th and 60th minutes showing the determination of the players.

The Donegal boys, with Diarmuid Molloy in scoring form, raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after 10 minutes, Kilcoo having shot three wides in the opening two minutes. The Down champions hit their first score on 13 minutes but Naomh Conaill shot 0-7 to 0-1 up before their opponents took control to rifle over four unanswered points and leave the half-time tally at 0-7 to 0-5. Full-forward 'Brick' Molloy moved outfield during the second quarter and that seemed to turn the tide against Naomh Conaill with Kilcoo full-back Darragh O'Hanlon growing in confidence.

On the restart, Kilcoo tore into attack to fire over three points in four minutes, from Ryan Johnston, Cillian Laverty and Martin Devlin, to go ahead for the first time. Oliver McClean added another and in a sweeping move along the left Ryan Johnston sent Martin Kelly through for a goal to leave Kilcoo 1-9 to 0-7 ahead after 36 minutes.

However, within a minute substitute Mark Gallagher raised the green flag at the other end, from a pass by his brother Seamus, to signal a Naomh Conaill comeback and with eight minutes to go the teams were all square at 1-10 apiece.

Five minutes later it was 1-11 each and on the hour Diarmuid Molloy sent over a free-kick to tie the game at 1-12 to 1-12. The extra 10 minutes were dominated by the Down champions with Naomh Conaill failing to score. By the overtime break, the Mourne boys were 1-15 to 1-12 up and Shea O'Hanlon added the final point right on the last whistle as Kilcoo went through to a semi-final meeting with Scotstown on December 20. Diarmuid Molloy began in sparkling form with five early points but faded while Michael Gallagher, just back from injury, shone from he went into the game after 34 minutes. James Doherty, at corner-back, and Seamus Ellis at corner- forward were also prominent but it was a good team performance from the losers but not just good enough to push out a lively Kilcoo side that is hoping to bring a fifth championship trophy to the club this season.

Kilcoo have already won the men's senior, minor and under-16 and the ladies' intermediate titles in Down.

Kilcoo: D Lennon; C McCusker, D O'Hanlon (0-2, both frees), S O'Hanlon (0-1); J McLaughlin, C McClean, R Johnston (0-2); J McClean, N Smith (0-1); Michael Devlin, M Kelly (1-1), O McClean (0-2); C Laverty (0-2), J Johnston (0-4, one free), Martin Devlin (0-1).

Naomh Conaill: D O'Callaghan, S Campbell, J Campbell, J Doherty (0-1), J Quinn, S Quinn (0-1), A Gallagher, P Moss, S Gallagher (0-1), S McHugh, S O'Malley (0-1), J Molloy, C Molloy, D Molloy (0-7, four frees), S Ellis (0-1). Subs - T Cape for S McHugh (half-time), M Gallagher (1-0) for C Molloy (34), S McHugh for J Molloy (46), C Molloy for S McHugh (71).

Referee: M McErlane (Derry)