Kilcoo Get Edge Over Bryansford

Kilcoo 2-6 – 0-10 Bryansford

Match report by Peter McGrath Jnr

TWO goals early in the second half proved to be the determining scores in this local derby match. Having trailed by two points at the interval, Kilcoo came out more eager and hungry than their opponents and within five minutes the Bryansford net had been rattled twice. Meanwhile at the other end a succession of chances were missed, wasted or moves broke down before a shot could be taken.

Following a couple of early Bryansford wides, Jerome Johnston got the scoreboard ticking for Owen Roes. Danny Savage opened the Bryansford account as he pounced on a loose sideline in the Kilcoo defence, broke forward and slotted over. Jerome Johnston had Kilcoo back infront before Bryansford lost goalkeeper Sean James Brannigan to a nasty looking injury. Ryan Brannigan deputised, doing particularly well under a couple of testing balls. A good move down the right hand side ended with Ciaran Brannigan squaring the sides but a Darragh O Hanlon free and a sliced effort from Paul Devlin had the Magpies 0-4 – 0-2 ahead.

Bryansford scored all four of the games points in the second quarter but given their domination of the ball they will feel they should have led by more at half time. Chris Brannigan converted a tricky free, Danny Savage converted two dead balls including a 45 and Ciaran Brannigan had time to add a sixth score to put his side two up.

The first half seemed long, possibly because of the injury and lengthy added time or possibly because the show on offer was, at best, poor. Two saves from Steven Kane in the Kilcoo goal had kept Bryansford goals out and on a night when scores were proving hard to come by it was generally accepted a goal could be a crucial contribution.

When a key score is needed, experienced players are called to deliver and that’s just what Anthony Devlin did for the Magpies thirty seconds into the second half. A break from the throw up took them through the heart of the Ford defence, the ball came to Devlin, who with acres of space slotted the ball calmly to the corner of the net.
Bryansford hit back quickly with a Chris Brannigan score but another defensive lapse of concentration allowed Kilcoo to work a short free kick routine which Sean O Hanlon was able to put to the net without any opposition. Suddenly there was a five point swing from what the score had been at half time and in a game of few scores that was an ultimately telling differential. Chris Brannigan edged the Ford closer with two frees.
Kilcoo needed a score to end a spell of Bryansford pressure and  after Paul Devlin did well to hold the ball up, Darragh O Hanlon got himself in position to receive the pass and shoot over. Heading into the latter stages of the game, Kilcoo first goalscorer Anthony Devlin was redeployed around the middle where he picked up a lot of break ball, significantly lessening the amount of pressure the Ford were able to exert on the Kilcoo defence. Chris Brannigan and Paul Devlin swapped late points but it made no difference to the overall outcome as Kilcoo recorded their first home win over Bryansford in five years, a demon they will be glad to have banished.
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