Ford In Top Form Against Kilcoo

KILCOO 1-03 – 3-08 BRYANSFORD Match report by Peter McGrath Jnr The scoreline didn’t tell the full story of this game where Bryansford, though they were the better team, were not eleven points better and it also must be consider that Kilcoo held a number of more recognizable senior players back – obviously with one eye on the Championship meeting between the sides but Bryansford couldn’t afford such a luxury as they needed the league points. That need for points was evident in the first half and with the aid of a very strong wind the scores came flowing in. Chris Clarke, Conor Gribben and Ciaran Brannigan had all registered points before a long free from David McKibben bounced through to Ciaran Brannigan who had an easy finish for the Ford’s first goal. Bryansford looked to build on their goal and a driven Danny Savage point was carried by the wind, out over the ballstop and it was eventually retrieved from Lough Islandreevy. A chance of a second Bryansford goal arose at the end of a strong Chris Clarke run bu this eighteenth minute strike was flicked over the bar by Stephen Kane in the Kilcoo goal. However, not to be kept out for long the second goal did arrive and what a goal it was. Kalum King made a splendid catch, found Ciaran Brannigan who slipped in Chris Clarke and he lashed to the net. A Neil Murray point from forty five yards rounded off the first half scoring to leave the Ford 2-6 – 0-0 up at the break. With the coming of half time so came the dying down of the wind and Conor Gribben took full advantage, making a good run along the endline then playing in Ciaran Brannigan who had the easiest of tasks palming the ball into the empty home net and Brannigan then added another point before Kilcoo managed 1-3 unanswered. Substitute Cillian Laverty got their first score on 40 minutes and Gary McEvoy belted belted the ball into the roof of Peter Travers net, leaving the keeper helpless and illustrating that when they focus Kilcoo are good enough to tear anyone to shreds. Another substitute, Martin Devlin pointed well and a fabulous score from Gary McEvoy rounded off the Magpies scoring and the last score of the match was an impressive Danny Savage free kick struck with the left boot and as the green and yellow sock swung after the ball it was only going one place – over the bar. Bryansford won this one 3-8 – 1-3 but Kilcoo still left the pitch without too much worry, secure in the knowledge that when the sides meet again in the championship the Magpies will be an entirely different animal. Kilcoo scorers; G McEvoy 1-1, C Laverty 0-1, M Devlin 0-1. Bryansford scorers; C Brannigan 2-2, C Clarke 1-2, D Savage 0-2, C Gribben 0-1, N Murray 0-1.]]>