Kilcoo now have 21 county wins to their credit
The Morgan Fuels Senior Football Championship,
Venue: Pairc Esler – Sunday 15th October 2023,
FINAL SCORE: Kilcoo 2-12 0-9 Burren.
Burren senior team manager Jim Corry knew it would be a huge task for Burren to upset the applecart and beat Kilcoo even though his side were really on form and up for this match writes Jim Masson.
But Kilcoo can never be written off and were the victors in this entertaining final.
The match started off with caution shown by both teams avoiding an early error and settling in.
But it was Burren who initially took the game to Kilcoo by Liam Kerr pointing at 5 minutes then 3 minutes later another point was clocked up by Dara Mussen.
After 10 minute Kilcoo did not appear to be making any significant inroads to the Burren defence in their attacks.
Conail McGovern got a chance to shoot at the Kilcoo goal but went just wide from inside the 16 yard line.
Then Kilcoo came to life at 12 minutes as Shealan Johnston kicked over from the 45 yard line for a point to open their scoresheet.
Kilcoo followed up the pressure with an attack by Ryan Johnston who was fouled winning a free and keeper Niall Kane took the kick but hooked it in.
On a break Aaron Morgan collected another point for Kilcoo who were building up a head of steam and this was followed by a defensive error by Burren and Ryan Johnston found possession kicking over the sticks for an easy point.
Kilcoo had weathered the early challenge from Burren despite their huge efforts to take the game to reigning county champions.
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Ryan Johnston then sent in a high ball to the Burren goalmouth but it was well caught by defender Gerard McGovern.
Johnston scored then followed by Aaron Brannagan and Paul Devlin found space and left footed over the bar all striking points for Kilcoo now starting to show their teeth.
Burren could only reply with a point in play from Darra Mussen.
Just before the whistle for the first half, Burren pulled hard and attacked Kilcoo trying to close the deficit as they were now trailing by 4 points.
But on a break with Ceilum Doherty passing to Paul Devlin, again Kilcoo found the room and romped through the defence and took a point.
The second half was certainly a lively affair entertaining the large crowd of spectators with early on Burren’s Paddy McCarthy almost tipping the ball over the Kilcoo bar.
For 8 minutes both teams battled it out and Kilcoo made a serious challenge with Darryl Branagan passing to Chris Rooney at the Burren goal, but keeper Kevin McKernan was quick to spot the move and intercepted promptly.
Then Miceal Rooney produced a goal for Kilcoo collecting the ball when Shealan Johnston shot and hit the post 9 minutes into the second period stretching their lead to 7 points.
Burren immediately responded and Liam Kerr pulled a point back, and this was followed by a missed point opportunity when Ryan Cunningham kicked wide.
But Burren were tenacious and enjoyed a solid and long build up when sub Ronan McGrath launched over the Kilcoo bar.
Danny Magill then found space to volley at the Kilcoo net but just went wide.
Odhram Murdock made a great effort and on 22 minutes claimed back another point in play. There were signs that Kilcoo were not going to get it all their own way when Devlin also scored another point in play
Kilcoo came back winning a free and keeper Kane took the kick but midfielder Odhran Murdock sailed into the air and plucked the ball to safety.
There was a moment of drama when Kilcoo sub Eugene Branagan broke through and close to the goal appeared to have his kick impeded by a foot-block and there were calls for a penalty.
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Paddy Burns took a shot at the Kilcoo posts and hit wide followed by a wide from Kilcoo sub Sean Murdock.
Anthony Morgan in a attack passed to Jack Devlin but Burren’s Steven Fegan gave away a free on 16 yards and Conor Murphy took the point.
At this stage with 7 minutes to go, Kilcoo were 6 points clear and were holding up to the Burren challenges. Burren were fighting to the last in this increasingly physical game.
But Kilcoo won another free from 45 yards and Paul Devlin took it well.
In a moment of end-of-the-game frenzy, Conor Murphy took down Kilcoo’s Ryan Johnston and a penalty was awarded.
Paul Devlin made no mistake and hammered the ball past keeper McKernan to put the game beyond reach for Burren.
Burren had bravely battled their way through the match, but in the end they will have to accept they came second to a team of champions.
Karl Lacey’s Kilcoo squad had got over the line once again claiming the Morgan Fuels Senior Football Championship Cup securing their chance to win a place in the Ulster championship and even go on to an All-Ireland match at Croke Park.
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Good luck Kilcoo! Keep ‘er lit!
Kilcoo: 1 Niall Kane 2 MacDarragh Hynes 3 Ryan McEvoy 4 Callum Rodgers 5 Miceal Rooney 6 Darryl Branagan (C) 7 Jack Devlin 8 Aaron Morgan 9 Ryan Johnston 10 Shealan Johnston 11 Jerome Johnstone 12 Anthony Morgan 13 Paul Devlin 14 Christopher Rooney 15 Ceilum Doherty,
Burren: 1 Kevin McKernan 2 Ryan Maghill 3 Gerard McGovern (C) 4 Ardan McAvoy 5 Paddy McCarthy 6 Paddy Burns 7 Peter Fegan 8 Odhran Murdock 9 Conail McGovern 10 Darra Mussen 11 Ryan Cunningham 12 Danny Magill 13 Donal O’Hare 14 Liam Kerr 15 David McEntee.
