AIB Ulster Club SFC Semi-Final
Kilcoo 4-12
Erne Gaels 1-10
Kilcoo booked their place in a fifth AIB Ulster Club SFC final in six seasons after a commanding second-half surge saw them pull decisively clear of Erne Gaels Belleek at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
Returning to the venue where they fell to Errigal Ciaran in last year’s provincial decider, the Down champions initially found themselves in a competitive contest, leading by just three points at half-time. But once they shifted gears after the break, their experience and firepower proved overwhelming.
Goals from Paul Devlin and Eugene Branagan had given Kilcoo a 2-4 to 0-7 interval advantage, though the margin might have been greater given the chances they created. Devlin rattled the upright midway through the half, while several other opportunities drifted wide or dropped short. Belleek, with the wind at their backs, responded with two early ‘two-pointers’ from Ryan Lyons and Barry McCann, yet still struggled to keep pace.
Crucially, the Fermanagh men were without centre-forward Thomas McCafferty, absent after a weekend wedding in Rome, and full-back Paul Ward. Their depleted defence was repeatedly opened up by Kilcoo’s incisive running and pressure on the kick-out.
The third quarter belonged entirely to the Magpies. Points from Callum Rogers and Ceilum Doherty immediately after the restart set the tone, and a fierce high press on the Belleek restart yielded further scores from Ryan Johnston. The breakthrough came when Shealan Johnston capitalised on a short kick-out to slot Kilcoo’s third goal, effectively putting the contest beyond reach.
Doherty added a fourth major in the 54th minute, expertly lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. With the outcome long settled, Kilcoo eased to the finish, even introducing veteran forward and Down manager Conor Laverty for the final stages. Belleek salvaged a late consolation when substitute Seamus Ryder squeezed a low effort past Niall Kane deep into stoppage time.
Kilcoo finished with ten different scorers, underlining both their depth and their continued threat in Ulster. Now preparing for a seventh provincial decider in 13 seasons, they will face either Scotstown or Newbridge.
By Michael Devlin Mon 24th Nov
