Kilcoo emerge after another Extra Time thriller
AIB Ulster Club SFC Quarter Final Replay:
Crossmaglen 1-8 Kilcoo 3-10 (AET)
Kilcoo have finally secured their place in the semi finals of the AIB Ulster Club Senior Football Championship, following an extra time victory over Crossmaglen in today’s quarter final replay.
After 40 minutes of normal time, it looked like Kilcoo had done enough for the victory as they held at 1-7 to 0-3 lead, aided by Paul Devlin’s 38th minute penalty.
However, following the dismissal of Kilcoo’s Daryl Brannigan, the game turned on it’s head as Crossmaglen hit 1-4 without reply, the goal coming from a deflected Tony Kernan shot.
With the game tied at 1-7 a piece, Kilcoo spurned a couple of great opportunities to snatch victory and for the second time in seven days, the sides went into extra-time.
Early in extra-time, Kyle Carragher’s point gave Crossmaglen the lead for the first time in the contest, but Kilcoo, back to their full compliment of 15 players, responded immediately via Ryan Johnston goal. With half time of extra-time approaching, Devlin hit his second goal of the game to all but seal the fate of the Armagh kingpins, who had Stephen Kernan and Paul McKeown sent off late on.
Credit must go to both sides for the skill, intensity and determination shown over both games, which was evident by the fact that it took 160 minutes of football to separate the two.
Kilcoo will now face Ballinderry in the Ulster Club semi final next Sunday 17th November in the Athletic Grounds Armagh. For all the fixtures, results and ticketing information for the AIB Ulster Club Championships, view www.ulster.gaa.ie/clubchampionships2013/
