Kilcoo torn apart by rampant Harps side

30 November 2011

FOR the third year in succession Down Minor football champions Kilcoo failed in their to lift the Northern Bank Ulster Club MFC title when they were beaten in the quarter-final in St. Paul’s Park, Belfast, on Sunday.

The smaller and less physical Kilcoo side played attractive football with a lot of possession and passing, but against the physically stronger and bigger Harps side they failed to take advantage of their opportunities and at the finish the six points margin in favour of the Armagh champions was well deserved.

A strong breeze blowing right down the park was availed of by Harps and they took their chances as they raced into a 12 points lead at half-time. They maintained that advantage until ten minutes from time when Kilcoo fought back with a goal and four points that gave the scoreboard a better look.

Harps dominated midfield through Paul Campbell and the tall Shea Grimley, despite the best efforts of Kilcoo’s Nathan Smyth and Ryan Johnston.

Kilcoo, to their credit, never gave up the fight. In defence Daryl Branagan, Daithi O’Hanlon, Malachy Morgan and Sean O’Hare were most prominent while in attack Darragh O’Hanlon, Martin Devlin and Aidan Fulcher were best.

However, their short passing game was nullified by the opposition who used the long ball to great effect throughout.

Harps opened with points from Matthew Hynds, Conor White and Declan Donnelly inside the opening ten minutes. Martin Devlin had Kilcoo’s only first half point midway through the half. Despite shooting six first half wides to two by Kilcoo, the winners dominated the second quarter.

Ryan McShane raced in for a goal after 17 minutes and also added a point as did Joe McElroy. Harps’ second goal came from Luke Grimley three minutes from half-time and they also added two points to lead by 2-7 to 0-1 at the interval.

Kilcoo restarted in brilliant fashion. After two minutes Martin Devlin raced in for a goal and immediately added a point. However, Harps came back points from Luke and Shea Grimley and midway through the half corner back Rory McGrath finished off a brilliant move involving six players to shoot to the net.

This proved to be their last score. Kilcoo came back strongly with Ryan Mussen and Ryan Devlin scoring points and five minutes from time Darragh O’Hanlon finished a good move with his side’s second goal.

He also added two points, but Harps held out for a deserved victory.

Kilcoo: C. McEvoy, A. Morgan, D. Branagan, S. O’Hare, L. Devlin, Daithi O’Hanlon, Malachy Morgan, N. Smyth, R. Johnston, R. Mussen (0-1), Darragh O’Hanlon (1-2), Mark Rogan, R. Devlin (0-1), M. Devlin (1-2), A. Fulcher. Subs: C. McCann for L. Devlin, P. Morgan for Mark Rogan, D. Morgan for O’Hare.

Armagh Harps 3-9

Kilcoo 2-6

ULSTER CLUB MFC QUARTER-FINAL

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