Ward drives Kilcoo to another title
DYLAN WARD enhanced his growing reputation as the new face of Down football and proved to be the match-winner as Kilcoo secured a sixth county SFC title in a row. Four points from play from the 20-year-old in Páirc Esler helped the club equal the record held by runners-up Burren since the 1980s. Not for the first time, Kilcoo had to scrap their way over the line. Burren lorded midfield in the first half but kicked five costly wides. Kilcoo punished them, twice coming from three points behind in the first half and despite Darragh O’Hanlon blazing a 21st minute penalty over the bar, they trailed by just 0-7 to 0-6 at the break. They then used all their experience, and no little skill from forwards Ward and Jerome Johnston, to slowly get on top. Once Ward levelled it at 0-9 apiece in the 39th minute, Kilcoo took over, outscoring them five points to two in the last 20 minutes. Burren finished with 14 players after Conaill McGovern’s straight red for striking Down teammate Paul Devlin off the ball in the 57th minute. The champions get the chance to avenge last year’s Ulster final defeat by Slaughtneil when they host the Derry outfit in the preliminary round in Newry in two weeks.
KILCOO: S Kane; N Branagan, D O’Hanlon, Aidan Branagan (JJ McLaughlin 52); D Branagan (S O’Hanlon 58), Aaron Branagan, P Devlin; F McGreevy, A Morgan; R Johnston (E Branagan 38), J Johnston, M Devlin (J McClean 39, D Kane 55); C Doherty, D Ward, C Laverty. Scorers: D Ward 0-4, P Devlin 0-4 (4f), J Johnston 0-2, C Laverty, D O’Hanlon, A Morgan 0-1. Yellow cards: Aaron Branagan, Aidan Branagan. Black cards: J McClean 39, D Branagan 57, P Devlin 61. Frees: 13 (7). Wides: 7 (3). BURREN: C Murdock; J McGovern (Ciaran McGovern 41), G McGovern, S Fegan; D Rooney, C Cox, C Foy; M McKay (D McCartan 53), C Toner (E Toner 59); R Treanor (S Murdock 41), D O’Hare, S McArdle; Conaill McGovern, K McKernan, D McEntee (P Poland 53). Scorers: D O’Hare 0-6 (3f), C Murdock 0-2 (1 ’45, 1f), K McKernan, R Treanor, D McCartan 0-1. Yellow cards: J McGovern, Ciaran McGovern. Red card: Conaill McGovern 57. Frees: 20 (10). Wides: 7 (5). Referee: P Faloon (Down).