KIL JOYS

Defending Ulster champions show all their battling quality to pip Mcbrearty inspired Donegal champs in shoot-out

Slaughtneil, bidding for a third Ulster title in four years, led by five points midway through the first half but trailed by one at the break with Kilcar inspired by Paddy Mcbrearty.

The deadly Donegal dangerman finished with 0-10 but the Derry giants hit an unanswered 1-4 in the third quarter to regain the initiative.

Goals from Se Mcguigan and Christopher Bradley, who finished with 1-5, sealed the deal and Slaughtneil will face either Cavan Gaels or Derrygonnelly in the final on November 26.

Slaughtneil are not renowned for bring involved in high-scoring shoot-outs, but with Kilcar testing their defensive mettle, they needed to come out fighting in the second half.

Kilcar carved out five clear goal chances and took none of them with Anton Mcmullan pulling off one brilliant save in each half.

Slaughtneil were 0-6 to 0-1 up after 17 minutes, Meehaul Mcgrath with two of their scores, but Kilcar began to pick off their kick-outs and turned the game on its head.

Mcbrearty was in devastating form, grabbing Kilcar’s first point from play after 18 minutes to spark the first of four points in five minutes.

He got three of them with Conor Doherty becoming the first Kilcar player apart from Mcbrearty to score.

Cormac O’doherty ended a 10-minute scoring drought to put the holders 0-7 to 0-5 before limping off and Kilcar finished the half strongly with three unanswered points, Mark Mchugh and Stephen Mcbrearty on target.

Slaughtneil responded to the challenge and from 0-10 to 0-9 down, clicked into another gear

Slaughtneil (Der) 2-17 Kilcar (Don) 0-17 AIB Ulster SFC semi-final

and reeled off 1-4 in a row to effectively settle the game.

From 0-10 to 0-9 down, they completely took over and Karl Mckaigue and his brother Chrissy led the charge. Shane Mcguigan was very influential during that period and scored a couple.

Brendan Rodgers had a great battle with Mcbrearty but the Slaughtneil man got forward once to set up a nice score for Christopher Bradley.

Padraig Cassidy’s stylish sliced shot stretched them further ahead before the allimportant goal from Se Mcguigan after 42 minutes.

He won the ball inside, sidestepped onto his left and blasted the ball high into the roof of the net.

From there, they closed the game out with Christopher Bradley fisting home a second goal two minutes from the end of normal time after Shane Mcguigan’s pass in.

irishsport@trinitymirror.com KILCAR gave Slaughtneil the fight of their lives in Omagh last night but the reigning Ulster champions didn’t panic and nailed two second-half goals to book their place back in another final.